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{{Short description|Form of traditional singing common in areas of Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of |
{{Short description|Form of traditional singing common in areas of Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man}} |
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{{About||the soft drink|Lilt|the film|Lilting (film)}} |
{{About||the soft drink|Lilt|the film|Lilting (film)}} |
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{{lacking overview|date=February 2020}} |
{{lacking overview|date=February 2020}} |
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{{more citations needed|date=February 2023}} |
{{more citations needed|date=February 2023}} |
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'''Lilting''' is a form of traditional singing common in the [[Gaelic languages|Goidelic]] speaking areas of [[Ireland]], [[Scotland]] and the [[Isle of Mann]]. It goes under many names, and is sometimes referred to as ''diddling'' (generally in England and Scotland), ''mouth music'', ''jigging'', ''chin music'' or ''cheek music'', ''[[puirt à beul]]'' or ''[[canntaireachd]]'' in [[Scottish Gaelic]], or ''portaireacht bhéil'' (''port a'bhéil'', "mouth-singing") in [[Irish language|Irish]]. |
'''Lilting''' is a form of traditional singing common in the [[Gaelic languages|Goidelic]] speaking areas of [[Ireland]], [[Scotland]] and the [[Isle of Mann|Isle of Man]], though singing styles like it occur in many other countries. It goes under many names, and is sometimes referred to as ''diddling'' (generally in England and Scotland), ''mouth music'', ''jigging'', ''chin music'' or ''cheek music'', ''[[puirt à beul]]'' or ''[[canntaireachd]]'' in [[Scottish Gaelic]], or ''portaireacht bhéil'' (''port a'bhéil'', "mouth-singing") in [[Irish language|Irish]]. The syllables sung do not require any one-to-one corresponding note, and in this way it resembles [[scat singing]], and is distinguished from the singing of [[Tonic sol-fa|sol-fa]] or [[Sargam (music)|sargam]]. |
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==Features== |
==Features== |
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Lilting often accompanies dancing. Features such as rhythm and tone dominate in lilting and in the case of Irish lilting in particular, is intended to evoke the characteristic 'lilt' of traditional Irish music and specific instruments such as the [[Celtic harp]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Lilt of Irish Music |url=https://thecelticroom.org/playing-irish-music/irish-music-lilt.html |access-date=2023-02-10 |website=thecelticroom.org}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last=Piggot |first=Rowan |date=2017 |title=Diddling & Fiddling: The Importance Of Vocalising European Dance Music |url=https://www.rowanpiggott.com/uploads/2/5/3/8/25380664/diddling___fiddling.pdf |
Lilting often accompanies dancing. Features such as rhythm and tone dominate in lilting and in the case of Irish lilting in particular, is intended to evoke the characteristic 'lilt' of traditional Irish music and specific instruments such as the [[Celtic harp]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Lilt of Irish Music |url=https://thecelticroom.org/playing-irish-music/irish-music-lilt.html |access-date=2023-02-10 |website=thecelticroom.org}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last=Piggot |first=Rowan |date=2017 |title=Diddling & Fiddling: The Importance Of Vocalising European Dance Music |url=https://www.rowanpiggott.com/uploads/2/5/3/8/25380664/diddling___fiddling.pdf |journal=The Living Tradition |issue=118 |issn=1351-4105 |oclc=31509242}}</ref> The lyrics thus are often meaningless or nonsensical.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Covenant College |last2=Mullins |first2=Catherine |date=2014-11-04 |title=Blah, Blah, Blah: Making Sense of Nonsense in Irish Vocal Music |url=http://digitalcommons.cedarville.edu/musicalofferings/vol5/iss2/2/ |journal=Musical Offerings |volume=5 |issue=2 |pages=87–117 |doi=10.15385/jmo.2014.5.2.2|doi-access=free }}</ref> |
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==History== |
==History== |
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The origins of lilting are unclear. It might have resulted in part from the unavailability of instruments, whether because they were seen as too expensive or were banned.<ref>{{Cite web |orig-date=June 7, 1972 |title=Whistling And Lilting |url=https://www.rte.ie//archives/2017/0525/877851-whistling-and-lilting/ |access-date=2023-02-10 |website=RTÉ Archives |publisher=Hall's Pictorial Weekly |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/40869642 |title=The companion to Irish traditional music |date=1999 |publisher=New York University Press |others=Fintan Vallely |isbn=0-8147-8802-5 |location=New York |pages=50, 215 |oclc=40869642}}</ref> However, similar use of non-lexical syllables also feature in various traditional musical styles worldwide, including ''[[Music of Norway|tralling]]'' or ''trallning'' in Sweden and Norway.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> The history of lilting may be obscured in part because lilting is a largely oral tradition and has not been referred to by consistent names over time.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Williams |first=Sean |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/496099293 |title=Focus : Irish traditional music |date=2010 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=0-203-87089-1 |location=New York |pages=210–211 |oclc=496099293}}</ref> |
