Garland Reference Library of the Humanities: Sources of Irish Traditional Music C. 1600-1855: An Annotated Catalogue of Prints and Manuscripts, 1583-1855 (Hardcover)

First Published in 1998.

Irish traditional music is one of the richest treasuries of folk music in the world.

Being an oral tradition, much of it has already been lost, and what has been recorded is only partially available in isolated collections.

Until now, no composite picture has yet been presented, showing its remarkable range and diversity over four centuries.

This volume covers Irish materials in general collections up to 1800 and in Irish collections up to and including Petrie' s Ancient Music of Ireland (1855).The purposes of the project are to identify Irish dance tunes and songs; to present the scholar with a mass of material showing the evolution of the Irish vocal and instrumental folk style, period by period, from the earliest recorded tune up to the middle of the last century; to put into circulation many of the splendid airs which were lost but have now been located.

Some 6,000 songs and dance tunes are presented, also including Scottish and English tunes.