Music in Ireland

From earliest times, Ireland has been an intensely musical country. In Gaelic Ireland, in the Middle Ages, the harp was the main instrument, so much so that in the seventeenth century it was adopted as the arms of Ireland. Unfortunately the old music was not written down, and none survives. The works of early harpist Turlough O'Carolan, who died in 1738, have survived however, and are still played today. After the great Belfast Harp Festival of 1792, many of the traditional airs of the time were transcribed; some became widely popular in the following century.

Classical As the music of the old Gaelic order died, the European tradition came to Ireland. Handel wrote much of the Messiah oratorio in Dublin, where its premiere was held in 1742. John Field, who died in Moscow in 1837, created the nocturne; this Irish composer was a considerable influence on Mozart. Two nineteenth century composers of great popularity were Michael Balfe (The Bohemian Girl) and Vincent Wallace (Maritana). Charles Villiers Stanford, from Dublin, was a profound influence on the English musical scene in the late nineteenth century, as Professor of Music at Cambridge University and as a prolific composer. Northern conductor and composer Hamilton Harty was also a major figure in British music in the first three decades of this century. In more recent times, noted Irish composers have included Seoirse Bodley, Brian Boydell, A. J. Potter and Gerard Victory.

The musical life of Ireland is now enjoying a veritable renaissance. In Dublin, the opening of the National Concert Hall has provided facilities to world standard; the National Symphony Orchestra, funded by RTE, the state broadcasting organisation, and recently expanded, performs there with many renowned soloists, including John O'Conor, the world-famous pianist. In Northern Ireland, the Ulster Orchestra has established a firm reputation for itself, both in the province and beyond its shores; a newcomer among soloists is Barry Douglas from Belfast, winner of the 1986 Tchaikovsky competition in Moscow for pianists from all over the world.

Modern Irish traditional music has enjoyed a great revival in the last twenty years. The Fleadh Cheoil traditional music festivals have encouraged younger people to discover the old folk music. Seán Ó Riada, who died tragically young in 1971 at the age of forty, has had an immense influence. He married traditional music to classical patterns, with the aim of creating truly Irish art music. He inspired such groups as The Chieftains. Besides traditional music, Ireland has developed a recent tradition in country music, as well as its own rock music and bands. The earliest rock musician to attract world-wide fame was Van Morrison, from Northern Ireland, still writing and singing after twenty years. More recent performers have included Bob Geldof and the Boomtown Rats, Rory Gallagher and Thin Lizzy, not to mention the worldwide success of U2. Phil Coulter, from Derry, is an accomplished light music composer and performer.

Over the years, Ireland has had a reputation for producing outstanding musical performers, from Count John McCormack and Margaret Burke Sheridan, whose singing careers reached their peaks earlier this century, to Bernadette Greevy, today's top classical singer from Ireland, and Bono of U2. With the present revival of musical fortunes, in all the traditions, no doubt Ireland has yet another generation of composers and performers ready to burst upon the world stage.