"Music, Identity and Meaning" by Gordon Ramsey

[Ptarmigan]

Here's another page by Gordon Ramsey which looks at Ulster Scots Music ~ "Music, Identity and Meaning".

The concept of an Ulster-Scots identity is not a new one, the phrase first came into common use at the end of the 19th century during the period of the Home Rule crises, and the related concept of ‘Scotch-Irish’ can be traced back to the 15th century. The inhabitants of the the Lordship of the Isles, the Kingdom of Dalriada and probably earlier civilisations as well, all would have seen the North Channel as a bridge rather than a barrier.

"Music, Identity and Meaning" by Gordon Ramsey

Another rather interesting quote from this page reads as follows:

Willie Drennan observes that if a broader view of Ulster-Scots culture is taken, "There should be no reason why Irish Nationalists could not embrace the Ulster-Scots cultural identity – they could look upon it as simply a distinct culture on the island of Ireland" (Drennan 2001).

Personally, I see no reason why Unionists couldn't embrace the Ulster Scots culture as being simply a regional variation of Irish Culture as a whole.

Speaking in terms of the music, so much of that which is played withing the Ulster Scots 'tradition' is heavily influenced by Irish music, both in terms of style & content, while the bulk of the remainder is simply lifted directly from the Scottish repertoire.

The crux of the matter for me is that, as I see it, this music has no distinctive style of it's own, yet, unlike the Donegal style & repertoire which were both heavily influenced by Scottish music.
So if Donegal music is widely accepted today as a regional variant of Irish Music, then surely it's weaker neighbour, must also be classed thus?

Quite honestly, apart from the Fifing tradition, I have yet to hear traditional music being played here in anything other than an Irish or Scottish style & I have yet to see any evidence of a unique Ulster Scots musical repertoire, so for me the jury is still out.

So although Gordon & I enjoy playing music together regularly, our views differ, which is of course fine & dandy.

Cheers
Ptarmigan