O’Reilly’s Treasured Times
Greetings and Blessings to all,
Beannachtam na Feile Padraig! Happy St. Patrick’s Day! ‘Tis lovely to be back and we hope this edition of the newsletter finds you fit as a fiddle, happy , and contented. What a lovely time of year it is -- St. Patrick’s Day is almost here! Since music is so much a part of Irish life and so much a part of any St. Patrick‘s Day celebration, we thought it would be fun to devote this edition to that very topic, Irish traditional music.
What is Irish Traditional Music?
Irish traditional music is best understood as a very broad term that includes many different types of singing and instrumental music, music of many periods, as performed by Irish people in Ireland or outside it, and occasionally nowadays by people of other nationalities.
The different types however do have in common an essentially ‘oral’ character, that is, they belong to a tradition of popular music in which song and instrumental music is created and transmitted in performance and carried and preserved in the memory, a tradition which is essentially independent of writing and print.
It is nevertheless music which is conservative in tendency. Change only takes place slowly, and in accordance with generally accepted principles. Most new compositions are not accepted into the tradition, and only a relatively small amount of variation takes places. Elements of the repertory perceived as old are held in high esteem.
The Elements of Traditional Music
Irish music is a free-form style. The length, pace, and musical composition of a given piece will change from night to night and from group to group. Traditional musicians almost never play from written music; in the past, many of the best musicians couldn’t even read music. Most pieces revolve around group performances that highlight the virtuosi improvisations of individual musicians.
Despite the free-form style, Irish music has a distinctive sound that makes it immediately identifiable (although Scottish and Welsh music sound similar). The distinctiveness comes largely from the mix of instruments used. The traditional instruments of Irish music are: harp, bodhran drum, fiddle, flute, tin whistle, accordion, bagpipes or uilleann pipes, and pretty much anything that can jam.
Traditional music performances are informal. They generally take place in pubs, with the musicians performing only for free beer and the cheers of the crowd. Members of the audience can join in if they have a fiddle, a good voice, or even just a set of spoons to add to the music.
~~Taken from The Everything Irish History & Heritage Book
By Amy Hackney Blackwell & Ryan Hackney
A Brief History of Irish Music
The vivid and long relation between Ireland and music was established the moment the Dagda (the Irish-Celtic god of the earth and treaties, and ruler over life and death) brought his harp to this island. Such a strong relation is common in cultures with an oral tradition because it is much easier to memorize stories when poeticised and supported by rhythm. The druids would recite their centuries old legends while beating the cadence with a stick on the floor or swaying their bodies. The bards, as bearers of the news, had a more creative job. After an event they had to create a story, memorize it and eventually pass it on to others. Considering the fast penetration of the Gospels to every corner of Ireland this appeared to have been a good strategy in both the pre-Christian era and the Christian era.
The strategy was so excellent it is still in use today. Irish folk-singers are doing the same thing, except creating the story which is nowadays the job of the song-writer (although many singers still write their own songs). Nevertheless many songs in their repertoire are stories of real events or at least stories of what could have been. They keep alive the history of the Ireland and give the audience a sense for the past.
Did You Know?
- Irish traditional music is handed down from one generation to the next, or passed from one performer to another, more by example than by formal teaching.
- It is a music of rural more than urban origins.
- It is performed, almost entirely for recreation, by people who are normally unpaid. There are relatively few full-time professional performers.
- It is played in the home, in the public houses and at other social gatherings -- parties, weddings, dances, festivals -- and laterally at concerts, and on radio, television and record.
- Written words or music are only used as an aid to memory, if at all, and never in performance.
- Songs are performed in Irish and English, but those in English, the more recent, are the more widespread.
Tips For Learning Irish Traditional Music
Tip 1: Use your ear, not your eye. When learning Irish traditional music never, ever learn a tune from notation, whether by sheet music or by abc. Trying to master the art form is oral and physical, not visual or intellectual, and it is fundamental to overcome the misconception about how music can be learned.
Tip 2: Rhythm -- is so complex and detailed in Irish music it can only be learned and recognized after intensive and lovingly careful listening.
Tip 3: Rhythm -- is the primary distinguishing characteristic between music that sounds Irish and music that does not sound Irish.
