Art Music, Folk Music and Irish Identities

[Ptarmigan]

Here's another page by Gordon Ramsey which looks at Ulster Scots Music ~ "Art Music, Folk Music and Irish Identities".

In looking at the uses of music in constructing and sustaining different identities in Ireland, it is apparent that it is frequently impossible to say where one musical genre, or one identity ends, and another begins. Borders, however deliberately drawn, have always been permeable. Deliberate attempts by powerful groups to appropriate and define the music of less powerful groups for political purposes, have achieved little success. It has been when grass-roots musicians, confident in their own tradition, have opened themselves to new ideas and influences, that real creative advances have occurred. Musicians, and those who enjoy the music, have thus defined their own identities by what they do, as opposed to having their identities defined for them to serve political interests which are not necessarily their own.

Blurred Boundaries: Art Music, Folk Music and Irish Identities by Gordon Ramsey

Cheers
Ptarmigan

[emdee]

Very analytical and deep stuff this. I had no idea that Irish music was so political!

Just a comment on the section "Irish Music and the "English Musical Rennaisance"". I think I would include the name of E J Moeran (1894-1950) among the composers here. He was born and brought up in England, but was the son of an Irish Protestant clergyman with an English mother. He in fact moved to Kenmare in the South West of Ireland in his later life, and died there in very unusual circumstances. Almost all of his music has an Irish sound. His Violin Concerto in particular sounds as Irish as Bruch's Scottish Fantasy sounds Scottish. His Symphony in G minor too has Irish flavours, and was in fact comissioned by and dedicated to Sir Hamilton Harty. The finale of his Cello Concerto is, I would say inspired by "The Star of the County Down".

He was for a while a pupil of Stanford, and was a friend of Arnold Bax.

He is a very interesting composer with a very problematical life story, and was possibly his own worst enemy. He is not a household name, but a very unique and gifted composer.

There is an extensive website dedicated to him:

www.moeran.com

It is worth a look and listen.

[Ptarmigan]

Interesting stuff. Thanks for posting. I confess I hadn't come across this composer before but I'll have fun listening to his music now. He had a dramatic end for sure, but there are worse ways of leaving this earth & Kenmare, after all, is a very beautiful place.

Here's a short piece by E J Moeran I found on YouTube:

Bank Holiday - Danny Evans (piano)

I see that he certainly left us a lot of his music to listen to & enjoy:

Moeran's Music @ Amazon

Cheers
Dick

P.S. Don't get me started on music & politics over here in Ulster, or I'll be here ALL DAY!

[emdee]

Just looking through the Amazon list, for Irish influences I would recommend his 1st String Quartet. It is in two movements. To me, the first movement is based on a Gaelic air, and the second is based on Irish jigs and finishes up in reel time.

Excellent stuff for seeing what can be done with traditional music themes.

[Ptarmigan]

Excellent!
Thanks very much for the tip.
I shall make good use of it.

Cheers
Ptarmigan