Matthew Noone (Visiting Fellow) Listening to Irish music as Indian raga.

Listening to Irish music as Indian raga: an arts practice research project

Dr. Matthew Noone (UL) and Dr. Lillis Ó Laoire (NUIG)

This research project focuses on the supposition of Irish-Indian musical connections, most notably the idea of sean-nos singing bearing a strong resemblance to Indian classical music (Ó Ríada, 1962; Feehan, 1982; Quinn, 1987). It is an extension of previous research in exploring Irish traditional music and Orientalist discourse through an Arts Practice and performance based methodology (Noone, 2016). This research will use the collaborative artistic practice of two musicians (Matthew Noone on the North Indian lute called sarode and sean-nos singer Lillis O Laoire) as a case study to explore the veracity of Irish-Indian musical sympathies.  A background to the theoretical implications of this research will be presented through an interdisciplinary lens of Irish studies, Orientalist discourse and ethnomusicology. This seminar will also feature performances of re-interpretations of traditional songs written by 18th century Irish poet Tómas Ó Casaide.