The fiddle is a key instrument in the traditional music of Ireland. It is the same type of instrument as the violin, but it is played in different ways depending on the region. During the time when sound recordings were made, some regional styles of playing the fiddle became more widely known, while others became less common.

Contemporary performers

Modern performers include: Liz Carroll (won first place in junior and senior fiddle competitions in Ireland); John Carty; Brian Conway; Matt Cranitch; Desi Donnelly; Martin Fay; Frankie Gavin; Cathal Hayden; Kevin Burke; Martin Hayes; Eileen Ivers (won first place in fiddle competitions nine times in Ireland); Seán Keane (fiddler); Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh; Maurice Lennon; Andy McGann; Sean McGuire; Dónal O'Connor; Brendan Mulvihill; Gerry O'Connor; Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh; Tommy Peoples; Bridget Regan; Marie Reilly; Paul Shaughnessy; Sean Smyth; John Sheahan; Fergal Scahill.

Fiddlers from Sligo, such as James Morrison and Michael Coleman, helped make Irish music popular in the United States during the 1920s. More recently, Michael Gorman also had a big impact. John Doherty, a fiddler from Donegal, was part of a large family of fiddlers. He traveled across Ireland and learned a wide variety of fiddle tunes. He was one of the last musicians who traveled widely to play fiddle music. He also knew many Scottish tunes, especially marches and highland music.

History

In 1674, Richard Head wrote about Ireland, stating, “On Sundays: In every field a fiddle, and the girls footing until they foam up.” This suggests the modern fiddle was already used in Ireland. John Dunton’s book Teague Land: or A Merry Ramble to the Wild Irish (1698) also mentions the Irish fiddle, describing how people gathered with pipers and fiddlers on Sundays and holidays to dance on village greens. In 1680, Thomas Dineley visited Ireland and wrote about music, noting that people danced and celebrated all night with pipers, harpers, or fiddlers. There is a 17th-century record of children in Cork learning to play the Irish fiddle.

During the 17th century, the fiddle was made in large numbers in Ireland, particularly in Dublin, by craftspeople such as Thomas Perry, Thomas Molineux, and John Neal. These makers based their work on styles from English violin makers, and many instruments were brought to Dublin from England.

An instrument found in Dublin during the 18th century was dated to the 11th century. Made of dogwood with an animal carved on its tip, it was believed to be the oldest bow in the world. However, it is unclear which instrument the bow originally belonged to. There may also be a mention of the Irish fiddle in the Book of Leinster, a text written around 1160.

Style

Compared to classical violin, Irish fiddlers use vibrato less often. Vibrato is used mainly in slow airs, and even then, it is used only a little. Like the rest of Irish traditional music, melodies are decorated with special musical notes, such as rolls, trebles, and cuts.

Irish fiddlers also use bowing techniques that are different from other fiddle traditions. For example, they often slide into the beat to create a bouncy rhythm. This style is similar to the Newcastle hornpipe style in England and Scotland, but in Ireland, this technique is not only used for hornpipes. Fiddlers may also slide over beats in a way that creates a natural backbeat in reels.

Slow airs are sometimes played on the fiddle, but the style is best known for fast, lively reels and jigs. Strathspeys, which are popular in Scottish fiddle music, are rarely played in Ireland. However, some tunes use dotted rhythm a lot. Examples include:

• The Wind That Shakes The Barley
• The Humours Of Lissadell
• The Maid Behind The Bar

Regional styles

Examples include the Sliabh Luachra and Donegal fiddle traditions. In Irish fiddling, not many composers are known because many tunes were learned by listening and shared from one generation to the next. Also, many players changed tunes to match their own style and preferences, so there are many different versions of a single tune.

Bibliographic resources

• Vallely, Fintan (1999). The Companion to Irish Traditional Music. Published by Cork University Press. Page 2. ISBN 0-8147-8802-5
• F. H. A. Aalen et al. (1997-07-19). Atlas of the Irish Rural Landscape (Hardcover). Published by University of Toronto. ISBN 978-0-8020-4294-1
• Fintan Vallely (1999). The Companion to Irish Traditional Music. Published by New York University Press. ISBN 0-8147-8802-5
• C. Mac Aoidh (1994). Between the Jigs and the Reels: The Donegal Fiddle Tradition. Published by Drumlin Publications
• D. McLaughlin (1992). Donegal and Shetland Fiddle Music. Published by Irish Traditional Music Society, University College, Cork
• M. McCarthy (2004). Changing cultural landscapes: the co-existence of musical genres in Irish culture and education. Irish Studies Review. Page 134. Published by Taylor & Francis
• M. McCarthy (2004). Changing cultural landscapes: the co-existence of musical genres in Irish culture and education. Irish Studies Review. Page 134
• Michael Robinson. "The Fiddle Music of Donegal." The Standing Stones
• Ken Perlman. "Sean McGuire: Master of The Irish Violin." The Irish Fiddle
• C. Mac Aoidh (1994). Between the Jigs and the Reels: The Donegal Fiddle Tradition. Published by Drumlin Publications. Page 125
• Tim McCarrick. "Famous Fiddlers, General Knowledge and Where to Get It Part Three." Mel Bay Publications, Inc.
• "Johnny Doherty." Rambling House. 2007-12-17
• D. McLaughlin (1992). Donegal and Shetland Fiddle Music. Published by Irish Traditional Music Society. Page 58
• Larry Sanger. "The Donegal Fiddle Tradition." EFX Studio. Retrieved 2008-03-08
• Feldman, Allen, and Eamonn O'Doherty. The Northern Fiddler: Music and Musicians of Donegal and Tyrone. Published by Blackstaff Press, Belfast. 1979
• Paul Dromey. "Doctor Liz has many strings to her bow." The Living Tradition. No. 36. Archived from the original on 2008-03-21. Retrieved 2008-03-08
• "Nuacht Vol. 8 No.4". County Donegal
• Barry Foy (March 1999). Field Guide to the Irish Music Session (Hardcover). Published by Roberts Rinehart Publishers. Page 89. ISBN 978-1-57098-241-5
• "The Donegal Fiddle". Irish Music Review
• "Summer 2006". Fiddler Magazine. Archived from the original on June 15