Music of Cornwall

Musical history

Cornwall is a Celtic nation with a long musical history. Strengthened by a series of 20th century revivals, traditional folk music has a popular following. It is accompanied by traditions of pipers, brass and silver bands, male voice choirs, classical, electronic and popular music.

## History

[edit]

In medieval Cornwall there are records of performances of ‘Miracle Plays’ in the Cornish language, with considerable musical involvement. Also (as frequently mentioned in the Launceston borough accounts) minstrels were hired to play for saint's day celebrations. The richest families (including Arundell, Bodrugan, Bottreaux, Grenville, and Edgcumbe) retained their own minstrels, and many others employed minstrels on a casual basis. There were vigorous traditions of Morris dancing, mumming, guise dancing, and social dance.[1]

During the Twelve Days of Christmas in 1466-67, the household accounts[2] of the Arundells of Lanherne, Mawgan-in-Pydar, record expenditures to buy white bonnets for minstrels, cloth and bells for Morris dancers, as well as materials for costumes for the "disgysing" (mummers or guise dancers), an activity which involved music and dancing.

Then followed a long period of contention which included the Cornish Rebellion of 1497, the 1549 Prayer Book Rebellion, the Persecution of Recusants, the Poor Laws, and the English Civil War and Commonwealth (1642–1660). The consequences of these events disadvantaged many gentry who had previously employed their own minstrels or patronised itinerant performers. Over the same period in art music the use of modes was largely supplanted by use of major and minor keys. Altogether it was an extended cultural revolution, and it is unlikely that there were not musical casualties.[3]

### 18th and 19th centuries

[edit]

A number of manuscripts of dance music from the period 1750 to 1850 have been found which tell of renewed patronage, employment of dancing masters, and a repertoire that spanned class barriers. Seasonal and community festivals, mumming and guise dancing all flourished.[4]

In the 19th century, the nonconformist and temperance movements were strong: these frowned on dancing and music, encouraged the demise of many customs, but fostered the choral and brass band traditions. Some traditional tunes were used for hymns and carols. Church Feast Days and Sunday School treats were widespread—a whole village processing behind a band of musicians leading them to a picnic site, where "Tea Treat Buns" (made with smuggled saffron) were distributed. This left a legacy of marches and polkas. Records exist of dancing in farmhouse kitchens, and in fish cellars Cornish ceilidhs called troyls were common, they are analogous to the fest-noz of the Bretons. Some community events survived, such as at Padstow and at Helston, where to this day, on 8 May, the townspeople dance the Furry Dance through the streets, in and out of shops, even through private houses. Thousands converge on Helston to witness the spectacle.[5] The "Sans Day Carol" or "St Day Carol" is one of the many Cornish Christmas carols written in the 19th century. This carol and its melody were first transcribed from the singing of a villager in St Day in the parish of Gwennap: the lyrics are similar to those of "The Holly and the Ivy".

In Anglican churches the church bands (a few local musicians providing accompaniment in services) were replaced by keyboard instruments (harmonium, piano or organ) and singing in unison became more usual.

### Vocal music

[edit]

Folk songs include "Sweet Nightingale", "Little Eyes", and "Lamorna".[6] Few traditional Cornish lyrics survived the decline of the language. In some cases lyrics of common English songs became attached to older Cornish tunes. Some folk tunes have Cornish lyrics written since the language revival of the 1920s. Sport has also been an outlet for many Cornish folk songs, and Trelawny, the unofficial Cornish national anthem, is often sung by Cornish rugby fans, along with other favourites such as "Camborne Hill" and "The White Rose".[7][8] The Cornish anthem that has been used by Gorseth Kernow for the last 75 plus years is "Bro Goth Agan Tasow"[9] ("The Land of My Fathers", or, literally, "Old Country of our Fathers") with a similar tune to the Welsh national anthem ("Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau") and the Breton national anthem ("Bro Gozh ma Zadoù").[10] "Bro Goth Agan Tasow" is not heard so often, as it is sung in Cornish. Other popular Cornish anthems are "Hail to the Homeland" and Cornwall My Home by Harry Glasson written in 1997.

