Traveler Music Studies

Rationale and Purpose of the Module: 
This module will examine the music traditions of nomadic communities immediate to the Irish experience (ie. Irish, Scottish travellers and Romany Gypsys) but in a wider European context. Students will engage these music cultures in a wide cultural and physical context annd develop an understanding of the contribution of these music cultures to those of the æso-calledÆ settled community. The inclusion of this module will contribute to the mainstreaming off this area to the curricular activities of the Irish World Academy of Performing Arts.

Syllabus: 
Students will study the music traditions of Irish, Scottish travellers and Romany Gypsys. For these communities issues such as Ethnicity, origin, language and Nomadism will be addressed especially as they are manifest through the musical traditions of these communities. The module will also address the historical treatment of these traditions by collectors and musicologists. Case studies will be presented to contextuialise these issues addressing the role of the Irish travelling community in the piping, song and fiddle traditions of this island, the song tradition of the Scottish traveller community and its appearance in Ireland and the fusion of Gypsy music with other music cultures across Europe.