As part of my cultural immersion research for IrishFirebrands, I began looking for Irish or “Celtic” Traditional music. I wasn’t too enthused about the popular brand of Irish “set dancing” that had been touring the world for several years, but fortunately, fairly early on, I discovered this performance – and I was hooked on “seán-nós” dancing. (click on image to watch)
ComhaltasLive #272-5: Seán Nós Dancing by Brian Cunningham
Later, I purchased a few albums of compatible listening (discography appears in blog footnotes).
Eventually, my Trad favorites from these albums evolved into a “soundtrack” that was keyed to particular characters or episodes in the book (bold items have URL links, or they can be heard below; some different album covers are shown).
As part of my cultural immersion research for IrishFirebrands, I began looking for Irish or “Celtic” Traditional music. I wasn’t too enthused about the popular brand of Irish “set dancing” that had been touring the world for several years, but fortunately, fairly early on, I discovered this performance – and I was hooked on “seán-nós” dancing. (click on image to watch)
ComhaltasLive #272-5: Seán Nós Dancing by Brian Cunningham
Later, I purchased a few albums of compatible listening (discography appears in blog footnotes).
Eventually, my Trad favorites from these albums evolved into a “soundtrack” that was keyed to particular characters or episodes in the book (bold items have URL links, or they can be heard below; some different album covers are shown).
Chapter 26: Mo anmchara (Bridget Cruise) [Celtic Treasure]
Chapter 31: So Close and Yet So Far (Captain O’Kane) [Celtic Treasure]
Chapter 34: Now I am Forgiven (Bridget Cruise, reprise: from a different recording)
Planxty Burke/Planxty Drew – Shelly Phillips
Bridget Cruise/John O’Connor/George Brabazon – Domining Bouchaud and Cyrille Colas
The £5 Flute/Donald McLennan’s Exercise/What Pain I Have Endured Since Last Year – Old Blind Dogs
Colonel John Irwin – Maire Ni Chathasaigh and Chris Newman
Shetland Jumper/Message From Home/Wise Up, Grumpy – John McGann
Robert Jordan – Máire Ní Chathasaigh
A Walk On Belfast – The Belfast Harp Orchestra
Christy Barry’s Set – Kevin Crawford
The Humours Of Ballyloughlin – Máire Ní Chathasaigh
Fanny Power – El McMeen
Star Of The County Down – Deborah Henson-Conant
Eleanor Plunkett – Deanta
Lord Inchiquin – Deiseal
Carolan’s Concerto – John Whelan
Andy De Jarlis/Ingonish/Mrs. McGhee – Altan
Captain O’Kane – Seamus McGuire
Some writers want quiet while they work, but many others find inspiration in music. The genres of music that work for writing are probably as varied as there are writers, but writers who listen seem to be divided into two camps: those who can write to vocalists, and those who can only write to instrumental pieces.
Writers whose objection to any music is that it’s too distracting, may actually belong to the second group. If the only music they’ve tried (and failed) to write to is that of their favorite vocalists, perhaps they should get rid of the words. After all, words are what we work with, so it’s no wonder if some of us can’t hear The Little Voice Inside Our Heads if somebody else is yodeling in our ear buds.
I’m firmly in the instrumental camp. When I wrote IrishFirebrands, I listened to a variety of recordings, and I ended up with a great many playlists to accompany my writing moods, including selections from movie soundtracks, movie trailer pieces, and classical music.
I listen while I write, and I also play music when I go to bed at night. I play it very quietly, and I don’t set it to repeat (although if pain wakes me in the night, sometimes I play it again). My brain apparently uses the interludes of silence to consolidate the artificial “memories” that will later become creative writing, because I usually have more ideas, the next day. If I play continuous music all night, I don’t get those ideas.
Do you listen to music when you write? What kind?
If you enjoyed these selections, why not add the albums to your writer’s collection? You may get some interesting story ideas!
…
Celtic treasure: The legacy of Turlough O’Carolan. (1996). [Music recording]. Milwaukee, WI: Narada Media.
Celtic harpestry: A contemporary Celtic collection. (1998). [Music recording]. New York: Imaginary Road Records.
Dance of the Celts. (1997). [Music recording]. Milwaukee, WI: Narada Media.
He's an Irish political journalist who's in search of his past. She's an American professional genealogist who's trying to forget hers. But what's the real reason that keeps bringing them together?
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ComhaltasLive #272-5: Seán Nós Dancing by Brian Cunningham
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