Sabine Baring-Gould compiled Songs of the West, which contains folk songs from Devon and Cornwall, in collaboration with Henry Fleetwood Sheppard and F. W. Bussell. Songs of the West was published by Methuen in conjunction with Watey and Willis; the first edition appeared both as a four-part set, undated, and as one volume dated 1895. In a new edition songs omitted from the first edition were listed, and the music was edited by Cecil Sharp. The second edition mentions the third collaborator, the Rev. Dr. F. W. Bussell, a scholarly eccentric who later became Vice-President of Brasenose College, Oxford. Sheppard was Rector of Thurnscoe, Yorkshire, and his parochial duties limited the amount of time he could spend on the work. In Plymouth City Library are two manuscript volumes containing the material as collected, in all 202 songs with music. In the published work it was necessary to bowdlerise some songs so that the book would be acceptable to respectable Victorians.[11]

In Cornwall, the carol "While shepherds watched their flocks" is popularly sung to "Lyngham", a tune usually associated with "O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing". Another tune traditionally used for it in Cornwall is "Northrop".[12]

### Dances

[edit]

Cornish dancers

Cornish dances include community dances such a 'furry dances', social (set) dances, linear and circle dances originating in carols and farandoles, and step dances – often competitive. Among the social dances is 'Joan Sanderson', the cushion dance from the 19th century, but with 17th-century origins.[13]

The English composer Sir Malcolm Arnold composed "Four Cornish Dances" in 1966 which is influenced by characteristically Cornish types of music.[14]

### Breton connection

[edit]

Cornish music is often noted for its similarity to that of Brittany; some older songs and carols share the same root as Breton tunes. From Cornwall, Brittany was more easily accessible than London. Breton and Cornish were (and are) mutually intelligible.[clarification needed] There was much cultural and marital exchange between the two countries and this influenced both music and dance.[15]

## Instrumentation

[edit]

Cornish musicians have used a variety of traditional instruments. Documentary sources and Cornish iconography (as at Altarnun church on Bodmin Moor and St. Mary's, Launceston) suggest a late-medieval line-up might include a crwth (or crowd, similar to a violin), bombarde (horn-pipe), bagpipes and harp. The crowdy crawn (a drum) with a crwth or fiddle were popular by the 19th century. In the 1920s there was a serious school of banjo playing in Cornwall. After 1945 accordions became progressively more popular, before being joined by the instruments of the 1980s folk revival. In recent years Cornish bagpipes have enjoyed a progressive revival.

## Modern

[edit]

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|

Brenda Wootton, "The Voice of Cornwall", during a performance

Modern Cornish musicians include the late Brenda Wootton (folksinger in Cornish and English), Dalla who specialised in Cornish Celtic dance music and also traditional songs in Cornish and in English, the Cornish-Breton family band Anao Atao, the late 1960s band The Onyx and the 1980s band Bucca. Recently [when?] bands Sacred Turf, Skwardya and Krena, have begun performing British folk rock in the Cornish language.[16]

Kyt Le Nen Davey, a multi-instrumental Cornish musician, established a not-for-profit collaborative organisation, Kesson, to distribute Cornish music to a world audience. Today, the site has moved with the times, and now provides individual track downloads, alongside traditional CD format.[citation needed]

Pioneering Techno artist Richard D. James (aka Aphex Twin) from Lanner is a contemporary Cornish musician, frequently naming tracks in the Cornish language. Along with friend and collaborator Luke Vibert and business partner Grant Wilson-Claridge, James has crafted a niche of 'Cornish Acid' affectionately identified with his home region.

