Turlough O' Carolan, Irish Music
Irish Music
Turlough O’ Carolan (1670 –1738)
An exploration of his inspirational sources, musical style and unique contribution to Irish music.
Introduction
Turlough O’ Carolan has as a composer, poet and musician contributed to Irish music in a unique way. I am going to explore his musical influences and style and his inspirational sources, and show how Carolan’s music has continued to shape Irish music both during his lifetime, throughout history and in recent times.
Childhood and educational influences. O’ Carolan is known as a harpist and composer of what is nowadays regarded as traditional Irish music. He was born in 1670 in County Meath and grew up in the Roscommon / Leitrim district. At a time in Irish history, when the native Gaelic and Old English families were declining due to plantations and confiscations by the English Crown, Carolan’s father was working for the Mac Dermott Roe family as a blacksmith. It was of great importance for his future path in music that Carolan received an education in native poetry and music by the Cruise family, who despite having lost their property, continued to run the local school.
A person with much influence throughout Carolan’s youth was Mrs. Dermott Roe who provided for his education as a young boy. When he contracted small pox which left him blind at the age of eighteen she supported him for three years and helped him to complete his training as a harpist under Maire Mac Dermott Roe, to who O’ Carolan would dedicate his final composition “Carolan’s Farewell to Music”. The foundations for his future had been laid and O’ Carolan began his career as an itinerant harper.
Inspirational sources and unique musical style. Turlough O’ Carolan’s background was the native Irish music.
In Carolans time there were three musical traditions in Ireland - art music, folk music and the harpers tradition. The harpers tradition served as a link between art and folk music and was the main
Turlough O’ Carolan (1670 –1738)
An exploration of his inspirational sources, musical style and unique contribution to Irish music.
Introduction
Turlough O’ Carolan has as a composer, poet and musician contributed to Irish music in a unique way. I am going to explore his musical influences and style and his inspirational sources, and show how Carolan’s music has continued to shape Irish music both during his lifetime, throughout history and in recent times.
Childhood and educational influences. O’ Carolan is known as a harpist and composer of what is nowadays regarded as traditional Irish music. He was born in 1670 in County Meath and grew up in the Roscommon / Leitrim district. At a time in Irish history, when the native Gaelic and Old English families were declining due to plantations and confiscations by the English Crown, Carolan’s father was working for the Mac Dermott Roe family as a blacksmith. It was of great importance for his future path in music that Carolan received an education in native poetry and music by the Cruise family, who despite having lost their property, continued to run the local school.
A person with much influence throughout Carolan’s youth was Mrs. Dermott Roe who provided for his education as a young boy. When he contracted small pox which left him blind at the age of eighteen she supported him for three years and helped him to complete his training as a harpist under Maire Mac Dermott Roe, to who O’ Carolan would dedicate his final composition “Carolan’s Farewell to Music”. The foundations for his future had been laid and O’ Carolan began his career as an itinerant harper.
Inspirational sources and unique musical style. Turlough O’ Carolan’s background was the native Irish music.
In Carolans time there were three musical traditions in Ireland - art music, folk music and the harpers tradition. The harpers tradition served as a link between art and folk music and was the main
Bibliography: Texts Bell, Derek, Derek Bell on Carolans Music, www.askaboutireland.ie Turlough O’ Carolan - His Life and Legacy ,www.askaboutireland.ie Weiser, Glenn, About Turlough O’Carolan, www.celticguitarmusic.com www.oldmusicproject.com Images Turlough O’Carolan - The Official Site, www.turloughocarolan.net/photos