Celtic Music: A Complete Guide

Features

• Cover Type: Paperback with 384 pages
• Published by: Da Capo Press March 6, 2001
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 0306810077
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-0306810077
• Book Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Weighs: 1.1 pounds

Product Description
Celtic music means many things to many people. To some it recalls the Irish rebel songs of the Clancy Brothers, to others the ensemble playing of the Chieftains or Enya's ethereal vocals. Yet Celtic music is much more than reels, jigs, and sentimental ballads. It is also unaccompanied singing, feverish fiddle tunes, the sweet strains of the Irish uileann pipes. It comes not just from Ireland and Scotland but from Wales, Brittany, the Isle of Man, and Cornwall. It informs the musical roots of Van Morrison and U2, the performances of Riverdance, and the scores for such films as Braveheart and Titanic. Celtic Music explores all aspects of this music—from its roots to the exciting developments on the contemporary scene. Sawyers profiles hundreds of artists, and compiles suggestions for recommended listening as well as the one hundred essential Celtic recordings. Lists of Celtic festivals and publications are also included, together with record outlets, record labels, and music schools, making this book essential for all lovers of the music.

About The Author
A native of Glasgow, Scotland, June Skinner Sawyers is an editor and freelance writer. She is the resident expert in Celtic music for the Newberry Library in Chicago and a frequent contributor to the Chicago Tribune.

Reader Reviews
There are far too many people writing books. Those who can't write and who don't know what they're talking about should not be published. That also applies to some reviewers. The title of the above book alone should ring alarm bells: the term 'Celtic Music' is too large to be meaningful and in Ireland, for example, it is rarely used at all. It would have to include the music of Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Isle of Man, plus aspects of France, Scandinavia, Canada, US, Australia, New Zealand, etc. There is also a strong following of Irish music in Japan. Since the subject area is so massive and there are important differences between, say, Irish, Scottish, Welsh and Breton music then it is safer to use those terms - although even then careful qualifications are needed. 'A Complete Guide' is a grandiose and egotistical claim clearly the product of ignorance. There is no point in reiterating what "the reader" reviewer below said - she is a good reviewer but unfortunately did not leave her name so we could thank her. She highlighted very well the crucial weaknesses of this book. Her conclusion of "inaccuracies, inconsistencies and contradictory statements" sums it up well. It is annoying that writers like June Skinner Sawyers are allowed to produce such time-wasting material. Obviously the publishers are equally to blame. I saw this book in a shop once and realized very quickly it was useless: by having so many important mistakes a naive reader will not know what is correct and what is not. That's all that needs to be said about it. (I was forced to give the book one star only because amazon does not allow 0 stars.) I must also comment, though, on the appallingly bad reviewer who said: 'Celtic music uses aolian (sic) and lidean (sic) modes for many of its melodies - I didn't see this mentioned once.' No, Kate (Can't Spell) Smart, you wouldn't - because it is not true! Irish traditional music rarely uses the Aeolian mode, e.g. starting and ending on the note of B in the key of D. Furthermore, Irish tunes in the Lydian mode (please note again the correct spelling) are even more rare, e.g. starting and ending on the note of G in the key of D. (The only musicians I know who use Lydian are jazz players.) The most commonly used minor mode in Irish music is the Dorian, e.g. starting and ending on the note E in the key of D. Sometimes the mode of Mixolydian is used, e.g. starting and ending on note A in the key of D. (I have given the key of D major - or D Ionian - as the example because that is the most commonly used key in Irish traditional music, along with G major. The keys of A, C and F are played much less, mainly due to the limitations of traditional instruments such as two-row button accordions and tin whistles.) For those looking for a general book on Irish music I would recommend: Wallis, Geoff & Wilson, (2001) `The Rough Guide to Irish Music (Rough Guide Music Reference). ISBN 1 85828 642 5 For a book specifically about Irish traditional music: Vallely, Finton (1999) 'The Companion to Irish Traditional music'. Cork University Press. ISBN 1 85918 148 1. Comments (2) | | (Report this)