Irish Instruments

Here's a list of traditional Irish instruments:

• Fiddle/Violin
• Irish Flute
• Banjo
• Tin Whistles
• Clairseach
• Uillean Pipe
• Irish Boeuzouki
• Accordion
• Bodhran
• Mandolion
• Concertina/Angalo Concertina

Instruments were important throughout Irish history. There was a point where the wealthiness of a person dictated what instrument they'd play. Instruments played by the wealthy was the Clairseach Harp and the Pipes. Where as the poorer people more than likely had Tin Whistles, Flute or the Fiddle. The percusion instruments came from what people had around them, like dried our gourds, roots and seeds, metal pods, animal skins and sapling trees which made drones.

The bodhran has a questionable history because the history of the bodhran was handed down through word of mouth. They're several tales of how the bodhran came to be and one of them is that it was a traditional instrument. That it came from a sieve-like tool (used for separating chaff from the grain) everyone had around their homes. People used it as a household appliance to carry food, store items etc. It would be a rare occasion if they brought it out for musical purposes, however they brought it out about once a year for a traditional holiday they had.

Another one is that it came to to be when the Roman Empire or the Arabic traders came through and they brought a frame drum along which is essentially the same as a Bodhran.

References

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXccNOUTe7o (Accessed 12th October 2013)