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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 a keening?
[1] 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. Keening, which can be seen as a form of sean-nós singing, was performed in the Irish and Scottish Gaelic languages (the Scottish equivalent of keening is known as a coronach ).
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 does Irish keening sound like?
Keening Sound It can be tricky to find authentic, spontaneous songs of Irish keening that were documented because the ritual was kept very private. The keening sound may include loud cries, wailing, rhythmic chanting, and spontaneous singing. Examples of keening used in songs:
What does keen stand for?
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 7th, 8th, and 12th centuries are extensive. Written sources that refer to the practice in Ireland and Gaelic Scotland appear from the sixteenth century on.
What is meant by the word keening?
Keening definition Intense mournful wailing after a death, often at a funeral or wake. noun.
What is keening at a funeral?
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”.
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 a sentence for keening?
Keening in from the lake, the wind made him stagger backwards. The neighbours keening along with me would be better to me than an estate. "It is the wild Irish women keening over their dead," he remarked, with perfect unconcern.
Does keening still exist?
Keening was once an integral part of the formal Irish funeral ritual, but declined from the 18th century and became almost completely extinct by the middle of the 20th century.
Is it rude to cry at a funeral?
It's Okay to Cry: How to Embrace Crying and Your Feelings. Finally, remind yourself that crying at a funeral is a natural part of the grieving process. You're allowed to show your emotions, even if it feels awkward at first. In fact, some cultures include crying as part of the wake etiquette.
How do the Irish grieve?
Irish wakes are a celebration of life - one last party to honor the deceased. The name “wake” originated because unknown diseases had plagued the countryside causing some to appear dead. As the family began to mourn, they would awaken. For this reason, the body is waked in the deceased's home for at least one night.
What do you do when someone dies in Spain?
In the Event of a DeathCall the police (Policía Municipal). ... Contact a doctor (if the police do not do this) who will certify the cause of death and issue a certificate of death.A funeral parlour (tanatorio) will be contacted to remove the body (identification must accompany the body in order for it to be moved)More items...
What part of speech is keening?
Keening can be an adjective, a noun or a verb.
What does undulating mean?
intransitive verb. 1 : to form or move in waves : fluctuate. 2 : to rise and fall in volume, pitch, or cadence. 3 : to present a wavy appearance.
What are the denotations and connotations of the word keening?
This has a deeper symbol of the love Chris's parents had for him. There are words such as waling, laughing, crying. The word keening gives the connotation of negativity or a sad connotation.
Why do funeral directors bow at the coffin?
So why do Funeral Directors bow at coffins? Respect. The aim when working with any family is to show their loved one as much dignity and respect as possible. Even though this person may not be walking on this earth any longer does not mean that they deserve any less respect.
Who walks in first at a funeral?
The processional is led by the officiant and is followed by the pallbearers who carry the casket. Next, the family and kin to the deceased walk down the aisle, followed by close friends as they take their seats in the first few rows. A funeral recessional marks the end of the funeral service.
What is the person called who walks in front of a hearse?
The funeral director will then walk in front of the hearse for a short distance. This is a mark of respect to the deceased and also gives following cars an opportunity to join the cortege.
What is the family order when at a funeral receiving line?
What Order Do People Stand in the Receiving Line? If the deceased was a married adult with children, the deceased's spouse, children, and parents usually begin the line. If the deceased was not married, the children and parents might be the first to receive the guests.
What is a keening?
Keening is a traditional form of vocal lament for the dead.
What is the Keen poem?
The "keen" itself is thought to have been constituted of stock poetic elements (the listing of the genealogy of the deceased, praise for the deceased, emphasis on the woeful condition of those left behind etc.) set to vocal lament.
What is the song of Keening?
Here is a list of keening songs for you to listen to: 1. “Song of Keening" by Áine Minogue. Minogue is an accomplished Irish harpist, singer, and composer. She was born and raised in Ireland and has made a career performing and arranging music that honors her heritage.
Where does keening originate?
While keening is usually associated with Ireland, the tradition actually has its roots in various other cultures.
What is the name of the Irish spirit that screams and weeps?
Irish folklore also has a figure with many parallels to keeners. Banshees (or Bean Sídhe in the Irish language) are mythological female spirits who signal the impending death of a family member or loved one. They herald death by shrieking, screaming, or keening. Their eyes are often described as being red from constant weeping. They are a member of the fae community.
When did keening begin?
In Ireland, keening was a big part of the mourning landscape starting around the sixteenth century.
Why do people wailing?
Through their emotional wailing, family members could feel as though someone was putting a voice to their grief. It was also considered a way to honor the dead and share their accomplishments.
Who is the singer of Caoineadh na Marbh?
One is attributed to Bridget Mullin, while the other is credited simply to an unknown Aran female singer.
Is keening offputting?
Keening can be incredibly off-putting to someone who isn’t used to it. In Songs for the Dead, Muir described it as:
What is a keening?
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.
Where did the word "Keening" come from?
The word keening originates from the Gaelic caoineadh meaning “crying”. The keening women (mnàthan-tuirim), paid respects to the deceased and expressed grief on behalf of the bereaved family. Keening was an integral part of the whole process of undertaking and was performed either at the wake, funeral procession or interment.
What is the difference between a keen and a lament?
Amongst the travelling people one of the highest compliments to a singer today would still be to recognise the voice of the keener in her. A keen is distinct from a lament. The Colin’s English Dictionary defines a lament as ‘a poem, song, or piece of music, which expresses sorrow that someone has died’.
Where did the last keens take place?
Although the last known keens took place in the first half of the twentieth century Ireland and in the ninetienth century in Scotland, the social practice of keening will have influence in people, places and voices we (and they) can never know. Amongst the travelling people one of the highest compliments to a singer today would still be to recognise the voice of the keener in her.
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.
Why did keening disappear?
When this happened the church felt that its authority was being undermined by something more archaic and, indeed, authentic. The primal nature of keening perhaps resonated with people more than the reciting of memorised and formalised prayer. Of course, for the priests, giving way to a woman, and one who in their view might be uneducated and an advocate for superstition, was something that had to be stopped. An example of an account of keening here: “Long ago when a person died the old women of the neighbourhood would come into the wake house crying over the corpse and reciting the praises of the dead man or woman. This would generally be repeated from time to time until the corpse was taken to be buried…” https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4921781/4906668
What is the sound a dog makes?
Most people describe the sound as a type of high-pitched crying or whining, and in some cases, people refer to the sound as keening.
What does it mean when a dog makes a high pitched noise?
For example, a dog making a high-pitched noise while staring at you with its ears up and tail wagging is communicating something vastly different than a dog making the sound by itself while its head and tail are drooping. In general, the high-pitched cries represent either excitement or distress.
Why does my dog make a high pitched sound?
Generally, a high-pitched sound that rises in pitch is an indicator of stress or negative emotion, while a high-pitched sound that stays constant or drops in pitch indicates positivity or excitement. These are by no means the only reasons that a dog makes high-pitched sounds. Whining can be linked to behavioral issues or a dog may make ...
What does it mean when you cry loudly?
In general, the high-pitched cries represent either excitement or distress. The excitement could be a positive nervousness or anxiousness to get going. You might hear this sound while lacing up your shoes before going on a walk, or while you hold a tennis ball behind your back.
Why does my dog whine?
If your dog’s whining has become ceaseless, it may be the sign of a mental health problem, or a behavioral problem that you will need to correct . Dogs that experience strong separation anxiety may cry or whine for long stretches of time, even once you have returned to a room.
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