Anna's Musical Journey

There is something about Irish music that speaks to me. The simplicity and the fast-paced rhythm has always made my heart leap. It is such a recognizable form of music that you can hear from a mile away. One of my favorite aspects of this type of music is the communal feel. Whenever I hear Irish music I think of family-oriented events, community gatherings, or some social event. Let’s start with some traditional musical instruments that are commonly used in Celtic music. We have learned about “the instrument” of many countries, but what is Ireland’s most beloved instrument? It is the fiddle! The fiddle is to Ireland what the the sitar is to India or what didgeridoo is to Australia. The fiddle is actually a violin in form with the only difference being the music that is being played on it. The fiddle is a chordophone that is associated with fast note changes and usually accompanied by dancing. Next up, another chordophone, and also idiophone if we were in the Andes – the harp. The harp ...