What is Celtic Music?
Despite the mainstream fascination with Celtic music in the early to mid-nineties in North America, people are still largely unsure of what exactly Celtic music is. It is often though of as "easy-listening 'mood' music with dreamy, non-specific but irish/Scots flavour", that is "marketed as 'relaxing', 'evocative', etc."[1] While this would certainly describe some Celtic music, it is by no means representative of all the discipline has to offer.
There are many theories as to what constitutes Celtic music but there is no easily accessible, cohesive definition to reach for and no definitive structure or purpose in detailing its creation. It is not necessarily best described as a consistent musical style. And there is good reason for this ambiguity. It is something very specifically cultural.
Perhaps one recognizable landmark of Celtic culture, is the ceilidh. In, Exploring the World of Music, Robin Morton describes a ceilidh as ‘a gathering of neighbors in one of their houses, usually in the evening. Often the purpose is simply to exchange social gossip. However, it might easily, and often does, develop into a session of singing, dancing and storytelling’.” [2] The author continues on, “it is a situation of fellowship, trust and intimacy, reaffirming bonds between daily associates, allowing connections of the heart as well as those of the mundane world.”[3] So then extrapolating from this interpretation of a ceilidh, perhaps we can simply identify ‘Celtic Music’ by saying that it is a long narrative reaching back through time and across distance documenting the creation, growth, and collective memory of a people; specifically those of Celtic origin, their descendents and those others with whom they shared their lives. Celtic music is an integral component of a larger Celtic culture - it is, in some ways, the ongoing soundtrack of Celtic History.
These songs are songs to dance to, to work to, to teach with and songs to celebrate important social occassions. They are songs of resistance; songs of memory, meant to transmit culture; songs of love and death and life and joy. Celtic music is a sometimes rigorous, often rhthymic, enduring oral tradition that began with the Celtic peoples of Eurrope and lives on through a global culture. It is as varied as the Celtic peoples themselves, and you can rest assured, there is something there for everyone.
Suggested Listening:
Lunasa by Lunasa, for the instrumental brilliance.
Blazin' Fiddles Live by Blazin' Fiddles for a multi-regional taste of Scotland's best.
Anything at all from Spirit of the West or Great Big Sea would be a good fusion introduction.
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