Tip 4: Rhythm -- is vastly more important than notes, pitches, and ornaments in Irish traditional music. Don’t forget that reels, jigs, hornpipes, polkas, slides, etc. are dance music.
Tip 5: Articulation -- to get the rhythm right, after you’ve done lots of careful listening, you need to figure out the particular physical tricks on your instrument that give you all the same kinds of articulation that you’re hearing.
Tip 6: Select your own “genuine players” to study. Genuine players are those who are defining figures of the tradition. They have studied the past of the tradition with great respect and care, they participate in the current tradition to general praise from other traditional musicians, and they are helping to shape the future of the tradition.
One of our newsletter subscribers, Con Hunt of Renfrew, is one such player who happily promotes traditional Irish music by offering beginner lessons in the tin whistle and bodhran. Con has participated in ‘jam’ sessions with other musicians from the area and has hosted several tin whistle and bodhran workshops here at the store. Listening to the joyful glee of workshop participants and experiencing their enthusiasm first hand, we can certainly attest to Con’s genuine respect for the tradition. For more information regarding beginner lessons, Con may be reached at 613-432-3269.
Another subscriber, Chris Dixon of CJ Dixon Uilleann Bagpipes, is a local maker of uilleann bagpipes. All of Chris’ bagpipes are handcrafted using traditional methods, and are of the finest quality. It is this high standard of quality that is the reason for the life time guarantee that is offered with each set. With a commitment to customer satisfaction like no other, CJ will make your introduction into uilleann bagpiping a very pleasant experience. For more information on this Irish instrument please see CJ Dixon Uilleann Bagpipes at www.cjdixon.com
Treasured Recipe
What is St. Paddy’s Day without an Irish recipe to savour? Here is an recipe for
Potato Soup, Irish style, to warm your soul.
Ingredients: 9 potatoes, peeled and diced, 6 stalks of celery, sliced, 2 small onions, chopped, 3 cups water, 2 tsp. salt, 3 chicken bullion cubes, dissolved in ½ cup boiling water, 6 cups milk, ½ cup flour, 1 stick margarine or butter.
Method: Combine the potatoes, celery, onion, water, and seasonings in a large pan. Bring to a boil. Cover and cook until tender, about 30 minutes. Combine a small amount of milk and flour until smooth. Add this mixture and the rest of milk to the potato mixture. Stir in the butter. Cook and stir over medium heat until the soup thickens. This recipe will make about 3 quarts of soup or 24 ½ cup servings.
AND if you happen to imbibe a little too much on St. Patrick’s Day, here is an old timer from Ireland which may help you on Saturday morning (you will have to make it ahead of time) -- Cider Headache Remedy. Method: 1. Take a litre of hard cider, two tablespoons of burdock seeds, two tablespoons of whole white mustard seeds, and a smallish horseradish root, cut in little pieces. 2. Put everything in a large jar, cover tightly, and let stand overnight. 3. Apply sparingly, hot or cold. Like it matters.
Treasured Irish Lessons
Phrase: Traditional Music
Irish: ceoil traidisiúnta
Pronunciation: keohl thradh-ish oon-thah
Phrase: Music of the country/land
Irish: ceoil na tíre
Pronunciation: keohl nah chee-reh
Phrase: My favorite Irish song is.....
Irish: Is an t-amhrán is breá liom
Pronunciation: iss on thow-rawn iss brah li-um
Phrase: Be quiet! Listen to the music!
Irish: Bí (plural: Bíogai) ciúin! Éist an cheoil
! Pronunciation: bee (plural: bee-uhgee) kewn! Ayshth on kheohl!
Phrase: He is the best fiddler in the county
Irish: is é an fidléir is fearr sa chontae
Pronunciation: shay ('is é as one word) on fidlayr iss fahrr sah khun dhay
Irish Language Weekend
For those of you interested in learning Irish, there is an Irish Language Weekend taking place in Kingston, ON, April 28 - 30, 2006. Seven levels of classes are available from beginner to cainteoir liofa. The weekend includes slamsa, dancing, singing and Irish music. Cost is $170.00 CDN, $135.00 US and includes meals from supper Friday evening to lunch on Sunday, 2 nights accommodation, ceili, workshops with single or double rooms guaranteed. Application deadline is April 7, 2006. If you would to receive a registration form for the weekend, please email us at
oreillystreasures@bellnet.ca and we will forward you the necessary information.
