Celtic Music or Traditional Folk Music
I just learned something surprising about Celtic music. Apparently, it isnít what I thought it was. According to Wikipedia, the traditional musicians in Ireland and Scotland donít call their music “Celtic” music, though that term is often used to describe music from those countries. The term has come to be used by the music industry to refer to music that has roots in the folk music traditions of the Celts or from the countries where the Celts originated. Think about that the next time you go out to hear music on St. Patrickís Day!
No matter what you call it, the music in America that is now called Celtic music, is based on old folk songs handed down orally or in early recordings. My real interest is in the impact that this musical genre has had on traditional American folk music and Appalachian music. It seems that during the colonial period in America, the music of immigrants from Scotland, Wales, Ireland, and Africa made their distinct mark on the formation of American folk music and later on rock, blues and other genres. I learned something else new about this ñ the modern term used for this type of music is Celtic fusion. The roots of some bluegrass and country songs (and what is also called old-time music) are tied to the musical traditions of many who left the British Isles to come to live in the new American colonies.
My interest in this musical genre is due to the influence the folk music of the 1960s has had for me. I am a huge fan of old folk ballads, and now I am learning more about their origins. For example, the song, Barbara Allen, which is known in dozens of versions, can be traced back to at least 1666 when a reference to a “little Scotch song of ‘Barbary Allen’” is made in a diary by a man named Samuel Pepys. This is a mornful song about a young man who dies of unrequited love ñ and the object of his love, Barbra Allen, then dies shortly after him. Here is one verse:
Oh mother, mother make my bed
Make it long and make it narrow
Sweet William died for me today
I’ll die for him tomorrow
Another song, “When Johnny Comes Marching Home” ñ which was popular during the American Civil War ñ and unfortunately the melody was used for “When the Ants Come Marching Home” ñ is based on an old tune called “Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ye.” This was possibly written in the early 1800s when Irish military regiments were recruited for the British East India service. No matter where or when it was written, the anti-war sentiments are timeless. With updated lyrics, it could easily refer to the war in Iraq:
They’re rolling out the guns again, hurroo, hurroo
They’re rolling out the guns again, hurroo, hurroo
They’re rolling out the guns again
But theyíll never will take our sons again
No they never will take our sons again
Johnny I’m swearing to ye.
Maybe these old ballads are too sad, but they have always moved me and have made me a true folk music fan. They are easy songs to learn to play, and are often taught in guitar lessons for beginners. I remember how they were taught to me when I was first learning to play the guitar. Celtic, Irish, American folk, fusion or whatever you want to call them, it is great to know that people are still very interested in knowing about and learning these old tunes.
Author - E.R. Gibson - a guitar player, former guitar teacher, and a lover of many types of music who writes about guitar lessons on her blog: www.guitarlessonsforbeginners.org