Celtic Music: A Complete Guide

by June Skinner Sawyers

Celtic music means many things to many people. To some it recalls the Irish rebel songs of the Clancy Brothers, to others the ensemble playing of the Chieftains or Enya's ethereal vocals. Yet Celtic music is much more than reels, jigs, and sentimental ballads. It is also unaccompanied singing, feverish fiddle tunes, the sweet strains of the Irish uileann pipes. It comes not just from Ireland and Scotland but from Wales, Brittany, the Isle of Man, and Cornwall. It informs the musical roots of Van Morrison and U2, the performances of Riverdance, and the scores for such films as Braveheart and Titanic. Celtic Music explores all aspects of this music—from its roots to the exciting developments on the contemporary scene. Sawyers profiles hundreds of artists, and compiles suggestions for recommended listening as well as the one hundred essential Celtic recordings. Lists of Celtic festivals and publications are also included, together with record outlets, record labels, and music schools, making this book essential for all lovers of the music.

Genres: Music, Irish Literature

384 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2001

About the author

Born in Glasgow, Scotland, June Skinner Sawyers is the author or editor of more than twenty books, many with a Celtic theme, including Celtic Music; Dreams of Elsewhere: The Selected Travel Writings of Robert Louis Stevenson; Praying with Celtic Saints, Prophets, Martyrs, and Poets; The Road North: 300 Years of Classic Scottish Travel Writing; and The Scots of Chicago: Quiet Immigrants and Their New Society.

Her essays, Weeping Willows and Long Black Veils: The Country Roots of Rosanne Cash, from Scotland to Tennessee appeared in Walking the Line: Country Music Lyricists and American Culture and Celtic Music in America in The Encyclopedia of Music and American Culture, respectively. In addition, her work has appeared in Scottish Tradition, The Chicago Tribune, The San Francisco Chronicle, Sing Out!, Dirty Linen, Booklist and The Common Review. In 2013, she was the recipient of the Flora Macdonald Award from St. Andrews University in Laurinburg, North Carolina, which is given to a woman of Scots birth or descent who has made an outstanding contribution to the human community.

Reviews

[Russ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good overview of the history and styles of traditional (and not) Celtic music.

The first chapter asks the question - what is Celtic music? The rest of the book answers the question, and the answer is more complex than you thought.

I learned a lot from this book, and I'm a pretty big fan of Irish and Scottish music. The author does a great job of connecting developments in traditional music with trends and moments in history. The subject matter covers nearly everything - songs in Gaelic, ballads, instruments, bagpipes, even rock and roll. I especially enjoyed the section on country music (it has roots in the old country, you know.)

What could have been better? Well, being an overview, none of these topics are covered in the depth they really deserve. Any of the artists discussed could have an entire book, or at least a chapter of a book, all to themselves.

I also thought there should have been more discussion of music from Wales, Cornwall, and other Celtic nations. We've heard so much about Ireland and Scotland - what else is out there?

If you're a fan of Celtic music, however you want to define it, this is a good book to read. No matter your level of expertise, you'll learn something. If you have no clue about Celtic music, this book will get you up to speed. Best of all, the author gives you 100 recordings to buy and enjoy. If you don't know where to start, that list is a good resource.

[Bryant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although it's not a huge book, which the subject near demands, The author does a great job of bringing to light some subjects of confusion. Being a Celtic musician myself I had a blast with this book. It opened up some serious avenues for exploration.