Influences of

Irish Traditional Music on the Music of North America

Since the early 18th century, Irish imigrants have arrived on the shores of North America and
Canada, and many of them have taken their musical heritage with them. Influences of Irish
music can be heard in areas such as Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and Cape Breton in their
repertoires, musical forms, performing techniques and use of ornamentation.

The shared repertoire between Ireland and North America includes many songs and dance
tunes. One such song, ‘Rosey Connolly’, was collected by Edward Bunting in Derry in the
year 1811. This song was taken to North America and is now also known as the American
folk son, ‘Rose Connolly’. Another Irish song, ‘Siúil a Rún’, was collected in Wisconsin in
its English language version.

‘Fred Finn’s Polka’ is known as an American dance tune. However, its AABB structure is
very similar to the Irish dance structure. The beginning of the ‘B’ section is higher than the
‘A’ section but the part finishes in the same way as the ‘A’ section ends. This is how Irish
traditional musicians structure their tune parts.

Before playing their tunes on their instruments, the Athabaskan people of American north-
west first learn their tunes by lilting them. This means singing their tunes using nonsense-
words in order to become familiar with the melody. This is usually done using the same
nasal tone we associate with Irish sean-nós singing. Lilting is an Irish tradition which is still
practiced in the midland counties around Roscommon. There is also a lilting competition in
the Fleadh Cheoil every year.

The music of Cape Breton is mainly Scottish in origin. However, the

way in which musicians ornament their fiddle tunes with cuts, pats, rolls,
trebling and double-stops is a very recognisably feature of Irish fiddle
performance. “Green Velvet” performed by Cape Breton fiddler, Natalie
MacMaster, is highly ornamented with these ornaments and sounds
Natalie MacMaster similar in style to that of Sligo fiddler, Michael Coleman.

As with the folk music all over the Irish Diaspora, the folk music of North America features
many influences of Irish traditional music.