It's extremely difficult to make up a tasteful harmony to most sean nos songs, expecially on the fly. Not only are many of them modal but most of the sean nos melodies beg to be let alone,to wend their magical way through an audience without others joining in. Unfortunately, there are harmonizing enthusiasts who will try anyway. Fortunately, the rhythms are elastic enough to confuse most singers-along and all but the most determined drop out quickly. In addition, no one else knows the words to most of my songs (at least here in the US of A)!

I sing many sean nos songs and wouldn't mind if someone wanted to work with me to create a harmony in practice sessions. But just to join in during a session, it would take an extremely sensitive and practiced harmonizer to make it work for me. It's possible, though, I suppose. (And, having sung in choirs most of my life, I enjoy a good harmony sing-along, too. I love singing harmonies to shanties and many newly-composed songs.)

Long live solos! And long live harmonies!

David