Irish Tunes and Dance
Music is often associated with St. Patrick's Day and Irish culture in general. From ancient days of the Celts, music has always been an important part of Irish life. The Celts had an oral culture, where religion, legend, and history were passed from one generation to the next by way of stories and songs.
After being conquered by the English, and forbidden to speak their own language, the Irish, like other oppressed peoples, turned to music to help them remember important events and hold on to their heritage and history. As it often stirred emotion and helped to galvanize people, music was outlawed by the English. During her reign, Queen Elizabeth I even decreed that all artists and pipers were to be arrested and hanged on the spot.
What is Irish dancing? There are two general kinds of dancing: set and ceili dancing. Ceili dancing involves large groups, and is pretty easy to pick up, while set dancing is much more elaborate and usually requires more teaching. Set dances are usually danced by four couples, forming a square, and have evolved from French quadrilles. The exhibition-style step dancing is also associated with competitions.
Traditional music is dominated by dance tunes in both Ireland and Scotland. The main categories are the Reel - in 4/4 time, usually fast, the most popular of rhthms; the Jig - in 6/8, derived from the European gigues; the Hornpipe - in 4/4 time but with every second beat strongly accented; the Strathspey (Scotland) - an even more strongly accented hornpipe, in 4/8 time; and the Polka (Ireland) - local to the Cork/Kerry region, similar to European polkas.
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