Bands such as Dalla and Sowena are associated with the nos lowen style of Cornish dance and music, which follows the Breton style of uncalled line dances. Troyls, usually called in a ceilidh style, occur across Cornwall with bands including the North Cornwall Ceilidh Band, The Brim, the Bolingey Troyl band, Hevva, Ros Keltek and Tros an Treys. Skwardya and Krena play rock, punk and garage music in the Cornish language. The Cornwall Songwriters organisation has since 2001 produced two folk operas 'The Cry of Tin' and 'Unsung Heroes'. Also Cornwall has a selection of up and coming young bands such as "Heart in One Hand" and "The small print".[citation needed]

3 Daft Monkeys (Tim Ashton, Athene Roberts, and Jamie Waters) combine vocals, fiddle, 12-string guitar, bass guitar and foot drum to play a fusion of Celtic, Balkan, Gypsy, Latino, dance, dub, punk, reggae and traditional folk music. The band have played at venues and festivals all over the UK and Europe, including Eden Project, the 2008 BBC Proms, Guilfest, Glastonbury Festival and the Beautiful Days festival, as well as supporting The Levellers.[citation needed].

Black Friday, a six piece Celtic-folk-punk band have been a constant part of the live music scene in Cornwall for two decades and a popular highlight of a number of Cornwall festivals[17] including Port Eliot Festival, Little Orchard and Boardmasters as well a number of major UK and European festivals such as Donous Insel Fest, Electric picnic, Boomtown and Glastonbury.[18] The band have led mass sing a longs to songs popular in the Cornish singing traditions such as Little Eyes and South Australia and they have supported Madness, Ralph McTell and The Mahones. The band performs across numerous smaller venues every weekend of the year, sometimes up to five or six times and there industrious live schedule and constant touring is perhaps why they have only ever released live recordings and never produced a studio album yet have managed to achieve a Guinness world record playing 30 gigs in twelve hours.[19]

Crowns are a 'fish-punk' band originating from Launceston, playing a mix of traditional Cornish songs and their own compositions. They have played Reading and Leeds festivals, the Eden Sessions and gained support slots with The Pogues, Blink 182 and Brandon Flowers. Their music has featured on Radio 1 and XFm.

The underground scene includes rappers Hedluv + Passman, multi-instrumentalist Julian Gaskell and alternative folk/skiffle duo Zapoppin’.

Sic, the singer of the Dutch pagan folk band Omnia hails from Cornwall and wrote a song named Cornwall about his homeland. During gigs by Omnia the Cornish flag is displayed on stage when this song is performed.

In 2012 the folksinger and writer Anna Clifford-Tait released 'Sorrow', a song written in Cornish and English.[20]

Fisherman's Friends is a male vocal group from Port Isaac specialising in the sea shanty repertoire.[21]

The Cornwall Folk Festival has been held annually for more than three decades and in 2008 was staged at Wadebridge.[22] Other festivals are the pan-Celtic Lowender Peran[23] and midsummer festival Golowan. Cornwall won the PanCeltic Song Contest[24] three years in a row between 2003 and 2005.[25]

* 2003: Naked Feet
* 2004: Keltyon Byw
* 2005: Krena

The Welsh musician Gwenno Saunders has written and recorded songs in Cornish, notably Amser on her album Y Dydd Olaf, while her album Le Kov was recorded entirely in Cornish.[26] Gwenno's sister, Ani Glass, also records in Cornish, and the title song of her album Mirores is in Cornish. [27] Both are bards of the Cornish Gorsedh. [28]

Classical musicians from Cornwall include baritone Benjamin Luxon, born in Redruth,[29] and composer Graham Fitkin, born in Crows-an-Wra.[30]

### Cornish traditional music

[edit]

Cornish traditional music can be heard at various festivals including Golowan in Penzance and Lowender Peran[23] in Newquay, at Cornish cultural events, and at Cornish music pub sessions.[31]

### Brass and silver bands

[edit]

Lanner and District Silver Band is a Cornish Brass band based in Lanner, Cornwall, United Kingdom, and well known for its concerts. There are many other brass and silver bands in Cornwall, particularly in the former mining areas: St Dennis and Camborne are notable examples.[citation needed] There is a log of over 100 Brass Bands in Cornwall that are now extinct.[32]

### Classical music

[edit]

