‘All our central fire’ Music, mediation and the Irish psyche

Abstract

The distinguishing characteristics of the psyche within Jungian psychology can be linked to the structures and processes of music in a significant way. The theory of opposites is central to that link. Music mediates emotional conflict and current investigations within neurophysiology, neuropsychology, and biomusicology are exploring the systems by which this occurs. Irish music is here defined as “encompassing all creative music making in Ireland”. The role of music as a mediating force in Irish society is discussed and four Irish musical figures are compared: Carolan, Moore, Potts and O Riada. In all four cases, mediation took place between the indigenous oraltradition music and the literate European art music tradition of the time. A further comparison between the Irish composer Sean O Riada and the German composer Karlheinz Stockhausen shows two separate yet contemporaneous approaches to the challenge of orality and literacy as opposing forces within musical tradition. The psychomusical struggle of Sean O Riada within his own life is discussed with reference to the writings of his poet contemporaries. A connection between difficulties in personality integration and musical integration is implied. Music is a key to unlocking the “central’ fire” necessary for the successful mediation of opposites.

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