What does Sean Nos mean in Irish?

What does Sean Nos mean in Irish?

Typical instruments. a cappella. Sean-nós singing (/ˈʃænoʊs/ SHAN-ohss, Irish: [ˈʃan̪ˠ n̪ˠoːsˠ]; Irish for “old style”) is unaccompanied traditional Irish vocal music usually performed in the Irish language.

Where did sean nos originate?

The word sean-nós to denote traditional singing is actually of fairly recent origin. It was apparently created in 1940 or ’41 at the Gaelic League Oireachtas, the annual festival of traditional song and storytelling which initiated the competitions that have since become an Irish institution.

What is Sean Nos singer?

Sean Nós means “old style”. It is a style of singing dating back hundreds of years which was handed down orally from generation to generation. It is a really good example of “pure” traditional Irish music. The words are more important than the tunes.

When did Sean Nos start?

Donncha O Suilleabhain’s history of the Oireachtas, the major annual Irish language festival, which includes competitions across many disciplines, reveals that the term ‘sean-nos’ was first used in competition in 1904 as a translation from the English ‘traditional singing (in the old style)’, to differentiate it from …

What are the features of sean nos singing?

Sean-nós singing contains many defining characteristics, such as ornamentation. variation, glottal stops, nasalisation and the method of performance. There are two types of ornamentation – melismatic and intervallic. Melismatic ornamentation uses auxiliary notes to decorate or replace a main note of the melody.

What is a traditional dance song in Ireland?

The most common dance tunes in the Irish tradition are reels, jigs, hornpipes, polkas, slides, mazourkas, and highlands. Slow airs (usually based on sean nós songs in Irish) are also played by many instrumentalists. These sound most authentic when played on uilleann pipes, fiddle, flute or tin whistle.

What language is sean nos singing?

Irish
Sean-nós (/ˈʃænoʊs/ SHAN-ohss, Irish: [ˈʃan̪ˠ n̪ˠoːsˠ]; Irish for “old style”) is a term referring to a style of unaccompanied traditional Irish vocal music usually performed in the Irish language.

Do most people use written sheet music when performing in Ireland?

Most people use written sheet music when performing in Ireland. When playing an Irish tune, one is expected to embellish or ornament the basic melody. The Irish fiddle and the European violin are the same thing.

Who was in Ireland before the Celts?

The first people in Ireland were hunter gatherers who arrived about 7,000 to 8,000 BC. This was quite late compared with most of southern Europe. The reason was the climate. The Ice Age began to retreat about 10,000 years ago.

What makes Sean Nos different from other Irish music?

According to Anthony Bluett in his book Things Irish, it isn’t certain who gave Sean-nós or “old style” singing its name. But, the intention is obviously to distinguish this form of singing from other styles. What makes Sean-nós distinctive is that the song is sung in Irish and is unaccompanied.

Who are some famous folk singers from Ireland?

The 1960s folk revival brought a renewed energy and focus to traditional music in Ireland. Groups like The Dubliners and The Clancy Brothers became household names in Ireland and around the world. Irish singers like Christy Moore, Paul Brady, and Dolores Keane have been praised by folk and rock luminaries from the US, the UK, and Canada.

What kind of music do they sing in Ireland?

From the Irish-language sean-nós (“old style”) to rebel ballads to rowdy drinking songs, Ireland has a rich catalog of folk songs and singers. They tell the story of hundreds of years of laughter and tears, oppression and perseverance, feast and famine. The 1960s folk revival brought a renewed energy and focus to traditional music in Ireland.

What was the name of the Irish singer who played with the Dubliners?

“Sullivan’s John,” about a settled man who “married a tinker’s daughter,” became one of the Dubliners’ signature songs, and Dunne toured with them in the UK, Europe, and the US. Despite the recognition he received as a musician, Dunne never stopped travelling and busking until age and poor health took him off the road for good.