Music Theory
I've been thinking a little about musical theory lately, a subject I am by no means qualified to write about, however this is exactly why this website exists; it is a canvas for this kind of unrequested mental diarrhea. I am aware that the term 'diarrhea' carries some baggage with it, but I don't think it is a word that always reflects on the quality of these posts... it just often does.
That being said, here goes a quick though: I've been listening to a lot of traditional music the past couple years, mostly Irish rebel music which centers largely on the period starting with the Easter Rising massacre in 1916 through the troubles of later times. I think there is something about great tragedy and the constant struggle against an unrelenting political pressure that brings out extremes in human nature, and this I think is the root of why tradition Irish music is just so good. The Irish conscience of the past hundred years has been molded into an expressive force by the British occupation and this can be seen in the poetry and songs which have resulted. I know that Ireland isn't unique in using words and song to express rebellion, but the way they do it is what I find so interesting; the melodies, the prose and the song structure.
There is a dark side to rebel music; Ireland is no exemption. Sometimes when I listen to these songs I can't help but wonder if the bands aren't glorifying certain historical occurrences that would best be thought of in a more... sober light.
I the thesis here is that tragedy shapes a people's expressiveness. I'd like to do some more research on what makes the Irish scene unique.
As a closing thought... the more I listen to traditional music, the more I can't stomach 'modern' songs. Really, seeing a performer on a stage singing yet another 'love song' or whining about life in middle class suburban America makes me throw up a little in my mouth. No substance, no quality!
That being said, here goes a quick though: I've been listening to a lot of traditional music the past couple years, mostly Irish rebel music which centers largely on the period starting with the Easter Rising massacre in 1916 through the troubles of later times. I think there is something about great tragedy and the constant struggle against an unrelenting political pressure that brings out extremes in human nature, and this I think is the root of why tradition Irish music is just so good. The Irish conscience of the past hundred years has been molded into an expressive force by the British occupation and this can be seen in the poetry and songs which have resulted. I know that Ireland isn't unique in using words and song to express rebellion, but the way they do it is what I find so interesting; the melodies, the prose and the song structure.
There is a dark side to rebel music; Ireland is no exemption. Sometimes when I listen to these songs I can't help but wonder if the bands aren't glorifying certain historical occurrences that would best be thought of in a more... sober light.
I the thesis here is that tragedy shapes a people's expressiveness. I'd like to do some more research on what makes the Irish scene unique.
As a closing thought... the more I listen to traditional music, the more I can't stomach 'modern' songs. Really, seeing a performer on a stage singing yet another 'love song' or whining about life in middle class suburban America makes me throw up a little in my mouth. No substance, no quality!
Labels: IRA, Ireland, music, rebel music
posted by doeman at
11:42 PM
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