Cultural Matters: Scottish Music (Traditional, Folk, and Celtic)

While most people think only of the Scottish bagpipe (which after centuries is still a vibrant form of music) Scottish music is much more varied and expansive than that limited viewpoint. Today's post deals with Scottish musical genres over the centuries -- all of which are still played and enjoyed today.

Traditional Scottish Musical Genres

Clarsach (Scottish harp music)

One of 3 surviving medieval harps -- Museum of Scotland

One of the earliest forms of music in Scotland, the Scottish harp is first seen in the stone carvings of the Picts in the 600s and 700s.

Using horsehair for strings, the clarsach (it's Gaelic name) spread from Scotland to England and Ireland and on to Europe. Harpists were highly prized in the medieval periods, playing for kings, featured on royal regalia, and playing for coronations and other official functions. Today, Edinburgh hosts the International Harpists Festival.

Tin Whistle music

Dating back in Scotland to at least the medieval period (although similar whistles have been discovered going all the back to the Neanderthals), tin whistles are a mouth-blown, six-holed woodwind. Below, a performance of Loch Lomond played on a tin whistle.

Bagpipe music

Although most closely identified with Scottish culture, bagpipes are actually found in many parts of the world. Initially a Highlands instrument dating back to the 1400s and 1500s, it spread throughout the British Isles and colonies in the 1700s and 1800s with the British army, when large numebrs of Highlanders joined up post-1745. Most of what's played todya is on the Great Highland Bagpipe although many different bagpipes were found in Scotland

Scottish fiddle music

First mentioned in a Scottish publication in 1680, Scottish fiddling became very popular in the 1700s in both Scotland and the British colonies. While it formed the basis for much of American folk music, traditional Scottish fiddling is still quite popular today. Below is a performance by Katie Boyle from Glagsow:

Scottish Accordion music

Usually played for dances, Scottish accordions have long been popular. Below is a performance by Sandy Brechin of Edinburgh playing accordion dance tunes.

Cèilidh (country dance music)

The word, which originated in Ireland, means "companion" and originally referred to any social gathering. But later it came to mean specifically dances. As should be clear by now, much of Scottish music involves dancing and communal celebration. Below is someone playing the bagpipes at a 2002 ceilidh.

Bothy Band music

From 19th Century Scottish farming communities where married couples lived in cottages called touns and single men lived together in a bothy (shelter). Often these single men formed bands for dances and celebrations. They utilized fiddles, accordions, bagpipes, and tin whistles. Below is a folk revival band from 1977, The Bothy Band

Folk Revival

By the mid-1960s, many musicians were rediscovering the older Scottish instruments and songs and began to revive them, as well as experiement and mix the genres together. Below are several popular Scottish folk performers.

Corries

Hamish Imlach

Popular in US and Europe in the burgeoning 1960s folk music scene, he combined original songs with traditional Scottish folk tunes. His in-between rants were often more popular than the music itself.

Street Songs


Erin Go Bragh

Billy Connolly

Known primairly as a stand-up comic and actor (Boondock Saints, Head of the Class), he began as a folk singer. Here is a recent recording of his called "I Wish I Was in Glasgow."

Red Hot Chili Pipers

A Scottish ensemble that plays mdoern songs on traditional instruments. 

Clocks by Coldplay

We Will Rock You by Queen

Clann An Drumma

 From Glasgow, their name means "Children of the Drum." They focus on the more "tribal" aspects of early Scottish muisc, with lots of durms and pipes. Their music was featured in another Mel Gibson film, We Were Soldiers.

Battlefield Band

A popular Glasgow-based Scottish traditional music band. They have recorded more than 30 albums.

Slainte

This group's name comes from the traditional Scottish toast for "good health".

The Clutha

A Glasgow-based Scottish folk band that formed in the 1970s.

Silly Wizard

A Scottish folk band from Edinburgh that began in 1970.

Tannahill Weavers

Began in 1968 in Paisley, Scotland.

Celtic Music

Often a fusion of different "celtic" styles (Irish, Scottish, English, Spanish, Middle Eatsern), this genre is more a modern interpretation of what is thought to be Celtic. Often has a dreamlike, mystical quality. It is more New Age than historical.

Braveheart soundtrack

The Mel Gibson film soundtrack by James Horner helped popularize the Celtic music scene.Below is the film's main theme.

Celtic Women

This all-female ensemble evolved out of the popular Riverdance phenomenon. Like a lot of modern Celtic music, it is a blending of Scottish and Irish traditions.

Peatbog Faeries

A Celtic fusion band from the Isle of Skye. Mixes traditional music with modern club dance music.

Loreena McKinnett

A Scottish-Canadian, McKinnett mixes Scottish, Irish, Middle Eastern and other traditons together to form a unique sound.Below is a song called "Beltane Fire."