Illustration for the question “What is a violin commonly called when it is used to play dance tunes in traditional Irish music?”

Music

What is a violin commonly called when it is used to play dance tunes in traditional Irish music?

Correct answer The fiddle

Fact

Did you know?

In traditional Irish music, a violin is commonly called a fiddle. It is physically the same instrument as the classical violin, but performers use characteristic bowing, ornamentation and phrasing to play reels, jigs, hornpipes and other dance tunes. Irish sessions often bring together the fiddle with instruments such as the wooden flute, tin whistle, bodhrán and tenor banjo. The word “fiddle” describes the instrument in its traditional playing context rather than a different type of violin.