Triggshire Wind Orchestra, an amateur orchestra for wind players primarily from Sir James Smith's School, Wadebridge School, Budehaven Community School, was set up in 1984. After the success of the wind orchestra, Triggshire String Orchestra was set up, to cater for the string players from these schools.[33]

### Boardmasters Festival

[edit]

Boardmasters Festival is a modern music festival held in Newquay, Cornwall celebrating surfing and music held every summer.[34]

## Broadcasting

[edit]

The Cornish language radio station Radyo an Gernewegva broadcasts Cornish music on several community radio stations and online.[35]

## See also

[edit]

* Cornwall portal

* Culture of Cornwall
* List of topics related to Cornwall
* List of Cornish musicians

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Hays, R. & McGee, C.; Joyce, S. & Newlyn, E. eds. (1999) Records of Early English Drama; Dorset & Cornwall Toronto: U.P.
2. ^ Douch, H. L. (1953). "Household Accounts at Lanherne". Journal of the Royal Institution of Cornwall. 2: 25–32.
3. ^ O'Connor, M. J. (2005)  Ilow Kernow; 3 St Ervan: Lyngham House
4. ^ O'Connor, M. J. (2007) "An Overview of Recent Discoveries in Cornish Music", in: "Journal of the Royal Institution of Cornwall". Truro: R. I. C.
5. ^ "Helston, Home of the Furry Dance". Borough of Helston.
6. ^ Davanger, Christer (20 February 2017). "Five Cornish folk songs for we who are culturally clueless". Truthfal.com. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
7. ^ "Cornish Rugby Songs KANOW RYGBI KERNEWEK". Trelawnysarmy.org. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
8. ^ "Cornish rugby songs". Falmoutheagles.wordpress.com. 25 April 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
9. ^ "Bro Goth Agan Tasow - Cornish Land of our Fathers - YouTube". YouTube. Archived from the original on 12 December 2021. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
10. ^ Pennycook Alastair (2012). Language and Mobility: Unexpected Places. Multilingual Matters. p. 164\. ISBN 978-1847697639.
11. ^ Purcell, William (1957) Onward Christian Soldier. London: Longmans, Green; pp. 145-48
12. ^ The English Hymnal, 1907; p. 903
13. ^ "Cornish Dancing". An Daras. Archived from the original on 9 January 2016. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
14. ^ Four Cornish Dances; Faber Music
15. ^ Mathieson, K., ed. (2001) Celtic Music. San Francisco: Backbeat Books; pp 88-95
16. ^ Harvey, D. (2002) Celtic Geographies: old culture, new times. Routledge, pp. 223-24
17. ^ "Black Friday". Folk N Rock. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
18. ^ "Home". www.blackfridayband.co.uk. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
19. ^ "CELTIC CELTIC-PUNK. BLACK FRIDAY LIVE IN CORNWALL FEBRUARY 13th 2016". 3 March 2016. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
20. ^ "Anna Clifford-Tait recording 'Sorrow'". Cliffordtait.co.uk. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
21. ^ "Fisherman's Friends". Thefishermansfriends.com. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
22. ^ "Cornwall Folk Festival – Brings Folk's Best To Cornwall; Showcases Cornwall to the World!". Cornwallfolkfestival.com. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
23. ^ a b "Celtic Festival Lowender Peran - Things to do in Newquay". Celtic Festival Lowender Peran - Things to do in Newquay.
24. ^ "Pan Celtic music festival". Panceltic.ie. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
25. ^ "Krena perform the PanCeltic winning song 'Fordh dhe Dalvann' - YouTube". YouTube. Archived from the original on 12 December 2021. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
26. ^ "NEW ALBUM ANNOUNCEMENT: Gwenno 'Le Kov'". Heavenly Recordings. 22 November 2017.
27. ^ Gareth Kent (10 March 2020). "Album: Mirores by Ani Glass". Wales Arts Review. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
28. ^ "Bards". Gorsedh Kernow. 15 November 2020.
29. ^ Blyth, Alan (2001). "Luxon, Benjamin". Grove Music Online. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.17230. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
30. ^ Potter, Keith (2001). "Fitkin, Graham". Grove Music Online. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.45763. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
31. ^ "Cornish Music Sessions in Cornwall". Cornish Trad. 10 October 2019.
32. ^ Brush, John. "Cornwall Brass Bands". Retrieved 27 September 2013.
33. ^ "Concert by Triggshire String Orchestra". Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 19 September 2009.
34. ^ "Snoop Dogg announced as third Boardmasters Headliner for 2014". Newquay.co.uk. 11 March 2014. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
35. ^ "Home". Radyo An Gernewegva.

