Celtic Music
Celtic music is a popular type of folk music that uses specific instruments and traditional lyrics. Its roots can be traced as far back as the 1600s. This music is often popular for dancing and can be both rousing and soft. Many styles of Celtic music can be enjoyed throughout the world.
Ballads
The Scottish tradition of ballads has a long and rich history. Known as muckle sangs in Scots, ballads are long and sometimes complex songs about love, war, death, and betrayal. In the past, they were often learned as poetry and had a pedigree of many centuries. They were also shaped by print. According to Prof. Francis James Child, there were more than 300 different types of ballads.
Gaelic Harps
The Gaelic harp, also known as the Irish clarseach or the Scottish Gaelic clarsach, is an ancient instrument that can be traced back thousands of years. This type of harp has a huge soundbox carved out of solid wood, a curved neck, and is strung diatonically. The instruments have an ethereal quality and were often associated with kings and chiefs.
Bagpipes
The bagpipe has a long and rich history in Scottish music. It was often used as a battle cry, and Scottish Chieftains would hire a piper to perform at every event. However, Gaelic historian Hugh Cheape challenges the traditional view that the bagpipe was a weapon of war.
Accordion
The accordion has long been considered a Scottish musical instrument. However, despite the fact that the instrument’s name suggests it came from Scotland, its history dates far beyond the 17th century. In fact, the accordion’s development dates back centuries before Jimmy Shand recorded his first hit. While the instrument is a common musical instrument today, there is little published material about its history in the British Isles. This paper attempts to put the instrument’s long and thriving musical tradition in a social and historical context.