The Inspirations
These are a few of the voices and pens that have carried the torch of the Celtic song traditional in modern times.The songs don't stand alone. To truly appreciate the songs of the Celtic traditions, and the living tradition as carried on by modern bards who both sing the old songs and write original songs, you must understand the context of the tradition. A full-immersion experience aside, the best way to do that is to listen to the voices that come from the same places the songs do... the voices of those who grew up with "just songs" -- the people who say "they weren't 'folk' or 'traditional' songs at home, they were just songs." And remember, the ones whose names we know are the ones whose lights have glowed bright and far. There are so many, many other voices that have kept the traditions alive and continue to do so. Seek them out.
Here are a few of the inspirations that drive the rest of us to learn songs and sing out. Who are your inspirations? Tell us!
Featured new web site: The Songs of Donagh MacDonagh
Cantaria Recommended Songbook List (with reviews!)
You've been asking for it, so here it is -- a list of our favorite print resources, complete with links to Borders.com so you can buy them NOW.Articles by Mattie Lennon from Co. Wicklow, Ireland
Bio and video review: The Songs of Sean McCarthy
Event report: The Bog isn't a place, it's a feeling
Band review: You're Welcome to the Rambling HouseModern minstrels on the Web
| A mere sampling of groups we like The Bards of Cantaria The Makem Brothers Schooner Fare Ed Miller - Songs of Scotland Tullamore Brollywacker Bodaich The Wherries |
Lists, databases and other directories of
musicians: |
E-books
Thomas D'Urfey's Wit and Mirth: or Pills to Puge Melancholy, volume II, 1719 -- digitized by Google Books
Volume 2 (best quality) Volume 2 (not as clean)
Volume 6A Little Book of Songs and Ballads, gathered from Ancient Musick Books by E.F. Rimbault, LLD &c.
General folk music/song resources
Music Publishers Association -- educate yourself about copyright law
Ceolas -- All about Celtic music
Sean nos singing -- a very good primer
Pre-1600 ballads
Classical Net
Traditional instruments
The definitive scots glossary (from the Tannahill Weavers)
Irish Traditional Music ArchiveSCA Minstrel home page -- Also has recordings of 16th century ballads and rounds. Check out the Ravenscroft Songbook and Watkin's Ale.
The Black Book of Locksley, from Ioseph of Locksley
Lucillus' Songbook of Filks
Gyldenholt Circle of Bards -- be sure to see the "Bardic Primer," mainly for SCA bards, but good information for all folk performers.
House Lindsey Songbook
The Early Music FAQ
Period Story Telling Sources
Jester's Court -- Fyne musick and storytelling from many folk traditions
Places to talk about traditional songs and music with others
The Bard Board -- just around the corner here at chivalry.com!
Yahoo! Irish Traditional Singing Club
Yahoo! Irish Traditional Music club
Yahoo! Scottish/Irish Folk Music club
Mudcat Cafe folk song message board
rec.music.celtic (Usenet news group)
Traditional Song Forum (see the message board)Lyrics resources
Digital Tradition Folk Song Database (original)
Digital Tradition Folk Song Database (mirror site)
The Contemplator
History of Ireland in Song (well researched!)
Celtic-lyrics.com
The Complete Guide to Robert Burns
Liam Clancy's collection of lyrics and chords
Makem Central lyrics (no chords or tunes)
Seppo J Niemi's Irish song lyrics lots of lyrics
Koala's List of Lyrics Sites
Dick Gaughan's song archive
SongFile -- lyrics and licensing
Irish folk song lyrics -- a few midis
MySongBook -- lots of lyrics and midi tunes
Sea Shanties (with some midi files)
International Shanty and Seasong Association
American Folklore: Sea Shanties
Gaelic lyrics -- many songs have ABC notation
Koala's List of Lyric's Sites -- very comprehensive
Rick's Music pages -- lots of Irish songs and shanties (searchable, too!)
Bruce Olson's source list for songs and tunes
Researching songs so you can pay royalties? Here is a page with contact addresses: http://www.freefolk.com/tdartistes.htmTunes, tunes and more tunes
JC's ABC music site
Richard Darsie's Tuneweb
Henrik's Traditional Tunes and Songs
The Virtual Tunebook
Taylor's Traditional Tunebook (midi files)
Barry Taylor's Irish, Scottish, Welsh, English, etc. midi files
Chris Ricker's Irish Music Page -- lots of fiddle tunes
The Modern Middle Ages
SCA Official home page
The SCA Arts & Sciences page
SCA -- Medieval Reenactment Page
SCA Geography -- all KingdomsMedia resources
Sing Out! Magazine
Irish Music Magazine
Dirty Linen
Folkfire Magazine (St. Louis and surrounding region)
Misc
Diddlee Dee -- Jim McGinn's photograph archive of major figures in Irish traditional music -- fantastic!
Oral Tradition