* Graves, Alfred Perceval (1928). The Celtic Song Book: Being Representative Folk Songs of the Six Celtic Nations. London: Ernest Benn. (Available online on Digital Book Index)

## Further reading

[edit]

* Kennedy, Peter, ed. (1975) Folksongs of Britain and Ireland; edited by Peter Kennedy, et al. V: Songs in Cornish: (introduction; songs 85-96; bibliography). London: Oak Publications (pp. 203–44: the bibliography is very detailed and the songs have their airs)

## External links

[edit]

* Cornwall Council's music service delivering music tuition to schools and leading the Cornwall Music Hub[usurped]
* Cornwall Music Education HUB - Led by Cornwall Council's Cornwall Learning
* 'The Cornish musicians collaborative' distributes Cornish musicians albums and provides online database of *Cornish bands and albums
* Free sheet music from Cornwall (Creative commons and public domain)

* v
* t
* e

Culture of Cornwall

Cornish: Gonisogeth Kernow

Symbols|

* Celtic cross
* Cornish chough
* Cornish heath
* Cornish kilts and tartans
* Jonathan Trelawny
* Michael An Gof
* Saint Piran
* Saint Piran's Flag
* Scillonian Cross

Festivals|

* AberFest
* Allantide
* Chewidden Thursday
* Furry Dance
* Golowan
* Guldize
* Kernewek Lowender
* Montol Festival
* Mummer's Day
* Nickanan Night
* Nos Lowen
* Noze looan
* 'Obby 'Oss
* Picrous Day
* St Piran's Day
* Tom Bawcock's Eve

Sports|

* Cornish hurling
* Cornish pilot-gig racing
* Cornish wrestling
* Rugby union in Cornwall

Cuisine|

* Cloam oven
* Clotted cream
* Cornish cheeses
* Cornish cream tea
* Cornish fairings
* Cornish Gilliflower
* Hevva cake
* Hog's pudding
* Pasty
* Saffron bun
* Stargazy pie
* Cornish Yarg

Arts|

* List of Cornish writers
* Tristan and Iseult
* Cornwall Film Festival
* Tate St Ives
* St Ives School
* W. J. Burley
* Charles Causley
* Newlyn School
* Barbara Hepworth
* Daphne du Maurier
* William Golding
* Alan Kent
* H. C. McNeile
* Rosamunde Pilcher
* Derek Tangye
* D. M. Thomas
* Minack Theatre
* The Pirates of Penzance

Music|

* Cornish bagpipes
* Brenda Wootton
* Dalla
* Fisherman's Friends
* Crowns

Folk songs|

* "Bro Goth agan Tasow"
* "Camborne Hill"
* "Come, all ye jolly tinner boys"
* "Delkiow Sivy"
* "Hail to the Homeland"
* "The Song of the Western Men"

Language|

* Anglo-Cornish
* Cornish literature
* Ordinalia
* Beunans Meriasek
* Bewnans Ke
* Prayer Book Rebellion
* Radyo an Gernewegva

Mythology|

* Beast of Bodmin
* Blunderbore
* Bucca
* Cormoran
* Cruel Coppinger
* Jack the Giant Killer
* Knocker
* King Arthur
* Lyonesse
* Mermaid of Zennor
* Owlman
* Piskie
* Spriggan

