Celtic music is a diverse form of folk music that originated in the Celtic nations Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Brittany, the Isle of Man and Cornwall. It is beautiful, soulful music that does well for anybody’s mood, usually telling a story. Celtic music has influenced many artists and songs, such as music in the popular franchise of “How to Train Your Dragon.” Artists like Celtic Woman and Erutan are examples of stunning Celtic musicians, and even the medieval rock band Blackmore’s Night features Celtic-inspired music that is really enjoyable.
Celtic Woman is an ensemble of four Irish women, three who sing and one who is a violinist, and, as their name suggests, they perform Celtic music as well as a handful of Irish classics. “Tír na nÓg” (which translates to “Land of the Young” and is important in Irish mythology) is from their 10th album “Destiny,” as well as one of their most popular songs. The song features well-balanced vocals from the women and wonderful harmonization to go with it. The instrumentals are groovy and soulful. They are mainly singing in Irish, and they have English mixed into the song as well, but when they sing their native tongue, it is just enchanting.
“Téir Abhaile Riú” (“Go Away Home” or “Home You’ll Go”) is an all-around lively and upbeat song from their album “Believe.” The ladies sing beautifully; the violinist even has her own solo. The instrumentals are rhythmic and so, so elegant. The lyrics are primarily English in this song; however, it still does have a good few chunks of Irish. The song overall has a very story-like, fairytale vibe that just brings a smile to my face.
“A Spaceman Came Traveling” is a story song from “Believe,” which is not uncommon for Celtic music, and I love that. Compared to “Tír na nÓg” and “Téir Abhaile Riú,” this song is slow without many moving parts to it; however, it suits the song’s tune very well. The singer’s voice is breathtaking, soothing and flows well with the music.
Another Celtic artist is Erutan, who is a singer and songwriter. “The Willow Maid” is a graceful song from her album “Raindancer” that tells a story, much like how “A Spaceman Came Traveling” does. Erutan’s voice is slow and elegant. The instrumentals are like little chimes with drums; they give a really cute and forest-y vibe to the song. The song is very fairytale-like, and it is honestly really good.
“Raindancer” is the title song for Erutan’s album. The song is very peaceful all around. The instruments pair well with the quiet rain sounds in the background. The vocals are just hums that match the tune of the song. It reminds me partially of “Little April Showers” from Bambi, which is adorable and heartwarming, almost nostalgic even.
Blackmore’s Night is a folk-based band that takes inspiration from Celtic music. “Ghost of a Rose” is the title song for their 2003 album. The song has tavern-style music, which is something common in medieval folk and Celtic music. The song tells a story and is portrayed wonderfully. The lead singer’s voice is calming and slow, moving elegantly with the instruments.
“Cartouche” is another Celtic-inspired song on the album that follows a story-like format and Celtic style of singing. The instrumentals have a medieval folk music style, with which Celtic music usually holds many similarities; however, the singing is more Celtic influenced, being a haunting melody form of singing, which works wonderfully with the singer’s voice and is executed beautifully.
“Nur Eine Minute” is a German title meaning “Just One Minute,” and the song is an instrumental from the same album. It holds a strong mix of medieval and Celtic style instruments and arrangement. This tavern-style song, which is not uncommon for Celtic (or Celtic inspired) songs, has an upbeat tone that is charming to the ears.
“Loreley” is a sea shanty on“Ghost of a Rose” based on tales of Loreley–a mermaid who would lure sailors to their deaths in German legend–as well as her statue in the Rhine Valley; however, the song’s instrumentals have more of a whimsical, fairytale sound to them, instead of the usual sea shanty instruments. The song is, obviously, telling Loreley’s story. The singer’s voice is lovely and gentle, which fits the slow rhythm of the song. “Loreley,” overall, is very charming, perfect for a sailor song.
Celtic music as a whole is a beautiful representation of Celtic nations’ beliefs and culture; it influences countless forms of music from sea shanties to medieval to folk music. Celtic music is enchanting and whimsical; it is wonderful music to dance to and to listen to.
