Irish American Irish American MusicMusic

Meghan WitherellMeghan Witherell

Irish HistoryIrish History

The Irish are an The Irish are an ancient people with a ancient people with a significant history.significant history.

Some state that the Some state that the Irish people were in Irish people were in Ireland as early as Ireland as early as 6000 B.C.6000 B.C.

Music has always Music has always been an important been an important influence in Irish life.influence in Irish life.

Ireland GeographyIreland Geography

Ireland is a small Ireland is a small island in Europe.island in Europe.

Geologist compare it Geologist compare it to the size of the to the size of the state of Indiana in state of Indiana in the U.S.the U.S.

Irelands coastlines, Irelands coastlines, mountains, and mountains, and green valleys are green valleys are famous world wide.famous world wide.

Pictures courtesy of http://ehistory.osu.edu/osu/timeline/event.cfm?anchorid=6825&Era_id=13

The Irish PeopleThe Irish People

The Irish people are The Irish people are famous as well. They famous as well. They seem to have always seem to have always struggled for survival struggled for survival and basic human and basic human rights.rights.

This has made them This has made them a strong and a strong and stubborn people.stubborn people.

Ireland’s People cont.Ireland’s People cont.

The Irish people are also The Irish people are also known for their strong faith known for their strong faith and their love of music, and their love of music, socialization and dance.socialization and dance.

Their love for socialization Their love for socialization has brought the stereotype of has brought the stereotype of the drunken Irishman the drunken Irishman because their social outings because their social outings were usually at the local pub. were usually at the local pub. A tradition they took with A tradition they took with them to the U.S.them to the U.S.

Irish struggle with Irish struggle with EnglandEngland

The Pope gave Henry II The Pope gave Henry II permission to take over permission to take over Ireland in 1155 in order Ireland in 1155 in order for Henry to reform the for Henry to reform the church.church.

Ireland was invaded by Ireland was invaded by the Normans in 1169.the Normans in 1169.

Henry II showed up in Henry II showed up in 1171 to ensure that the 1171 to ensure that the Normans submitted the Normans submitted the lands to him rather than lands to him rather than set up independent set up independent kingdoms.kingdoms.

Ireland vs. England contIreland vs. England cont

This lead to the continual struggle with Ireland This lead to the continual struggle with Ireland for their independence from England.for their independence from England.

The English have always treated the Irish as The English have always treated the Irish as subhuman or a lower class.subhuman or a lower class.

This increased when Henry VIII separated from This increased when Henry VIII separated from the Catholic Church. Southern Ireland has the Catholic Church. Southern Ireland has never given up their faith even by tourcher or never given up their faith even by tourcher or force from England and Northern Ireland.force from England and Northern Ireland.

Irish and their MusicIrish and their Music

Music has always Music has always been an important been an important aspect of Irish life.aspect of Irish life.

From ballads and From ballads and folk, to jigs and reels. folk, to jigs and reels. Music has both Music has both comforted, rejoiced comforted, rejoiced and entertained the and entertained the Irish people.Irish people.

Picture courtesy of: www.nuigalway.ie/.../burke_archive.htm

Traditional Irish MusicTraditional Irish Music

Traditional Irish Traditional Irish music consisted of music consisted of Celtic roots and Celtic roots and instruments.instruments.

The variety of The variety of instruments played instruments played includes fiddle, tin includes fiddle, tin whistles, Irish flute, whistles, Irish flute, guitar, & the bodhran guitar, & the bodhran (Irish drum) (Irish drum)

Potato FaminePotato Famine

The land in Ireland was almost all owned by The land in Ireland was almost all owned by English/Anglo landlords. English/Anglo landlords.

The Irish people worked the land for slave The Irish people worked the land for slave wages and barley survied prior to the famine. wages and barley survied prior to the famine. The Irish population was considerable and their The Irish population was considerable and their already was limited amount of food to go already was limited amount of food to go around.around.

The famine was caused by a airborn fungus The famine was caused by a airborn fungus that killed all the potato plants. that killed all the potato plants.

Famine cont.Famine cont.

The Irish people had long ago relied on the The Irish people had long ago relied on the potato as their maine food source because it potato as their maine food source because it was dependable and with the skin it was was dependable and with the skin it was nutritious.nutritious.

The famine wipe out numerous Irish people The famine wipe out numerous Irish people because the British government refused to help because the British government refused to help them.them.

This set in motion the large emmigration This set in motion the large emmigration movement to the United States.movement to the United States.

Irish Emigration to Irish Emigration to AmericaAmerica

The Irish fled to both Canada and America in search of a new life of The Irish fled to both Canada and America in search of a new life of freedom and equality.freedom and equality.

They brought with them their stories, traditions, and most importantly their They brought with them their stories, traditions, and most importantly their music.music.