Organisations|

* Federation of Old Cornwall Societies
* Gorsedh Kernow
* Institute of Cornish Studies
* Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society
* Royal Cornwall Show
* Royal Institution of Cornwall (Royal Cornwall Museum)
* Movyans Skolyow Meythrin
* Akademi Kernewek

* Cornwall portal

* v
* t
* e

Celts and modern Celts

Celtic nations · Celtic studies · Celtic tribes · Celtic languages

Peoples

Ancient Celtic ethnic groups
(names)|

* Aedui
* Aigosages
* Allobroges
* Allotriges
* Ambarri
* Anartes
* Arecomici
* Armorica
* Astures
* Arverni
* Atuatuci
* Attacotti
* Atrebates
* Aulerci
* Aulerci Cenomani
* Cenomani
* Autrigones
* Bituriges
* Bituriges Vivisci
* Belgae
* Bellovaci
* Berones
* Boii
* Brigantii
* Britons
* Caledonians
* Caleti
* Cantabri
* Carni
* Cantii
* Carnutes
* Caristii
* Carpetani
* Catubrini
* Celegeri
* Cenomani
* Celtiberians
* Celtici
* Cotini
* Coriosolites
* Dumnonii
* Eburones
* Eburovices
* Eravisci
* Haedui
* Helvetii
* Gaels
* Gaesatae
* Gallaeci
* Gauls
* Galatians
* Helvetii
* Insubres
* Latobici
* Latobrigi
* Lemovices
* Lexovii
* Leuci
* Ligures
* Lingones
* Lusitanians
* Lepontii
* Menapii
* Morini
* Namnetes
* Nervii
* Noricum
* Orobii
* Osismii
* Parisi
* Parisii
* Petrocorii
* Picts
* Pictones
* Rauraci
* Redones
* Regni
* Remi
* Salluvii
* Santones
* Sequani
* Senones
* Scordisci
* Scoti
* Silures
* Sordones
* Tectosages
* Teurisci
* Tolistobogii
* Treveri
* Trinovantes
* Triboci
* Tricasses
* Trocmi
* Tulingi
* Turoni
* Ulidia
* Varciani
* Varisci
* Viromandui
* Veneti
* Veliocasses
* Vennones
* Vindelici
* Vocontii
* Volcae

Modern Celtic ethnic groups|

* Bretons
* Cornish
* Welsh
* Gaels
* Irish
* Manx
* Scots

Celtic diaspora|

* Cornish diaspora
* Irish diaspora
* Scottish diaspora
* Welsh diaspora

Related ethnic groups|

* Anglo-Celtic
* Breton Americans
* Cornish Americans
* English people
* French people
* Irish Americans
* Irish Canadians
* Scotch-Irish Americans
* Scottish Americans
* Scottish Canadians
* Scots-Irish people
* Spanish people

Studies

Places|

* Alesia
* Avaricum
* Gergovia
* Hallstatt
* Hochdorf
* La Tène
* Vix Grave
* Gaelic Ireland
* Hill of Tara
* Newgrange
* Rathcroghan
* Dálriata
* Alba
* Fortriu
* Cumbria
* Brigantia
* Iron Age Britain
* Roman Britain
* Sub-Roman Britain
* Stonehenge
* Dumnonia
* Hen Ogledd
* Gaul
* Roman Gaul
* Britonia
* Armorica
* Domnonée
* Brittany
* Gallaecia
* Numantia
* Gallia Aquitania
* Gallia Belgica
* Gallia Celtica
* Cisalpine Gaul
* Transalpine Gaul
* Balkans
* Transylvania
* Galatia

Ancient religion|

* Proto-Celtic religion
* Celtic polytheism
* Celtic deities
* Celtic Animism
* Celtic mythology
* Celtic Christianity
* Celtic Rites
* Celtic stone idolss*
* Druids
* Monasticism
* Romano-Celtic temple
* Practices

