Article

Hooks and New Tunes: Contemporary Irish Dance Music in its Transnational Context

Andy Hillhouse

Published in: Ethnomusicology Ireland 2 (2013)

Pages: 38-60 | Published Online: 2013

https://doi.org/10.64208/DUSU6484

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to offer an analytic strategy for examining the relationship between new tune composition and the increased globalization of Irish traditional music, through engaging with the notion of the ‘hook’ as an important aspect of tune composition. I borrow the term hook from popular music discourse to refer to melodic, rhythmic, and formal elements that stand out as distinguishing features of a tune. I argue not only that the hook is a contributing factor in the popularity of certain tunes, but also that examining hooks can lead to insights on the changing boundaries of Irish traditional music practice within the context of transnationalism.

Keywords: Irish traditional music, composition, hook, transnationalism

Author: Andy Hillhouse