The origins of lilting are unclear. It might have resulted in part from the unavailability of instruments, whether because they were seen as too expensive or were banned.<ref>{{Cite web |orig-date=June 7, 1972 |title=Whistling And Lilting |url=https://www.rte.ie//archives/2017/0525/877851-whistling-and-lilting/ |access-date=2023-02-10 |website=RTÉ Archives |publisher=Hall's Pictorial Weekly |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/40869642 |title=The companion to Irish traditional music |date=1999 |publisher=New York University Press |others=Fintan Vallely |isbn=0-8147-8802-5 |location=New York |pages=50, 215 |oclc=40869642}}</ref> However, similar use of non-lexical syllables also feature in various traditional musical styles worldwide, including ''[[Music of Norway|tralling]]'' or ''trallning'' in Sweden and Norway.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> The history of lilting may be obscured in part because lilting is a largely oral tradition and has not been referred to by consistent names over time.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Williams |first=Sean |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/496099293 |title=Focus : Irish traditional music |date=2010 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-0-203-87089-1 |location=New York |pages=210–211 |oclc=496099293}}</ref> |
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According to modern folk musician Rowan Piggott, there is an unverified legend about lilting that claims it originates from the [[Cromwellian conquest of Ireland]] from |
According to modern folk musician Rowan Piggott, there is an unverified legend about lilting that claims it originates from the [[Cromwellian conquest of Ireland]] from 1649–1653 where bans on musical instruments required old songs to be passed down orally via singing or lilting.<ref name=":1" /> |
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At the turn of the 20th century lilting found increased popularity in local dance events known as "house dances" and "crossroads dances". Beginning the mid-1900s, lilting was increasingly performed as a recital or stand alone performance instead of accompaniment for dancing. Recital lilting is currently one of the multiple events performed at the annual traditional Irish musical festival, [[Fleadh Cheoil]], held by the non-profit organization [[Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann|Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (CCE)]].<ref name=":1" /> |
At the turn of the 20th century lilting found increased popularity in local dance events known as "house dances" and "crossroads dances". Beginning the mid-1900s, lilting was increasingly performed as a recital or stand alone performance instead of accompaniment for dancing. Recital lilting is currently one of the multiple events performed at the annual traditional Irish musical festival, [[Fleadh Cheoil]], held by the non-profit organization [[Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann|Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (CCE)]].<ref name=":1" /> |
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* [[Dolores O'Riordan]], singer of Irish rock band [[The Cranberries]] |
* [[Dolores O'Riordan]], singer of Irish rock band [[The Cranberries]] |
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* [[Siobhan Owen]], Welsh-born Australian celtic and classical singer, harpist |
* [[Siobhan Owen]], Welsh-born Australian celtic and classical singer, harpist |
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* TikTok duo, Absolute Lilth |
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== See also == |
== See also == |
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* [[Puirt à beul]], Scottish lilting |
* [[Puirt à beul]], Scottish lilting |
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* [[Waulking song]], unaccompanied Scottish traditional singing while fulling cloth |
* [[Waulking song]], unaccompanied Scottish traditional singing while fulling cloth |
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* [[Yodeling]] |
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== References == |
== References == |
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* [http://celticgrooves.homestead.com/CG_Fay_Seamus.html Seamus Fay, Cavan's lilter] |
* [http://celticgrooves.homestead.com/CG_Fay_Seamus.html Seamus Fay, Cavan's lilter] |
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* [https://www.itma.ie/dustybluebells/explore/playlists/lulling-and-lilting Lulling and Lilting, Irish Traditional Music Archive/Taisce Cheol Dúchais Éireann] |
* [https://www.itma.ie/dustybluebells/explore/playlists/lulling-and-lilting Lulling and Lilting, Irish Traditional Music Archive/Taisce Cheol Dúchais Éireann] |
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* [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4VpPMbsR6qlySyukjhYbna?si=9IbfZxYhR4WhmIiid-iyYA Spotify Playlist], lilting songs from Ireland |
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{{Music of Ireland}} |
{{Music of Ireland}} |
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Latest revision as of 09:24, 20 January 2024
 | This article lacks an overview of its topic. (February 2020) |
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (February 2023) |
Lilting is a form of traditional singing common in the Goidelic speaking areas of Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man, though singing styles like it occur in many other countries. It goes under many names, and is sometimes referred to as diddling (generally in England and Scotland), mouth music, jigging, chin music or cheek music, puirt à beul or canntaireachd in Scottish Gaelic, or portaireacht bhéil (port a'bhéil, "mouth-singing") in Irish. The syllables sung do not require any one-to-one corresponding note, and in this way it resembles scat singing, and is distinguished from the singing of sol-fa or sargam.
