The fiddle is an important instrument in both traditional and modern Irish music. The fiddle is the same instrument as the violin but is played in a different style. For each region in Ireland, there is a different style of fiddling. The most well-known fiddle traditions are from Donegal, Sligo, Sliabh Luachra and Clare.

Most people are familiar with the Sligo tradition of fiddle music, due to it being played by famous fiddlers such as Lad O’Beirne, Michael Coleman, John McGrath, James Morrison and Paddy Killoran, who popularized Irish music in the United States in the 1920’s and 1930’s.

Contemporary fiddle players include Brendan Mulvihill, Paddy Cronin, Peter Horan, James Kelly, Martin Hayes, Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh, Cathal Hayden, Paul O’Shaughnessy, Matt Cranitch, Frankie Gavin, Paddy Glackin, Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, Maire Breatnach and Gerry O’Connor. Notable American fiddlers include Winifred Horan, Liz Carroll and Eileen Ivers.

Not much is known about the composers of traditional Irish folk music, as much of it has been passed down from generation to generation without credit to the original writers. Irish traditional music for dancing was intended to be played at weddings, on saints’ days and for other special occasions.

Traditional Irish fiddle tunes are typically divided into two eight-bar strains, played as many times as the performer desires. Irish dancing is isometric; sixteen measures are known as a “step”, with eight for the right foot of the step and eight for the left. Traditional Irish dances and tunes include reels, hornpipes and jigs.

Music inspired by traditional Irish folk tunes has become very popular in recent decades. Van Morrison, Hothouse Flowers and Sinéad O’Connor have all made music featuring aspects of Irish folk music. The singer Enya has achieved monumental success with her fusion of New Age and Irish music. The Pogues were one of the first punk rock bands to blend Irish folk music into their songs. Their sound inspired American bands such as the Dropkick Murphys and Flogging Molly. Other noteworthy Irish bands include U2, who have also incorporated aspects of Irish fok music into their repetoire, as well as The Radiators From Space, The Boomtown Rats, My Bloody Valentine and the Cranberries.

Whether you are a fan of traditional Irish folk music or modern music with a folk twist, you are sure to enjoy the lively sound of an Irish fiddle. If you are interested in having Irish fiddle music for your wedding or other special event, contact us today.

When browsing wedding-related blogs, Style Me Pretty, a blog about wedding planning, posted a question posed by a bride-to-be which I found inspiring. The bride asked for suggestions for wedding ceremony processional music which was appropriate for the occasion but non-traditional. While “Here Comes the Bride” is lovely and classic, a modern bride may want to break from traditonal wedding music and opt for something unique and inventive for her wedding ceremony. One way to accomplish this is to choose pop music.

You can make your ceremony “pop” by taking a modern song and give it a classical twist. For example, one bride suggested walking down the aisle to “All You Need is Love” played by a classical string quartet. This would be a lovely choice if one had the Sparrow Lane String Quartet play at their wedding ceremony. Other suggestions from posters included:

• “Here Comes the Sun” by the Beatles
• “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”
• “Come Away With Me” by Norah Jones
• “In Your Eyes” by Peter Gabriel
• “Bittersweet Symphony” by the Verve
• “Isn’t She Lovely” by Stevie Wonder
• “Calico Skies” by Paul McCartney
• “Everlong (Acoustic)” by the Foo Fighters
• “All I Want Is You” by U2
• Film Scores (For example, “Storybook Love” from “The Princess Bride”)
• Musical Soundtracks

All of these would be excellent choices if played by a string quartet, a traditional wedding band, a solo violinist or on mandolin.

There are many more lovely pop songs which would translate well into a wedding ceremony if played by any of these bands. For ideas, take a look at your CD collection or iTunes playlist and make a list of songs which inspire feelings of love, romance and beauty within you. Just be sure that each song speaks about love and romance and is appropriate for the “feel” of your wedding. Keep this list at hand when you meet with your wedding band to design your wedding’s soundtrack and you will be sure to have an event to remember.

If you have any suggestions about pop songs which would sound lovely at a wedding ceremony, let us know!