Sean Nós (Gaelic: Old Style) is an incredible style of singing which includes lots of ornamentation and blending of notes which results in long melodic lines. It is most generally sung a cappella and usually in Irish. Sean Nós airs are often called “shut eye songs” because this music is an intimate undertaking and sung to ensure that the soul of the ballad is heard. In this form of music it is not so much the narrative, but rather the emotion of the song which the singer tries to impart: it is music to, from, and for the soul. It is a mystical experience between a singer and his music.

In the west and south of Ireland, Sean Nós is always sung in Irish which emphasizes the musicality of the Irish language. However, there are also many All Ireland competitions for Sean Nós singing where the singer uses English as the language of the music. In these competitions, it is the vocal style, quality of voice, range of tone, and breath control which are generally judged worthy. The poetic nature of the language still is evident when the singer chooses to perform in English, and the sustained notes and technique is usually still quite beautiful. The focus is always upon ornamentation, lengthening notes as the singer uses his own musical sense, shaping the music emphasizing the important words by the blending of notes.

A certain lilt is needed for the voice to impart the musicality of the air to the listener. For Sean Nós to be sung most effectively, this lilt must be in evidence. It is a purity of voice with which the more accomplished Sean Nós virtuosos will impress their audiences; an inner love for that which they are singing, an assurance that this is being sung from the heart.

One thing remains no matter if the song is being performed in English or Irish, the singer seems to being singing to himself: singing from his heart into his soul. The audience, if indeed there is an audience, is simply extra baggage. Sean Nós is often a solitary undertaking, no audience being needed by the singer to perform this unique, incredible music. It is a storytelling, a history in music, a reminder of some past happening or grief. It remains in the soul of the singer and is brought forth as memory, the long beautiful trilling emphasizing the emotion.

Anthony Kearns has recorded one Sean Nós-style piece for commercial release: “She Moved through the Fair.” This haunting air has been kept very close to the Sean Nós tradition by Mr. Kearns with a lovely background arranged by Frank McNamara using only the faintest of instrumentation. It can be heard on the original Irish Tenors Dublin Video and on the Irish Tenors' newest compact disc “The Very Best of the Irish Tenors.”

For more information on Sean Nós music, please click on the links below:
Folk Music
Sean Nos
canainn
Irish Music Index
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