- Joined
- Jan 7, 2013
- Location
- Long Island, NY
Many are familiar with Irish folk styles of music and know of Irish styles of music that were popular in the United States during the Civil War and Reconstruction eras. Both When Johnny Comes Marching Home and Bonny Blue Flag have Irish roots.
However, you may not be as familiar with sean-nos, or old-style, singing. This was form of pre-19th Century singing that was brought to the United States by Irish refugees from the West of Ireland during the Great Hunger. A single syllable can be sung to several notes. In many ways, it is the characteristic form of unaccompanied singing such as soldiers might listen to at night. In this example, a song set during the 1867 Fenian Rising is sung in English, followed by another song in Irish.
However, you may not be as familiar with sean-nos, or old-style, singing. This was form of pre-19th Century singing that was brought to the United States by Irish refugees from the West of Ireland during the Great Hunger. A single syllable can be sung to several notes. In many ways, it is the characteristic form of unaccompanied singing such as soldiers might listen to at night. In this example, a song set during the 1867 Fenian Rising is sung in English, followed by another song in Irish.