Music of the Isle of Man
Encyclopedia
The music of the Isle of Man reflects Celt
ic, Norse and other influences, including from its neighbours, Scotland
, Ireland
England and Wales
. The Isle of Man
is a small island nation in the Irish Sea
, between Great Britain
and Ireland
(and not part of the United Kingdom
).
A wide range of music is performed on the island, such as rock, blues, jazz and pop. However, its traditional folk music has undergone a revival since the 1970s, starting with a music festival
called in Ramsey
. This was part of a general revival of the Manx language
and culture
, after the death of the last native speaker of Manx in 1974.
Musicians of the Manx musical revival include King Chiaullee
, Skeeal, The Mannin Folk, Mactullagh Vannin, Moot and many others. The Manx Heritage Foundation provides a central Myspace for Manx Music and Dance, which has links to most performers. Other artists who have produced CDs include Emma Christian
( - Beneath the Twilight), (voice, harp
and recorder), and harpist and producer
Charles Guard (Avenging and Bright), an administrator at the Manx Heritage Foundation
. Many of the web entries about Manx Music stem from Cliff McGann's 1996 article which is now somewhat out of date.
player and a harp
ist. Songs from this era may have had Scandinavian origins; some also bear similarities to Irish
and Scottish music
. The song (the Manx sword dance
), is very similar to a lullaby
from the Hebrides
and is also said to have been a ritual dance during the Scandinavian era.
The earliest written evidence describes fiddle
music and a variety of folk dances. There was no harp
tradition as was otherwise prevalent in Celtic music
. English folk song
s were very popular, later including broadside ballad
s, jig
s and reel
s. Also extant were traditional Gaelic psalm-singing and other church music.
was a common technique, as it was throughout Great Britain
and Ireland
. West Gallery musicians
performed for special occasions, using locally-composed or well-known compositions. Organs were a later importation that became standard in most of the island's churches. The first collection of Manx church songs was printed in 1799, and was followed by many other collections, though it was not until the 1870s and 1880s that Manx music began to be published in any great quantity, as drawing-room ballads, religious songs, and choral arrangements all became popular. The proliferation of this music coincided with a boom in the tourism industry for the Isle, and Manx music-hall and dance-hall songs and dances saw increased demand. Derby Castle and the Palace Hall became two of the most prominent venues in the British Isles
during this era, and there were a number of thriving smaller establishments. Manx language
songs, in particular, benefited from the Gaelic revival
from the 19th century onwards.
. Later in the 20th century, Manx church musical traditions slowly declined. The legacy of immigration
, from England
and elsewhere, has brought in many new styles of music to the island.
has a dedicated Manx Music Development Team comprising a Manx Music Specialist who works with the IOM Department of Education to encourage the development of Manx music in the school curriculum and a Manx Music Development Officer, who works to promote Manx Music and Dance in the wider community. CDs by bands, soloists and Gaelic choirs are being produced all of the time.
Celt
The Celts were a diverse group of tribal societies in Iron Age and Roman-era Europe who spoke Celtic languages.The earliest archaeological culture commonly accepted as Celtic, or rather Proto-Celtic, was the central European Hallstatt culture , named for the rich grave finds in Hallstatt, Austria....
ic, Norse and other influences, including from its neighbours, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
England and Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. The Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
is a small island nation in the Irish Sea
Irish Sea
The Irish Sea separates the islands of Ireland and Great Britain. It is connected to the Celtic Sea in the south by St George's Channel, and to the Atlantic Ocean in the north by the North Channel. Anglesey is the largest island within the Irish Sea, followed by the Isle of Man...
, between Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
and Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
(and not part of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
).
A wide range of music is performed on the island, such as rock, blues, jazz and pop. However, its traditional folk music has undergone a revival since the 1970s, starting with a music festival
Music festival
A music festival is a festival oriented towards music that is sometimes presented with a theme such as musical genre, nationality or locality of musicians, or holiday. They are commonly held outdoors, and are often inclusive of other attractions such as food and merchandise vending machines,...
called in Ramsey
Ramsey, Isle of Man
Ramsey is a town in the north of the Isle of Man. It is the second largest town on the island after Douglas. Its population is 7,309 according to the 2006 census . It has one of the biggest harbours on the island, and has a prominent derelict pier, called the Queen's Pier. It was formerly one of...