Mythology|

* Irish
* Scottish
* Welsh
* British
* Breton
* Cornish

Society|

* Bard
* Brehon
* Celtic calendar
* Celtic festivals
* Celtic women
* Celticisation
* Chief of the Name
* Derbfine
* Druid
* Clan chief
* Irish Clans
* Scottish clans (List)
* Gaelicisation
* Gaelic astrology
* Fáinne
* Fili
* Law
* Tanistry
* Seanchaí
* Sept
* Túath
* Vates
* Warfare (Gaelic)
* Coinage

Modern Celts

* Celtic Revival
* Celtic nations
* Pan-Celticism
* Celtic Congress
* Celtic League
* Celtic union
* Music
* Rock
* Neo-Christianity
* Neopaganism
* Celtic Wicca
* Neo-Druidism

| Nations|

| Celtic League definition|

* Brittany (Breizh)
* Cornwall (Kernow)
* Ireland (Éire)
* Isle of Man (Mannin)
* Scotland (Alba)
* Wales (Cymru)

|

Other claimants|

* Asturias
* Cantabria
* Cumbria
* Devon
* Galicia
* Norte Portugal
* Nova Scotia
* Province of León
* Y Wladfa
* England

Culture

| Literature|

* Arthurian Legend
* Bardic Poetry
* Breton literature
* Cornish literature
* Irish literature
* Manx literature
* Scottish literature
* Welsh-language literature
* Welsh literature in English
* Early Irish literature
* Irish annals
* Gaelic literature
* Scottish Gaelic literature

|

National cultures|

* Brittany
* Cornwall
* Ireland
* Isle of Man
* Scotland
* Wales

Art|

* Bell shrines
* Brooches
* Dragonesque
* Carnyx
* Celtic cross
* Knotwork
* High crosses
* Insular art
* Interlace
* Leaf-crowns
* Mazes
* Pictish stones
* Torcs
* Triple spiral

Clothing|

* Celtic Dress
* Highland dress
* Gaelic clothing
* Tartan
* Traditional Welsh costume
* Welsh hat

Regional cultures|

* Gaelic culture
* Highland culture

Music|

* Ancient Celtic music
* Breton Folk music
* Gaelic music
* Irish folk music
* Scottish folk music
* Welsh folk music
* Sean-nós singing
* Carnyx

| National music scenes|

* Brittany
* Cornwall
* Ireland
* Isle of Man
* Scotland
* Wales

|

Festivals|

* Calendar
* Samhain/Calan Gaeaf
* Imbolc/Gŵyl Fair
* Beltane/Calan Mai
* Lughnasadh/Calan Awst
* Festival Interceltique de Lorient
* Pan Celtic Festival
* Hebridean Celtic Festival
* Celtic Connections
* Celtic Media Festival
* Eisteddfod

Sport|

* Bando
* Bataireacht
* Camogie
* Cammag
* Cnapan
* Cornish hurling
* Cornish wrestling
* Curling
* Gaelic football (Ladies')
* Gaelic handball
* Gouren
* Rounders
* Highland games
* Hurling
* Road bowls
* Shinty
* Welsh handball

Politics

Nationalism|

* Breton nationalism
* history
* reunification
* Cornish nationalism
* status
* Irish nationalism
* Isle of Man
* Constitutional status of Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles
* Scottish nationalism
* national identity
* Welsh nationalism
* national identity

Autonomy|

* Cornish devolution
* Scottish devolution
* Welsh devolution

Independence|

* Breton independence
* Scottish independence
* Welsh independence
* United Ireland and Irish republicanism

Pan-Celticism|

* Celtic League
* Celtic Congress
* Celtic Revival
* Celtic society
* Celtic unity
* Columba Project

Languages

Brittonic|

* Breton
* Cornish
* Welsh

Goidelic|

* Irish
* Manx
* Scottish Gaelic

Mixed|

* Shelta
* Bungi Creole
* Beurla Reagaird

Ancient Celtic languages|

| Extinct|

* Proto-Celtic
* Proto-Brittonic
* Proto-Goidelic
* Celtiberian
* Gaulish
* Galatian
* Gallaecian
* Lepontic
* Noric
* Cumbric
* Pictish
* Hispano-Celtic
* Cisalpine Gaulish

|

Scottish Gaelic dialects|

* Arran Gaelic
* Deeside Gaelic
* Galwegian Gaelic

Law and Warfare

Law|

* Early Irish law
* Cyfraith Hywel (Medieval Welsh law)
* Early Scots law

Warfare|

* Gaelic warfare
* Ceathairne
* Ceithearn
* Fianna
* Gaesatae
* Gallóglaigh
* Hobelar
* Redshanks
* Trimarcisia

