Music - Irish Trad Music Dances

reel

• a quick and lively dance tune with a strict tempo → much faster than a hornpipe

• 4/4 TS

• rhyme: “double decker”

• typical bar rhythm contains 4 sets of quavers

• AABB form

jig

• a quick and lively dance tune with a strict tempo

• 6/8 TS

• rhyme: “rashers and sausages”

• typical bar rhythm contains 6 quavers split in half

• 1-2 1-2 1-2

• AB form

slip jig

• a very slightly slower dance tune with an uncommon time signature

• 9/8 TS

• rhyme: “rashers and sausages sausages”

• typical bar rhythm contains 3 sets of quavers

• AB form

hornpipe

• a moderate dance tune with a bouncy rhythm

• 4/4 TS

• no rhyme → recognise it by the bouncy rhythm

• typical bar rhythm contains a dotted quaver attached to a semiquaver

• AABB form

polka

• a dance associated with the set dances of the sliabh luachra area of west munster

• 2/4 TS

• a quick tune but far less intricate than a reel

• typical bar rhythm consists of two pairs of quavers

• either AABB or ABA form

• never really came up in LC