Sean nós singing

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Sean-nós singing ( Irish sean-nós "old style") is a Gaelic , unaccompanied and heavily ornamented form of singing . It is the traditional form of singing in Irish-speaking Ireland and Gaelic-speaking Scotland.

features

There are numerous regionally and personally different styles. Nevertheless, there are some general characteristics of sean nós singing:

Sean nós singing is basically unaccompanied solo singing in the Irish language. The tempo and rhythm are free, and the melody varies from verse to verse and from one performance to the next. Typical is a rather hard, sometimes heavily nasalised , but never "sweet" voice.

The consonants l, m, n and r are often stressed and stretched, resulting in a drone- like sound. A glottal beat , not otherwise common in the Irish language, is often used.

The melody is decorated in a number of ways, e.g. B. by singing several notes on a single syllable (comparable to a double strike, mordent or appoggiatura , see ornament (music) ). In contrast, there is no vibrato and no variation in the dynamics in Sean nós singing .

The sean nós singing needs, much like a storyteller , an attentive audience and a more intimate, calm environment. Historically, it took place at more private gatherings, such as house céilís , dances, wakes and weddings. It was only with the decline of such traditional occasions that sean nós singing appeared in pubs , festivals and competitions.

history

It was only after the Gaelic League was founded in 1893 that sean nós chant was noticed in the English-speaking world. The term sean-nós was introduced in 1904 as a translation of traditional singing ("in the old style").

The age and origin of the sean nós chant itself are unknown. Most of the songs sung today were composed between 1600 and 1850.

Well-known representatives

literature

  • Fintan Vallely: The Companion to Irish Traditional Music. New York: New York University Press, 1999. ISBN 0-8147-8802-5

Web links

See also