The Origins of the Irish Bouzouki: Cross-Cultural Influences in Folk Music and Challenges in Organology

Keywords: Irish, Ireland, Greek, Greece, England, United Kingdom, bouzouki, mandolin, cross-cultural, folk music, banjo, organology
Abstract Type: Paper Abstract

Abstract

The Irish bouzouki, an eight stringed instrument usually classified as a member of the mandolin family of lute-like instruments, was developed in the late 1960’s through early 1970’s and has since become prominent in Irish folk music. Though the band Planxty, formed in 1972, is widely recognized for popularizing the Irish bouzouki, there are three independent instances of the bouzouki, an instrument of Greek origin, being adapted for Irish folk music in the late 1960’s through early 1970’s. A similar instrument inspired by the tenor banjo and mandolin was also developed in that same time period. The multiple contemporary yet independent origins of the Irish bouzouki and its quick rise to prominence are indicative of broader trends in the revival of Irish folk music at that time. Furthermore, the adaption of the Greek bouzouki to Irish folk music and the subsequent adaptation of the Irish bouzouki into other folk music traditions (e.g., Scandinavian folk music) illuminates patterns of cross-cultural influence in folk music in the latter half of the 20th century through present day. Through interviews with Irish folk musicians who witnessed or participated in the development and popularization of the Irish bouzouki, I seek to explore the uses and limitations of organology (the taxonomy of musical instruments) as well as to document the instrument’s history, of which there is presently a dearth of scholarly sources.