Irish Flute Songs

Traditional Irish music is an integral part of Irish culture, and the flute is one of Ireland’s most beloved instruments – an indispensable necessity in any trad session!

Irish Music Flutes were first brought to Ireland during the mid-1800s; initially made of bones before moving onto wood construction.

1. Sligo Style

The flute has long been one of the key instruments in Traditional Irish Music and remains an indispensable feature of Irish bands today. At its core is a simple transverse wooden flute with six holes made from wood, bamboo or deirin for maximum versatility and performance.

Irish flute styles vary considerably by region and family; Sligo boasts an intricate tradition of tin whistle-style flute play while other areas exhibit more elaborate ornamentation with foot-tapping rhythms and foot tapping rhythms.

As one way of exploring different regional styles is listening to recordings. Brian Conway, James Kelly and Liz Carroll offer modern fiddle recordings showcasing diverse regional styles.

2. Leitrim Style

The Leitrim Style of playing is highly distinct, having its origins in Sligo but also showing strong Leitrim traditions.

The flute is an instrument widely associated with Irish music. There are various styles of flute, but one popular form is known as a six-hole wood D-flute that typically pitches in D but can also be transposed to other keys.

This type of flute was initially employed as a reedless flute; however, most modern Irish session flautists opt for Boehm system silver flutes that mimic concert-pitch flutes more closely.

Flutists have various techniques at their disposal for altering the sound of their instrument. One common approach is adjusting lip positions.

For a more relaxed embouchure, the lips should be placed almost flat against the flute head with slightly tightened side mouth tenses to help achieve a wide variety of tonal colors.

3. Fermanagh Style

The flute is an integral component of music in this region, serving as an expressive tool that can produce a range of ornamentations effects.

Flutes can also be used to produce rhythmic tunes, combining short phrases with slightly longer ones. Flutists must maintain control of their breath while playing, keeping their tempo within conscious boundaries.

Some flute players use a tight embouchure, resting their bottom lip against the headjoint; others play with loose lips that open and close more freely.

The flute can be an extremely powerful instrument and is widely known as the ‘voice of Ireland’ due to its characteristic sound and unique charm. Due to its versatility, flute has become one of the world’s most beloved instruments – an essential component of traditional Irish music scene and great way to amplify any performance; plus it can express many different genres and is easy to learn!

4. East Galway Style

The East Galway Style of Irish flute music originated in East Galway, Ireland. This form of musical expression features steady, clear, expressive playing that is unhurried yet unboisterous as well as sparsely ornamented and fluid in nature.

Flutists need to consider both their mouth shape and blowing angle when playing flute, as well as breath control and intonation when performing their art. While many use a relaxed embouchure when performing, others play with tight “smiling” lips for effect.

East Galway flute players stand out by being capable of performing in keys that would normally not be accessible with an ordinary system flute, such as G minor, D minor and Bb major.

Key elements of East Galway style include using fingered ornamentation such as cuts, rolls and crans to define its appearance.

Some traditional East Galway flautists are well known for utilizing breathing techniques, including glottal stops. Additionally, ornamentation may vary according to individual style and needs.