. This was part of a general revival of the Manx language
Manx language
Manx , also known as Manx Gaelic, and as the Manks language, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, historically spoken by the Manx people. Only a small minority of the Island's population is fluent in the language, but a larger minority has some knowledge of it...
and culture
Culture
Culture is a term that has many different inter-related meanings. For example, in 1952, Alfred Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn compiled a list of 164 definitions of "culture" in Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions...
, after the death of the last native speaker of Manx in 1974.
Musicians of the Manx musical revival include King Chiaullee
King Chiaullee
King Chiaullee are a Celtic music band from the Isle of Man. The band met while at school together in 1994, and have since performed at numerous festivals throughout the UK, Europe, and in the USA.The group has five members:...
, Skeeal, The Mannin Folk, Mactullagh Vannin, Moot and many others. The Manx Heritage Foundation provides a central Myspace for Manx Music and Dance, which has links to most performers. Other artists who have produced CDs include Emma Christian
Emma Christian
Emma Christian is a prominent artist in the recent revival of traditional Manx folk music.Emma was born on the Isle of Man in 1972 and was brought up there on a farm. In 1990, she went to Cambridge University in England to study Celtic history....
( - Beneath the Twilight), (voice, harp
Harp
The harp is a multi-stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicularly to the soundboard. Organologically, it is in the general category of chordophones and has its own sub category . All harps have a neck, resonator and strings...
and recorder), and harpist and producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
Charles Guard (Avenging and Bright), an administrator at the Manx Heritage Foundation
Manx Heritage Foundation
The Manx Heritage Foundation was established by the Isle of Man Government to promote Manx culture, heritage and language. Its offices are based in Douglas, the capital city of the Isle of Man....
. Many of the web entries about Manx Music stem from Cliff McGann's 1996 article which is now somewhat out of date.
History
Prior to the 15th century, little can be determined about the character of music on the Isle of Man. There are many carved crosses from this era, but they depict a total of two musicians, one lurLur
A lur is a long natural blowing horn without finger holes that is played by embouchure. Lurs can be straight or curved in various shapes. The purpose of the curves was to make long instruments easier to carry A lur is a long natural blowing horn without finger holes that is played by embouchure....
player and a harp
Harp
The harp is a multi-stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicularly to the soundboard. Organologically, it is in the general category of chordophones and has its own sub category . All harps have a neck, resonator and strings...
ist. Songs from this era may have had Scandinavian origins; some also bear similarities to Irish
Music of Ireland
Irish Music is the generic term for music that has been created in various genres on the island of Ireland.The indigenous music of the island is termed Irish traditional music. It has remained vibrant through the 20th, and into the 21st century, despite globalizing cultural forces...
and Scottish music
Music of Scotland
Scotland is internationally known for its traditional music, which has remained vibrant throughout the 20th century, when many traditional forms worldwide lost popularity to pop music...
. The song (the Manx sword dance
Sword dance
Sword dances are recorded from throughout world history. There are various traditions of solo and mock battle sword dances from Greece, the Middle East, Pakistan, India, China, Korea, England, Scotland and Japan...
), is very similar to a lullaby
Lullaby
A lullaby is a soothing song, usually sung to young children before they go to sleep, with the intention of speeding that process. As a result they are often simple and repetitive. Lullabies can be found in every culture and since the ancient period....
from the Hebrides
Hebrides
The Hebrides comprise a widespread and diverse archipelago off the west coast of Scotland. There are two main groups: the Inner and Outer Hebrides. These islands have a long history of occupation dating back to the Mesolithic and the culture of the residents has been affected by the successive...
and is also said to have been a ritual dance during the Scandinavian era.