Unfortuently, the Irish weren’t able to flee from the prejudice against their Unfortuently, the Irish weren’t able to flee from the prejudice against their people which was brought over by the Protestants and the English. people which was brought over by the Protestants and the English.

Changes to Irish-Changes to Irish-American MusicAmerican Music

The Irish brought over the music from The Irish brought over the music from their homeland but almost from the their homeland but almost from the minute the got to America they began minute the got to America they began writing about home.writing about home.

Ballads/Folk Song, Pub Song (group Ballads/Folk Song, Pub Song (group sing), and dancing music were amoung sing), and dancing music were amoung the new Irish American repratory.the new Irish American repratory.

Irish Ballads/Folk SongsIrish Ballads/Folk Songs

BalladsBallads focused on the sadness of the focused on the sadness of the Irish people. Either from missing their Irish people. Either from missing their homeland, the abuse and rejection felt homeland, the abuse and rejection felt from the American people or just loss in from the American people or just loss in general (death, distance, etc.)general (death, distance, etc.)

Folk songs were the stories and Folk songs were the stories and traditions from the homeland such astraditions from the homeland such as

Cú Chulainn Cú Chulainn

Irish Pub SongsIrish Pub Songs

Irish pub song are like what we would call Irish pub song are like what we would call “Sing a longs”“Sing a longs”

The were a catchy familiar tune in which The were a catchy familiar tune in which everyone could join in.everyone could join in.

This was both entertainment and This was both entertainment and comradery for the Irish people.comradery for the Irish people.

Irish Reel’s and JigsIrish Reel’s and Jigs

Irish dancing music was madeIrish dancing music was made

A Sample of Irish A Sample of Irish InstrumentsInstruments

Fiddle Flute Tin Whistle (pennywhistle) Harp Bodhrán

FiddleFiddle

Flute and Tin WhistleFlute and Tin Whistle

HarpHarp

Bodhrán

Irish influence on Irish influence on American MusicAmerican Music

You can hear Irish instrumentals and You can hear Irish instrumentals and rhythms is a lot of American music both rhythms is a lot of American music both modern and early American.modern and early American.

The music had an uplifting quality which The music had an uplifting quality which is good for the soul. is good for the soul.

Famous Irish American Famous Irish American Singers/MusiciansSingers/Musicians

Bing CrosbyBing Crosby Dermot O’Brien Dermot O’Brien (Irish born but famous for singing in US)(Irish born but famous for singing in US)

Clancy Brothers Clancy Brothers (Irish born but famous for singing in US)(Irish born but famous for singing in US)

Irish Rovers Irish Rovers (Irish born , Canadan Citizens, but famous for singing in US)(Irish born , Canadan Citizens, but famous for singing in US)

U2U2 Sinead O’Connor Sinead O’Connor (Irish born but famous for singing in US)(Irish born but famous for singing in US)

St. Patrick’s DaySt. Patrick’s Day

St. Patrick’s Day is a holy day in Ireland. It is usually St. Patrick’s Day is a holy day in Ireland. It is usually celebrated with Mass.celebrated with Mass.

When the Irish came to America they missed their When the Irish came to America they missed their homeland and congregated together at the local pubs homeland and congregated together at the local pubs to celebrate. Wearing green to symbolize the green to celebrate. Wearing green to symbolize the green fields they left behind in Irelandfields they left behind in Ireland

This began the American tradition of celebrating St. This began the American tradition of celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. Patrick’s Day.

It’s funny to think that the sterotype that was used to It’s funny to think that the sterotype that was used to look down on the Irish is the most celebrated look down on the Irish is the most celebrated characterist in the U.S. today.characterist in the U.S. today.

ConclusionConclusion

The Irish people have gone from The Irish people have gone from detested and alinated in this country to detested and alinated in this country to the culture that everyone wants to be the culture that everyone wants to be associated with.associated with.

Their gift of music and celebration has Their gift of music and celebration has won the hearts of most Americans.won the hearts of most Americans.

BibliographyBibliography

http://www.irelandseye.com/aarticles/history/events/index.shtmhttp://www.irelandseye.com/aarticles/history/events/index.shtm    http://www.kinsella.org/history/histira.htmhttp://www.kinsella.org/history/histira.htm    http://www.google.com/http://www.google.com/

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   http://www.irish-music.net/http://www.irish-music.net/    http://www.mustrad.org.uk/reviews/irish_am.htmhttp://www.mustrad.org.uk/reviews/irish_am.htm    http://repository.upenn.edu/dissertations/AAI9227728/http://repository.upenn.edu/dissertations/AAI9227728/    http://www.contemplator.com/folk.htmlhttp://www.contemplator.com/folk.html   http://ehistory.osu.edu/osu/timeline/event.cfm?anchorid=6825&Era_id=13http://ehistory.osu.edu/osu/timeline/event.cfm?anchorid=6825&Era_id=13