Description
Written in a lively and entertaining style, Narrative Singing in Ireland includes chapters on: Irish narrative singing in general, lays, ballads – old and new, the lyric songs of Irish and their stories, singers and song-makers, traditional singing and the media and narrative singing today.
Reviews from the First Edition
‘the contribution of this book to the field of Irish folksong study is impossible to overestimate.’
– Julie Henigan, Eire-Ireland
‘In this book Hugh Shields offers an absorbing and intricate account of narrative singing in Ireland’.
– Harry White, The Irish Review
‘Dr Shields’ enthusiasm for narrative song comes across in virtually every page of the text. It is, in short, a classic and will remain the standard reference book on the subject for the foreseeable future.’
– Robbie Hannan, Ulster Folklife
Table of contents
1. Irish Narrative Singing in General
2. Lays
3. Ballads Old
4. The Lyric Songs of Irish and their Stories
5. Ballads New
6. Music
7. Singers and Songmakers
8. Traditional Singing and the Media
9. Narrative Singing Today
Notes
Song Appendix
Glossary
Index of Songs, Poems, Stories etc
Index of Singers, Poets, Makers et al.
Bibliography and Discography
Subject Index
About the Author
Hugh Shields was lecturer in French and fellow of Trinity College Dublin, and worked on research in medieval and oral literature. He published a study of folk singing in North Derry, a collection of old Dublin songs, numerous articles on songs, singing and the ballad press as well as ethnographic tapes and discs of traditional singing in Ireland and in France: the fruit of many years’ collecting.
