Download or read book A Pocket History of Irish Traditional Music written by Gearóid Ó hAllmhuráin and published by O'Brien Press. This book was released on 1998 with total page 168 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From the mythological harp of the Dagda to Riverdance, this concise history of Irish traditional music and dance explores a rich spectrum of historical sources and folklore. It uncovers the contribution of the Normans to Irish dancing, the rote of the music maker in Penal Ireland, and the popularity of dance tunes and set dancing from the end of the eighteenth century to the present. It also follows the music of the Irish diaspora from the music halls of vaudeville to the musical tapestry of Irish America today.