Features of Irish Musical Instruments

Irish musical instruments all possess distinctive features.

The violin, the penny whistle, the flute, the harmonica and the harp are instruments all associated with Irish music. Although each instrument possesses its own unique features, the fusion of sounds created by these instruments can make harmonious-sounding music. The following musical instruments are at the heart of the Irish music scene.

The Violin

The violin or fiddle is a bowed string instrument traditionally associated with Celtic music. According to the Library Think Quest website, the length and tension of the strings affect the frequency at which the strings vibrate. The bow is cited as a means of causing the strings to vibrate and thus creating sound. The website maintains that the sound discerned by the listener depends on the timbre of the violin, the shape of the resonant box (the main body of the instrument) and the type of varnish and wood used.

The Penny Whistle

The penny whistle is a simple folk instrument which is commonly played among Irish music circles. A woodwind instrument, the penny whistle derives from earlier cousins such as the tin whistle and the hornpipe. According to the Timmy A Bell website, the penny whistle has six tone holes and plays two whole octaves in a specific key. According to the website, the instrument is widely available in the keys of Bb, Eb, D, G, C or F.

The Flute

The flute is a popular woodwind instrument that plays a prominent role in Irish music. The Hyper Physics website describes the flute as an open cylindrical air column, its principle pitch being middle C. According to the website, sound is made from a flute by blowing onto a sharp edge, prompting air bound in a tube to vibrate. The instrument boasts open-standing keys and finger pads to shield large finger holes. The Hyper Physics website concedes that European flutes tend to be made of wood, whereas silver is generally used in the U.S.

The Harp

One of the largest of all string instruments, the harp is commonly linked to Celtic music. According to the Affairs of the Harp website, the modern orchestral harp has 47 strings and the double action harp was later designed to enable the performer to alter the pitch of each string between sharp, natural and flat by moving a pedal between three separate positions. The website states that the strings are shortened or lengthened by an intricate mechanism which runs from the pedals, through the column and into the neck.

References

• Affairs of the Harp: About the Harp
• Hyper Physics: The Flute
• Irish Music: Traditional Irish Music
• Library Think Quest: Introduction
• Timmy A Bell: The Penny Whistle