1. Irish Dance Music
Dancing is part of every culture and Irish culture is no different.
Our historical records do not show the music or the dance steps but we do know the names of several types of dances for example “The sword dance” and “The Haye”

2. Irish Dance Music
Music was unwritten and musicians played and learned tunes by ear.
Their tunes were passed from one generation to the next just like all Irish Music. They must have had excellent memories as a skilled musician could play any one of several hundred tunes on request.

3. Irish Dance Music
From the 1750s onwards, Dance Masters travelled from village to village.
They were often accompanied by a fiddler or piper.
They taught the jig, reel, hornpipe and set dances.
There are more than 7000 dance tunes.

4. Irish Dance Music Jig Time Signature 6 8
A single jig has the typical rhythm crotchet, quaver. The Three Note Jig
A fast single jig is often called a slide: Kerry Slide No. 2
A Double Jig has the typical rhythm 3 quavers. East of Glenart.
The slip/hop jig is in 9 8 time. Nead na Lachan Sa Mhuta

5. Irish Dance Music
Jigs: The Three Note Jig

6. Irish Dance Music
Jigs: East of Glenart

7. Irish Dance Music
Jigs: Nead na Lachan Sa Mhuta

8. Irish Dance Music The Reel The reel originated in Scotland.
It is a fast dance in 2 4, 4 4 or 2 2 time.
A typical rhythm is 2 groups of 4 quavers.
The round is played two/three times before a new reel is introduced.
Example: The Rakes of Mallow

9. Irish Dance Music
Reel: The Rakes of Mallow

10. Irish Dance Music
Reel: The Rakes of Mallow

11. Irish Dance Music Hornpipe This dance is of English origin.
It is in 4 4 or 2 2 time.
It is slower than a reel.
There is an accent on the first and third beat.
The rhythm is dotted. See board for an example.
Example: Harvest Home

12. Irish Dance Music
Hornpipe: Harvest Home

13. Irish Dance Music The Slide
The slide is a really fast single jig in 6 8 time
Traditionally it was heard in the areas of Clare, Cork, Limerick and Kerry.
It was particularly associated with Sliabh Luachra on the Cork/Kerry Border
The slide was often used for set dancing.

14. Irish Dance Music The Polka The Polka is a fast dance in 2 4 time
It is also associated with Clare, Cork, Limerick and Kerry but can be heard all over the country
This was also often used for these sets.

15. Irish Dance Music Set or long Dance These are solo dances.
They usually use a jig or hornpipe rhythm and the second section is longer than the first.
They required a very skilled performer.
Each tune has it’s own particular dance
E.g.. St. Patrick’s Day

16. Irish Dance Music Sets and Half-sets
These derived from the quadrille a French dance popular during Napoleon’s time
They were adapted with native steps and speeding up the the tempo to hat of a jig/reel.
Full set was 4 couples, a half set was two couples
Each area developed their own variation
E.g. The Kerry Set

17. Irish Dance Music
Structure of Irish Dance Tunes
There are usually 32 tune bars in total. This is called the round.
This is divided into two 16 bar sections.
The first section is called the Tune. This consists of an 8 bar phrase that is repeated (called A)
The second section is called the Turn. This also consists of an 8 bar phrase that is repeated (B)

18. Irish Dance Music
Structure of Dances