Features
[edit]Lilting often accompanies dancing. Features such as rhythm and tone dominate in lilting and in the case of Irish lilting in particular, is intended to evoke the characteristic 'lilt' of traditional Irish music and specific instruments such as the Celtic harp.[1][2] The lyrics thus are often meaningless or nonsensical.[3]
History
[edit]The origins of lilting are unclear. It might have resulted in part from the unavailability of instruments, whether because they were seen as too expensive or were banned.[4][5] However, similar use of non-lexical syllables also feature in various traditional musical styles worldwide, including tralling or trallning in Sweden and Norway.[5][2] The history of lilting may be obscured in part because lilting is a largely oral tradition and has not been referred to by consistent names over time.[5][6]
According to modern folk musician Rowan Piggott, there is an unverified legend about lilting that claims it originates from the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland from 1649–1653 where bans on musical instruments required old songs to be passed down orally via singing or lilting.[2]
At the turn of the 20th century lilting found increased popularity in local dance events known as "house dances" and "crossroads dances". Beginning the mid-1900s, lilting was increasingly performed as a recital or stand alone performance instead of accompaniment for dancing. Recital lilting is currently one of the multiple events performed at the annual traditional Irish musical festival, Fleadh Cheoil, held by the non-profit organization Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (CCE).[2]
Notable lilters
[edit]- Jimmy Ward
- Paddy Tunney
- Bobby Gardiner
- Len Graham
- Christine Primrose
- Karen Matheson and Mary Ann Kennedy demonstrate lilting on a BBC 2005 television series, The Highland Sessions, filmed in Killiecrankie, Perthshire
- Dolores O'Riordan, singer of Irish rock band The Cranberries
- Siobhan Owen, Welsh-born Australian celtic and classical singer, harpist
See also
[edit]- List of All-Ireland lilting champions
- List of traditional Irish singers
- Sean-nós singing, unaccompanied Irish traditional singing
- Puirt à beul, Scottish lilting
- Waulking song, unaccompanied Scottish traditional singing while fulling cloth
- Yodeling
References
[edit]- ^ "The Lilt of Irish Music". thecelticroom.org. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
- ^ a b c d Piggot, Rowan (2017). "Diddling & Fiddling: The Importance Of Vocalising European Dance Music" (PDF). The Living Tradition (118). ISSN 1351-4105. OCLC 31509242.
- ^ Covenant College; Mullins, Catherine (2014-11-04). "Blah, Blah, Blah: Making Sense of Nonsense in Irish Vocal Music". Musical Offerings. 5 (2): 87–117. doi:10.15385/jmo.2014.5.2.2.
- ^ "Whistling And Lilting". RTÉ Archives. Hall's Pictorial Weekly. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
- ^ a b c The companion to Irish traditional music. Fintan Vallely. New York: New York University Press. 1999. pp. 50, 215. ISBN 0-8147-8802-5. OCLC 40869642.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link) - ^ Williams, Sean (2010). Focus : Irish traditional music. New York: Routledge. pp. 210–211. ISBN 978-0-203-87089-1. OCLC 496099293.
