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Celtic Music

Celtic Musictrees, stars, the wind, the sun, the
The word ´Celtic´ (read ´keltick´) hasmoon and other things. This is often
found its way into the vocabulary of thereflected in their music. However, this
modern man. Even though it used to benation also accepted Christianity (some
mentioned mostly in contexts dealingsources claim this to be in the 6th
with history, nowadays you can find thecentury with St. Patrick, some claim it
´Celtic´ label on many products andwas much earlier) and many of them
projects. Some sources say that it isstopped believing and worshipping the
now officially ´cool to be Celtic´.creation and started singing about the
Hundreds of people have recently come upCreator, the One who had made the wind,
with some ´Celtic stuff´, everythingthe stones and the trees, the One who
from doing music and dancing to, forhad kindled the stars.
instance, cooking.Because of rising popularity of this
The popularity of Celtic music isstyle (sometimes not only a style of
constantly soaring and it deserves to bemusic, but even a style of living), you
mentioned when discussing modern music,can buy a lot of trash if you just go
not only music of the British Isles.around buying things labelled ´Celtic´.
Most of the world is surely familiarTherefore, be careful when buying
with the music of the famous Enya andyourself presents.
some of you may have heard MikeMaíre Brennan
Oldfield´s utterly Celtic CD Voyager.Maíre Brennan is definitely not a novice
Another rather well known Celtic projectin the field of Celtic music. If you
is Riverdance. These are only a fewhaven´t heard of her, you must have
examples out of many. The music has theheard about her sister, Enya. Maíre
sound of the highlands, the sound of theplays the Celtic harp and the keyboards.
past as well as the present of theShe sings either in English or her
Scots, the Welsh and the Irish. Celticnative Gaelic. She is the founding
blood flows through the veins of manymember of the band Clannad and since
Europeans and Americans and, it seems,1992 has been making solo albums, too.
we are somehow returning to this ancientClannad has been around since 1973. They
heritage.were pioneers in using Celtic motives in
Traditionally, Celtic musicians usepopular music and seventeen bestselling
acoustic instruments or unaccompaniedrecords brought them world-wide
vocals. However, you will find manypopularity. The band was formed by
modern bands who are usingMaíre´s two uncles and two younger
less-traditional instruments, such asbrothers. Her sister, Enya, left Clannad
electric and bass guitars, keyboards,after singing with them for three years.
drums, mandolins, etc. to create theirTheir first performances took place in a
distinctive Celtic features. You can buypub owned by Maíre´s father. Many people
CD´s with Celtic lullabies, Celticcriticized their singing in Gaelic, but
hymns, Celtic Christmas carols, Celticthis feature helped them form their own
rock, Celtic dance music and even Celticidentity and start a new music style.
techno. Despite this variety, in mostMany years have passed since their first
cases the music manages to bring theshows. Their music has continued to
beauty, the richness, the joy and mirth,improve and their fame has risen.
and the ideals of the old Celts to ourClannad´s music was even used in many
present-day world.popular movies, such as Robin Hood and
The traditional instruments include, forThe Last of the Mohicans. The world can
example, the tin whistle (you can hearalso hear Maíre´s voice in the duet ´In
it in Celine Dion's My Heart Will Goa Lifetime´ with Bono, the lead singer
On), Uillean pipes, highland pipes,of U2. She has also had a share in the
bodhran (a special drum played by hand),film Titanic, where her song ´Come
Celtic harp and others. The lyrics toJosephine, in My Flying Machine´ was
the music are, if not in English, inused. In 1999, Clannad´s album Landmarks
Gaelic (the old language of the Celts,was awarded a Grammy.
which is still used in some rural partsMaíre´s solo projects were not enjoying
of northern Scotland and some islands toas much success as Clannad´s. The first
the north of Britain) or other Celticsolo album that was recognised by
languages, such as Welsh or Irishcritics was Perfect Time, which came out
Gaelic.in 1998. Whisper to the Wild Waters
The themes of Celtic music are many.arrived a year later and satisfied both
Beside tunes telling of everyday simplefans and critics. Both albums have a
things, there are songs celebratingChristian message in them, one of hope,
nature and its beauty. It is known thatlove and peace.
the Celts worshipped nature, stones,



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