Treasured Quotes
- St. Patrick’s Day is an enchanted time -- a day to begin transforming winter’s dreams into summer’s magic! ~Adrienne Cook
- Music is the art which is most nigh to tears and memory. ~ Oscar Wilde
- Music is well said to be the speech of angels. ~ Thomas Carlyle
- Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent. ~ Victor Hugo
- After silence that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music. ~ Aldous Huxley
A Bit O’ Wit
A bodhran player was sick of the band abusing him, and decided to start his own. He walked into a music shop, planning to buy the first instruments he saw.
"Give me the red saxophone and that accordion!", he said.
The assistant said, "You play the bodhran, don't you?"
"That's right. Why?"
"Well, the fire extinguisher I can sell you - but the radiator stays.
March 2006 Trivia Questions
Be the first to answer this month’s trivia questions and you will receive an Irish tin whistle, retail value $18.95. Email your answers to oreillystreasures@bellnet.ca Good Luck!
1. Which key tin whistle accompanies most traditional music?
2. Which traditional Irish instrument was said to have magical powers?
3. How many holes does the chanter of the uilleann pipes have?
4. Are there more black or white keys on an accordion?
The Seanchai’s Book Room Introduces The Ottawa Valley Book Club
The Seanchai (story teller) is happy to pass along information regarding the formation of a new book club in the area. The Ottawa Valley Book Club is looking for members from Petawawa to Arnprior. The goal of the book club is to bring the community together through books. Group members will meet once a month to vote on a book and then discuss it thoroughly at its next meeting. A few of the titles on their rather large potential book list include: "Angela's Ashes", "The Hat Box Letters", "The Da Vinci Code" and many other great literary titles. The group is also going to tie in volunteering with a literary twist as well as plan events that correlate with the topic of the chosen book. The Ottawa Valley Book Club is a free book club and membership is open to anyone of all ages. Please contact Erin Blaskie for more information at (613) 281-0641 or you can e-mail at
ottawavalleybookclub@yahoo.ca or check us out on the web at
www.freewebs.com/ovbookclub.
New Arrivals
We have everything you need for your St. Patrick’s Day celebration plus so much more!
Buffalo Jewellery & Gifts -- all your novelty St. Patrick’s Day party wear and accessories from charm bracelets to shamrock pop rings, from Irish cuff bracelets to blinking shamrock necklaces as well as shamrock earrings and twinkling leprechaun and shamrock pins.
Scott’s Highland Services Ltd. -- Ireland car flags and buntings.
Bridget’s of Erin -- shamrock barrettes and ponytail tutus and other assorted party wear.
Bewley’s Irish Imports -- Barry’s Gold Label Irish Tea and shamrock pottery.
Steiga -- shamrock candles and the cutest party dog collars with shamrocks of course!
Century Irish Items: Irish t-shirts and hoodies, children’s clothing, shamrock sunglasses, accessories for your pet, and party wear.
A.S.A.P. -- ‘tis him/herself baby rompers, wee lad/lassie rompers, children’s clothing as well as some adult tees with funny Irish sayings printed on them.
Fr. Greeley's March Saints Blessing
May you dance a reel for St. Patrick's sake,
And toast the many united in one.
May St. Joseph guard you as soon as you wake,
And safely lead you home when day is done.
>From Aquinas may you learn wisdom and truth,
And from Gregory tradition's faithful way.
May Casimir teach you courage and hope,
And Gabriel surprise you each new day.
>From A Book of Irish-American Prayers & Blessings
We wish you good libations for your celebration as it's hard to sing with an empty glass!
From all of us here at O’Reilly’s Treasures we wish you a very happy St. Patrick’s Day and may your celebration with you and yours be filled with merriment, laughter and lots of traditional Irish music. Wherever your St. Patrick’s Day celebration may lead you, please do drink responsibility, have a designated driver, and remember, mind yourself!
The Leprechauns of O’Reilly’s Treasures
Mark and Linda Kauffeldt
Ryan, Dylan and Liam Bradley
16 Pembroke St., P.O. Box 489
Cobden, Ontario K0J 1K0
Tel: 613-646-7157 Fax: 613-646-7187
Email: info@oreillystreasures.com
Store hours: Monday to Friday, 10:00 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Saturday, 9:30 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Sunday, 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.