Lists

* Tribes
* Deities
* Celtic words in English
* – in Spanish
* – in Galician
* Gaulish words in French
* Celtic place names in Galicia
* – in Italy
* – in Portugal

* Celts portal

* v
* t
* e

Celtic music

Fusions and subgenres|

* Celtic chant
* Celtic fusion
* Celtic metal
* Celtic punk
* Celtic rock

Regions and nations|

* Asturian music
* Breton music
* Cantabrian music
* Cape Breton music
* Celtic music in Canada
* Cornish music
* Galician music
* Irish music
* Irish traditional music
* Manx music
* Scottish music
* Scottish folk music
* Celtic music in the US
* Welsh music
* Welsh folk music

Instruments|

* Banjo
* bagpipes
* Bodhrán
* Bombard
* Concertina
* Crwth
* Harp
* Irish bouzouki
* Irish harp
* Fiddle
* Pibgorn
* Tabwrdd
* Welsh Harp
* Uilleann pipes
* Welsh bagpipes

Musical forms|

* Ballads
* Barzaz Breiz
* Cerdd Dant
* Cymanfa Ganu
* Cynghanedd
* Jigs
* Piobaireachd
* Reels
* Sea shanty
* Strathspey
* Twmpath

* v
* t
* e

Music of the United Kingdom

Art music|

* Early music
* England
* Ireland
* Scotland
* Wales
* Baroque
* Classical

History of popular music|

* Early popular music
* 1950s
* 1960s
* 1970s
* 1980s
* 1990s
* 2000s and 2010s

Traditional genres|

* British folk revival
* Ballad
* Carol
* Children's song
* Hornpipe
* Jig
* Morris dance
* Protest song
* Reel
* Sea shanty
* Strathspey
* War song
* Work song

Contemporary
popular genres|

* Afrobeats
* Afroswing
* Americana
* Country
* Folk
* England
* Scotland
* Wales
* Grime
* Hip Hop
* Drill
* Jazz
* Pop
* Popular
* Rock
* Soul
* Schlager

Ethnic music|

* Caribbean
* England
* Ireland
* Scotland
* Wales

Media and
performance|

| Music awards|

* BBC Music Awards
* BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards
* Brit Awards
* Classic Brit Awards
* Global Awards
* Gramophone Classical Music Awards
* Ivor Novello Awards
* Kerrang! Awards
* Mercury Prize
* MOBO Awards

|

Music charts|

* Albums chart
* Classical charts
* Compilation chart
* Country chart
* Dance chart
* Download chart
* Indie chart
* R&B chart
* Rock chart
* Singles chart
* Subscription plays chart

Music festivals|

* Boomtown
* C2C: Country to Country
* Cambridge Folk
* Download
* Edinburgh
* Eisteddfod
* Glastonbury
* Isle of Wight
* Knebworth
* Royal National Mòd
* The Proms
* Reading and Leeds
* Sidmouth
* T in the Park
* V

Music media|

* fRoots
* The Gramophone
* Kerrang!
* Melody Maker
* Mojo
* NME
* Q
* The Wire

National anthem|

* "God Save the King"

Regional music|

| British Isles|

* Birmingham (Classical music, Jazz, Popular music)
* Cardiff
* Cornwall
* Liverpool
* Manchester
* Newport
* Northumbria
* Somerset
* Sussex
* Yorkshire

|

Overseas|

* Anguilla
* Bermuda
* Cayman Islands
* Gibraltar
* Montserrat
* Turks and Caicos
* Virgin Islands

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