Sean Nos and The Vocal Tradition
Songs in the Irish language are at the heart of Irish music and the most important belong to a tradition known as sean nos (literally "in the old style"). An unaccompanied singing style of great beauty and complexity, it is thought to derive in part from the bardic tradition which died out in the seventeenth century with the demise of the old Gaelic order, though other recent research has suggested links to North Africa. Hugely demanding for both singer and listener, it requires the skill of the former to vary the interpretation of each verse by means of subtle changes in tempo, ornamentation, timbre and stress, while the latter needs to possess the knowledge and discrimination to appreciate fully the singer's efforts. To the untutored ear it can easily "sound all the same", with its slightly nasal tone and unemotional manner of performance, but perseverance will lead to great rewards. Sean nos remains strongest in the Gaeltacht areas, especially Connemara, while the marvellous Iarla O'Lionaird (from west Cork) has taken the art form to international audiences, especially through his work with the roots-dance fusion outfit Afro Celt Sound System.
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