The earliest written evidence describes fiddle
Fiddle
The term fiddle may refer to any bowed string musical instrument, most often the violin. It is also a colloquial term for the instrument used by players in all genres, including classical music...
music and a variety of folk dances. There was no harp
Harp
The harp is a multi-stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicularly to the soundboard. Organologically, it is in the general category of chordophones and has its own sub category . All harps have a neck, resonator and strings...
tradition as was otherwise prevalent in Celtic music
Celtic music
Celtic music is a term utilised by artists, record companies, music stores and music magazines to describe a broad grouping of musical genres that evolved out of the folk musical traditions of the Celtic people of Western Europe...
. English folk song
Music of England
Folk music of England refers to various types of traditionally based music, often contrasted with courtly, classical and later commercial music, for which evidence exists from the later medieval period. It has been preserved and transmitted orally, through print and later through recordings...
s were very popular, later including broadside ballad
Broadside (music)
A broadside is a single sheet of cheap paper printed on one side, often with a ballad, rhyme, news and sometimes with woodcut illustrations...
s, jig
Jig
The Jig is a form of lively folk dance, as well as the accompanying dance tune, originating in England in the 16th century and today most associated with Irish dance music and Scottish country dance music...
s and reel
Reel (dance)
The reel is a folk dance type as well as the accompanying dance tune type. In Scottish country dancing, the reel is one of the four traditional dances, the others being the jig, the strathspey and the waltz, and is also the name of a dance figure ....
s. Also extant were traditional Gaelic psalm-singing and other church music.
19th century
Church music is the most documented Manx music of the 19th century. Lining outLining out
Lining out is a form of a cappella hymn-singing or hymnody in which a leader, often called the clerk or precentor, gives each line of a hymn tune as it is to be sung, usually in a chanted form giving or suggesting the tune...
was a common technique, as it was throughout Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
and Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. West Gallery musicians
West gallery music
West Gallery Music, also known as "Georgian psalmody" refers to the sacred music sung and played in English parish churches, as well as nonconformist chapels, from 1700 to around 1850...
performed for special occasions, using locally-composed or well-known compositions. Organs were a later importation that became standard in most of the island's churches. The first collection of Manx church songs was printed in 1799, and was followed by many other collections, though it was not until the 1870s and 1880s that Manx music began to be published in any great quantity, as drawing-room ballads, religious songs, and choral arrangements all became popular. The proliferation of this music coincided with a boom in the tourism industry for the Isle, and Manx music-hall and dance-hall songs and dances saw increased demand. Derby Castle and the Palace Hall became two of the most prominent venues in the British Isles
British Isles
The British Isles are a group of islands off the northwest coast of continental Europe that include the islands of Great Britain and Ireland and over six thousand smaller isles. There are two sovereign states located on the islands: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and...
during this era, and there were a number of thriving smaller establishments. Manx language
Manx language
Manx , also known as Manx Gaelic, and as the Manks language, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, historically spoken by the Manx people. Only a small minority of the Island's population is fluent in the language, but a larger minority has some knowledge of it...
songs, in particular, benefited from the Gaelic revival
Gaelic Revival
The Gaelic revival was the late-nineteenth-century national revival of interest in the Irish language and Irish Gaelic culture...
from the 19th century onwards.
20th century
Though West Gallery music continued into the 1950s, by the 20th century instrumental music accompanied most worship on the Isle of ManIsle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
. Later in the 20th century, Manx church musical traditions slowly declined. The legacy of immigration
Immigration
Immigration is the act of foreigners passing or coming into a country for the purpose of permanent residence...
, from England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and elsewhere, has brought in many new styles of music to the island.
Future
The Manx Heritage FoundationManx Heritage Foundation
The Manx Heritage Foundation was established by the Isle of Man Government to promote Manx culture, heritage and language. Its offices are based in Douglas, the capital city of the Isle of Man....
has a dedicated Manx Music Development Team comprising a Manx Music Specialist who works with the IOM Department of Education to encourage the development of Manx music in the school curriculum and a Manx Music Development Officer, who works to promote Manx Music and Dance in the wider community. CDs by bands, soloists and Gaelic choirs are being produced all of the time.