Celtic/Irish Music

Celtic music is a term used by artists, record companies, music stores and music magazines to describe a broad grouping of musical genres that evolved out of the folk musical traditions of the Celtic peoples. These traditions include Irish, Scottish, Manx, Cornish, Welsh, Breton traditions. Gerald de Barri (1188) claimed that the two main instruments used at this time were the "harp" and "tabor" (see bodhrán), that their music was fast and lively, and that their songs always began and ended with B-flat. Unaccompanied vocals are called sean nós ("in the old style") and are considered the ultimate expression of traditional singing. This is usually performed solo (very occasionally as a duet). The Caoineadh-type song is therefore a lament song which is typified by lyrics which stress sorrow and pain.Irish traditional music was largely meant (to the best of our current knowledge) for dancing at celebrations for weddings, saint's days or other observances.

Associated Cultural Styles Of Music: Sean-nós (music for singing), Caoineadh Songs (laments), Reels, Hornpipes, Jibs, Waltzes, Mazurkas, Polkas, Highlands, Barndances

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folk_music_of_Ireland