Download or read book O'Brien Pocket History of Irish Traditional Music written by Gearóid Ó hAllmhuráin and published by The O'Brien Press. This book was released on 2012-10-04 with total page 192 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The history of Irish traditional music, song and dance from the mythological harp of the Dagda right up to Riverdance. Exploring an abundant spectrum of historical sources, music and folklore, this guide uncovers the contribution of the Normans to Irish dancing, the role of the music maker in Penal Ireland, as well as the popularity of dance tunes and set dancing from the end of the 18th century. It also follows the music of the Irish diaspora from as far apart as Newfoundland and the music halls of vaudeville to the musical tapestry of Irish America today.