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- keening noun Intense mournful wailing after a death, often at a funeral or wake Etymology: From Irish Caoineadh meaning lament.
- keening noun (by extension) An unpleasant sound. Etymology: From Irish Caoineadh meaning lament.
- keening adjective Sharp, shrill, especially of a sound. ...
What is keening?
Keening is a traditional form of vocal lament for the dead. "Keen" as a noun or verb comes from the Irish and Scottish Gaelic term caoineadh ("to cry, to weep") and references to it from the seventh, eighth and twelfth centuries are extensive.
Where did the keening song come from?
In the early 1950s, Cití Ní Ghallchóir (Kitty Gallagher) of Gaoth Dobhair in County Donegal, Ireland sang a keening song she had learnt from an old woman to Alan Lomax, which can be heard online. A recording of Gallagher's keening song was featured on the album Traditional Songs of Ireland (1995). Below is Gallagher's version with a translation.
Where can I find a recording of keening in Scotland?
The Tobar an Dualchais Scottish music archive has two recordings related to keening which are available to the public; the first is a keening song sung by Calum Johnston (1891-1972) of Barra, and the second is a verse performed by Donald MacIntyre (1899-1964) of South Uist said to have been used by paid keening women.
What is the meaning of keening siren?
intransitive verb. 1a : to make a loud and long cry of sorrow : to lament with a keen. b : to make a sound suggestive of a loud cry of sorrow a keening siren. 2 : to lament, mourn, or complain loudly.
What is an example of keening?
Some aspects of keening that may take place during a wake or graveside: Clapping and rocking. Wailing and crying out. Beating one's breasts.
What is keening in singing?
Keening (Irish: Caointeoireacht) is a traditional form of vocal lament for the dead in the Gaelic Celtic tradition, known to have taken place in Ireland and Scotland.
What is another word for keening?
What is another word for keening?lamentationmoanwhimperingweeptearsbawlsnivelmourningbewailingblubber75 more rows
Was keening outlawed in Ireland?
The mystery, unpicked in Songs for the Dead, is why keening — a variation of which is still practiced all over the world in other cultures, from pockets around Europe, including Portugal, to Africa and the Asian subcontinent — disappeared. “It was pretty much outlawed in Ireland,” says Muir.
What is the keening used for?
Keening was a vocal ritual artform, performed at the wake or graveside in mourning of the dead. Keens are said to have contained raw unearthly emotion, spontaneous word, repeated motifs, crying and elements of song. The word keening originates from the Gaelic caoineadh meaning “crying”.
Does keening mean sharp or stabbing?
1. Having a fine, sharp cutting edge or point. 2. Having or marked by intellectual quickness and acuity.
What is the opposite of keening?
Opposite of present participle for to wail in grief for a deceased person. rejoicing. crowing. delighting.
What are antonyms for keening?
OPPOSITES FOR keen 1 dull. 4 dull, obtuse. GOOSES.
What is the dictionary meaning of Ululate?
howlDefinition of ululate intransitive verb. : to utter a loud, usually protracted, high-pitched, rhythmical sound especially as an expression of sorrow, joy, celebration, or reverence : howl …
When did keening disappear?
Keening, which was once an integral part of the Irish grieving process, began to vanish from before the 1880’s. In many academic papers it is implied that keening was strong until the mid-20th century but the Irish folklore archives contradict that view. There are still isolated accounts of keening taking place but it is now extremely rare. There have also been some recent attempts to bring back this ancient practice and perhaps we will see a resurgence at some point. There are a few different reasons for why keening disappeared but two in particular seem to form the basis of opinion for many of today’s researchers.
Who wrote Keening in Ireland?
Written by seamusvhanratty. This article was written by David Halpin of Circle stories. Keening, which was once an integral part of the Irish grieving process, began to vanish from before the 1880’s.
Examples and Songs of Irish Keening
While keening has largely fallen out of fashion, there are many enduring examples of Irish keening songs. They are incredible cultural artifacts that are well worth listening to.
The Rich Tradition of Irish Keening
Keening is a tradition that, sadly, has mostly gone away. You can occasionally still find it at an authentic, traditional service like an Irish wake. But this unique and remarkable mourning ritual is in danger of being forgotten.
Choose the Right Synonym for keen
sharp, keen, acute mean having or showing alert competence and clear understanding. sharp implies quick perception, clever resourcefulness, or sometimes questionable trickiness. sharp enough to spot a confidence game keen suggests quickness, enthusiasm, and a penetrating mind.
Examples of keen in a Sentence
Adjective When you've been trying to remember something and you suddenly remember it, the mental pleasure is keen. — Ian Frazier, Atlantic, October 2004 Indeed, tobacco processors were keen to promote variety even further by saturating and mixing the cut and spun leaf with a miscellany of spices … — Simon Schama, The Embarrassment of Riches, 1988
Kids Definition of keen
4 : full of enthusiasm : eager … everybody was very keen to hear details of what had happened … — J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Overview
Bibliography
• Sorce Keller, Marcello (2013). "Humanities Research (Expressing, Communicating, Sharing and Representing Grief and Sorrow with Organized Sound)" (PDF). ANU Press. 3. Australia: ANU E Press. pp. 3–14. ISSN 1440-0669. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
Etymology
"Keen" as a noun or verb comes from the Irish and Scottish Gaelic term caoineadh ("to cry, to weep"), as well as caoine ("gentleness, pleasantness, beauty"), and references to it from the 7th, 8th, and 12th centuries are extensive.
Melody and text
The tune and lyrics rely on the repetition of a couple of basic motifs which can be variably extended or shortened. It seems that there was never an established keening ‘text’; the singer is expected to improvise as feeling dictates. Despite the keen varying between performances, keeners worked within the same body of motifs and diction. Keening was rhythmically free, without a metre.
History and mythology
In the 12th century, Giraldus Cambrensis (Gerald of Wales) described vocal laments taking place in which the mourners were divided in two, each alternately singing their part and sometimes joining in full chorus. Written sources that describe the singing style appear from the sixteenth century on.
In ancient times, a chief's own bard (assisted by the chief's household) would p…
Survival into the twentieth century
Authentic keening was effectively extinct by the early twentieth century.
In the early 1950s, Cití Ní Ghallchóir (Kitty Gallagher) of Gaoth Dobhair in County Donegal, Ireland sang a keening song she had learnt from an old woman to Alan Lomax, which can be heard online. A recording of Gallagher's keening song was featured on the album Traditional Songs of Ireland (1995). Below is Gallagher'…
In popular culture
John Millington Synge's one-act play Riders to the Sea (1904) features a chorus of women from the Aran Islands mourning the death of their loved ones at sea.
In 1986, Robin Williams and Carol Burnett performed a comical version of a keening song for a sketch called "The Funeral" as part of Carol, Carl, Whoopi and Robin.
See also
• Coronach
• Sean-nós singing
• Death wail
• Oppari