Irish Music During The Renaissance

Ireland has always been very passionate about their music throughout time. Using instruments like Brian Boru’s harp during the Renaissance, to the band U2 using guitars and electric keyboards. There’s still people that perform in Irish pubs to this day. Irish music has a variety of tempos, some that are fast, and there are some that are slow. The Irish have been expressing their culture through music throughout the Renaissance, going to the Irish potato famine, hopping to the 1900s, and ending with Irish modern day music.
One of the popular instruments in Ireland during the Renaissance was Brian Boru’s Harp. Sometimes known as the Trinity Harp, it has a curved top, wide left side, and a bow like right side. One of the songs that you can play on it is Brian Boru’s March. The harp was later stolen, and to get it back a musician played the Ransom Song. Later the harp was printed on the euro, with the word Eire and 2002. Around it is 12 stars, symbolizing perfectness.
The potato famine hit Ireland around the 1840s, so to get them through they wrote music.
One of the songs that they wrote during the Great Famine, is the Famine Song. Another song they made is White Potatoes, written and sung by John O’ Callanan.Most of them had to move to America, and because they had to move to America, they brought their music. With them they brought Riverdance, a song which is made up of traditional Irish dance and music. Irish music has even inspired American singers to write songs, like when Cliff Carlisle used The Black Velvet Band to make his song The Girl In The Blue Velvet Band. When the Irish came to America they weren’t the only ones that influenced other cultures, America had some Influence on
them.
When the Irish came to America it took a while, but finally in 1976 U2 an Irish band that started making songs came together. They were a hit rock band, playing songs like Sunday Bloody Sunday, and With or Without You. However back in Ireland the English had taken over Ireland and that influenced songs about war and freedom. One of those songs is Avenging and Bright, sung by John McCormack. Actually there are over 15 songs that were written during the Irish Revolution. That was back in the day, what about in the modern times?
There’s a lot of artists that some people don’t even are Irish. Some of these artists are David Holmes, Jape, and many more, these Irish musicians have definitely impacted modern day music. For example, David Holmes had many of his songs being played in Ocean's 11, 12, and 13, a big casino robbing movie series. Not all irish musicians have adapted though, some still use the Bouzouki for their performances in Irish pubs, and even on the streets. More traditional Irish instruments are still played, like the harp, the fiddle, and the Irish pipes. These can all be heard at St. Patrick’s Day.
Ireland has always been very passionate about their music throughout time. In the renaissance Brian Boru’s harp impacted Ireland so much it was put on an euro. The Great Famine struck the Irish in the 1800s, and inspired songs of suffering and pain. U2 was an Irish band playing American styled music, but Irish themed songs. Also even though some instruments are traditional they are still played during Irish holidays like St. Patrick’s day. Irish music has continually changed, and it will continue as time goes on.