Coronach
Encyclopedia
A coronach is the Scottish Gaelic equivalent of the Goll
, being the third part of a round of keening
, the traditional improvised singing at a death, wake or funeral in the Highlands of Scotland and in Ireland
. Though observers have reported hearing such songs in Ireland or in the Scottish Highlands, and melodies have been noted down and printed since the 18th century, audio recordings are rare; not only was the practice dying out or being supressed through the 19th century, but it was also considered by its practicioners to have been a very personal and spiritual practice, not suitable for performance or recording.
The Scottish border ballad The Bonny Earl of Murray
is supposedly composed in the tradition of the coronach.
Goll
Goll may refer to:*Goll mac Morna, a character from Irish mythology*Goll, son of Garbh, of the Fomorians, early settlers in Ireland*Göll, one of the minor Valkyries of Norse mythology-Surnames:...
, being the third part of a round of keening
Keening
Keening is a form of vocal lament associated with mourning that is traditional in Scotland and Ireland.-Etymology:"Keen" as a noun or verb comes from the Irish/Scots Gaelic term "caoineadh" and references to it from the seventh, eighth and twelfth centuries are extensive.-History:Written sources...
, the traditional improvised singing at a death, wake or funeral in the Highlands of Scotland and in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. Though observers have reported hearing such songs in Ireland or in the Scottish Highlands, and melodies have been noted down and printed since the 18th century, audio recordings are rare; not only was the practice dying out or being supressed through the 19th century, but it was also considered by its practicioners to have been a very personal and spiritual practice, not suitable for performance or recording.
The Scottish border ballad The Bonny Earl of Murray
The Bonny Earl of Murray
"The Bonnie Earl O' Moray" is a popular Scottish ballad, probably written as far back as the 17th century, and has been catalogued under the name "Bonny Earl O'Murray" as Child Ballad No. 181....
is supposedly composed in the tradition of the coronach.
In popular culture
- Progressive rockProgressive rockProgressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
group Jethro TullJethro Tull (band)Jethro Tull are a British rock group formed in 1967. Their music is characterised by the vocals, acoustic guitar, and flute playing of Ian Anderson, who has led the band since its founding, and the guitar work of Martin Barre, who has been with the band since 1969.Initially playing blues rock with...
released a single called "Coronach" in 1986. - Melodic death metalMelodic death metalMelodic death metal is a heavy metal music style that combines elements from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal with elements of death metal. The style was developed during the early and mid-1990s, primarily in England and Scandinavia...
band Eternal Tears of SorrowEternal Tears of SorrowEternal Tears of Sorrow is a Finnish symphonic death metal band formed in Pudasjärvi in Northern Ostrobothnia, Finland...
have a song entitled "Coronach" on their 1998 album, Vilda MánnuVilda Mánnu-Band members:* Altti Veteläinen − vocals, bass guitar* Jarmo Puolakanaho − guitar, keyboards* Olli-Pekka Törrö − guitar, keyboards...
. - Death metalDeath metalDeath metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It typically employs heavily distorted guitars, tremolo picking, deep growling vocals, blast beat drumming, minor keys or atonality, and complex song structures with multiple tempo changes....
band Hate EternalHate Eternal-Biography:Hate Eternal was formed in 1997. The group's original line-up included Erik Rutan - guitars/vocals, bassist and co-vocalist Jared Anderson, drummer Tim Yeung, and guitarist Doug Cerrito of the band Suffocation...
have an instrumental song entitled "Coronach" as the last song on their 2008 album, Fury and Flames. (The album as a whole is dedicated to Jared Anderson, a deceased friend and former bandmate of band leader Erik RutanErik RutanErik Rutan is an American heavy metal musician from New Jersey. He currently leads Hate Eternal on lead vocals and guitar and has also spent time with Morbid Angel and Ripping Corpse...
.)