Sean-nos as opposed to trad style- hmmm. I could tell you how much of an
expert I am on the subject, and wind up making a fool of myself, but
instead I'll be honest. I didn't know there was a difference before
yesterday! lol- Although what you refer to as sean-nos are the songs
I've always said, "if only I could find a couple people to play a
hurdy-gurdy, bodhran and bones while I sing that one..." Keep in mind,
I'm 35 from North Carolina- since I play neither mellow Jerry Garcia
leads nor blazing Eddie Van Halen solos, a lot of people around here
don't think I 'really' play guitar, lol. So I'm pretty much self taught,
and my own style of music often veers away from what a ridgid
traditionalist would consider good form.

Back to the question, sean-nos seems like a more primitive, almost
tribal form of music. Performing alone gives a musician a lot of freedom
with the ornamentation s/he can use, also with rhythm, in the sense of
missing a beat to take a breath. Actually, some sean-nos kind of reminds
me of some of the Krishna chants- not musically in the sense of key and
rhythm, but just the general "feeling" of the music.

That's my take on your question, really just a first impression from a
beginner to this style of music. Hopefully I'll have the chance to hear
from some people who know more than I about this music, who have studied
it enough to word their answers more proficiently than I can!

Drew


--- In traditionalirishsinging@yahoogroups.com, Brian Matthew Hart
<ohairt@...> wrote:
>
> I've only used an instrument to find a note if I'm
> a)singing accompanied or b)know my range is limited
> and must sing in that key in order to hit my notes.
>
> What's your take on what sean-nós singing is as
> opposed to irish traditional singing?
>
> B.
> --- drew muse_shop@... wrote:
> > And to start up a topic of conversation, let
> > me know what you think
> > of this: I'll admit I don't have the best ear for
> > pitch, so I've found
> > that tapping out a melody on the xylophone is a
> > great tool, I can learn
> > to sing it properly by matching the notes, then of
> > course drop the xy
> > when it's time to just sing! I'm pretty much a loner
> > musician, that's
> > just something I came up with and find helpful- I'm
> > curious as to
> > whether anyone else uses similar resources during
> > practice?

> > -Drew