Traditional Irish singing is the singing of traditional songs in the native styles such assean nós. Though some people considersean nós to particularly refer to singing in the Irish language, the term "traditional singing" is more universally understood to encompass singing in any language, as well aslilting.[1][2]
Some of the characteristics of traditional Irish songs might be
In contrast,Irish ballad singing might be thought of as differing in several respects, even if it is also sometimes referred to as traditional.
Thecourtly love song genre came to Ireland from Norman France between the 13th and 15th centuries.[3]
The term "source singer" is generally understood to describe singers in the past who received their style and repertoire through the oral tradition, whether that be through a family lineage or social circumstance. In the past, many such source singers were deemed so upon "discovery" by field researchers such asCecil Sharp,Alan Lomax,Hamish Henderson,Pete Seeger,Ewan MacColl, or other song collectors who were prominent in the 1950s and 1960s. Although far from precise, the phrase sometimes was used to draw a distinction with revival singers, whose style and repertoire were perceived as adulterated by contact with written and other second-hand sources. The distinction today in the 21st century is harder to draw.
