1. Irish Traditional Music

2. Jigs, Reels & Hornpipes There are 3 main types of tune in Irish music -Jigs, Reels and Hornpipes -You can recognise each one by its beat, tempo and style.

3. Reels Reels are FAST and in 4/4 time! Mainly quavers, to keep up the speed. Occasional ‘triplets’ to maintain interest. These can be ‘bowed’ or ‘fingered’.

4. Reels Are the easiest to understand… …they are FAST and in 4/4 time! Generally has 2 sections of 8 bars each Part A = 8 bars Part B = 8 bars Combine reels in various keys to create a SET.

6. Jigs This is the most ‘famous’ or ‘stereotypically’ Irish dance tune. They are in 6/8 time – you can count them with 2 beats in a bar, each divided into 3. If all else fails, go ‘diddle-de-diddle-de-diddle’ and see if it fits!

7. Jigs Jigs ‘feel’ like 2 strong beats in a bar. But they are grouped in 3’s. This makes them sound ‘jumpy’ or ‘diddly’

9. Hornpipes These are sailor’s dance tunes They are a STEADY tempo in 4/4 …and they are DOTTED!

10. Hornpipes The quavers in a Hornpipe are played DOTTED This means the whole tune is slower and sounds like a ‘skipping’ pattern

12. 3 types of tune… ReelJigHornpipe Time Signature4/46/8Dotted 4/4 TempoFASTFAST/MEDIUMSTEADY FeelFast and frantic quavers Jumpy, bouncy triplets Steady skipping rhythm

13. Here are some common features of Irish music…. 1.A & B SECTIONS - most tunes have 2 sections (A+B), 8 bars each 2.AURAL TRADITION – passed on by EAR 3.FREEDOM TO INTERPRET THE MUSIC – lots of variety in the music Regional variation techniques include ORNAMENTATION & IMPROVISATION 4. SOCIAL PLAYING - playing for dances, or in the pub!

14. Slip Jigs Slip Jigs are EXTENDED jigs. They have the same number of bars in each phrase, but the have an extra group of quavers in each bar. JigsSlip Jigs Time Signature6/8 2 groups of 3 9/8 3 groups of 3 Phrases2 or 4 bars 4 or 8 ‘beats’ 2 or 4 bars 6 or 12 ‘beats’

15. Slip Jigs