Bulgarian Music Theory & 'Banshees of Inisherin' 🎶
Explore Bulgarian music theory behind 'Banshees of Inisherin' and support on Patreon for more analyses and insights.

Levi McClain
1.6K views • Sep 22, 2023

About this video
Support me on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/LeviMcClain
Sociocinema (now Jake Bishop's) war allegory film analysis:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74KPJ--cb7Q
Let's take a deep dive into the story of The Banshees of Inisherin through it's music, from its hesitance towards Irish trad tunes to its use of Bulgarian folk leanings & beyond. We'll analyze Carter Burwell's captivating score for the movie in this music theory film analysis video by looking at how he uses rhythm and meter to tell a compelling story. This movie has it all: 3/4, 4/4, 5/4, 11/8, 12/16, 3/8, Bulgarian vocal harmonies, microtonal chords, Gamelan, Jigs, Reels, Slip Jigs, Irish folk music, Celeste, Marimba, impossible polyrhythms & more.
Research Links:
Bulgarian Music Theory Primer on Balkan Harmony & Asymetric :
https://issuu.com/bobbypetrovmusic/docs/bulgarian_rhythms_-_past__present_a
Bulgarian Time Signatures, Kopanica & Gankino rhythms: https://socalfolkdance.org/articles/gankino_kopanica_unciano.htm#:~:text=The%20best%20way%20to%20describe,2%2D2%20%3D%2011
Notes on Bulgarian Dance Meters:
https://folkdancefootnotes.org/dance/dance-information/bulgarian-dance-rhythms/
Carter Burwell Talks ’The Banshees of Inisherin’ - The Film Scorer:
https://thefilmscorer.podbean.com/e/an-interview-with-carter-burwell/
Banshees Script:
https://www.scriptslug.com/script/the-banshees-of-inisherin-2022
Connect with me here:
Levi McClain's Music: https://linktr.ee/levimcclainmusic
Levi McClain's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/levimcclainmusic
Levi McClain's TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@levimcclainmusic
Levi's McClain's Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LeviMcClain
Timestamps:
00:00 - "I just don't like you no more"
03:51 - Bulgarian Music Theory & Balkan Rhythms
09:14 - Storytelling with Odd Meter
14:16 - Psychology of the Fingers & Colm's Song
23:13 - The War Allegory: Music of Pride & Despair
#musictheory #filmmusic #filmmusiccomposer #musictheorylessons #musicanalysis #bansheesofinisherin #filmanalysis #carterburwell #bulgarianmusic #balkanmusic #irishmusic #irishtrad #irishmusictheory #timesignature #oddtimesignature #microtonal #xenharmonic #musictheory101 #movieanalysis #moviereview #filmreview #psychology
https://www.patreon.com/LeviMcClain
Sociocinema (now Jake Bishop's) war allegory film analysis:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74KPJ--cb7Q
Let's take a deep dive into the story of The Banshees of Inisherin through it's music, from its hesitance towards Irish trad tunes to its use of Bulgarian folk leanings & beyond. We'll analyze Carter Burwell's captivating score for the movie in this music theory film analysis video by looking at how he uses rhythm and meter to tell a compelling story. This movie has it all: 3/4, 4/4, 5/4, 11/8, 12/16, 3/8, Bulgarian vocal harmonies, microtonal chords, Gamelan, Jigs, Reels, Slip Jigs, Irish folk music, Celeste, Marimba, impossible polyrhythms & more.
Research Links:
Bulgarian Music Theory Primer on Balkan Harmony & Asymetric :
https://issuu.com/bobbypetrovmusic/docs/bulgarian_rhythms_-_past__present_a
Bulgarian Time Signatures, Kopanica & Gankino rhythms: https://socalfolkdance.org/articles/gankino_kopanica_unciano.htm#:~:text=The%20best%20way%20to%20describe,2%2D2%20%3D%2011
Notes on Bulgarian Dance Meters:
https://folkdancefootnotes.org/dance/dance-information/bulgarian-dance-rhythms/
Carter Burwell Talks ’The Banshees of Inisherin’ - The Film Scorer:
https://thefilmscorer.podbean.com/e/an-interview-with-carter-burwell/
Banshees Script:
https://www.scriptslug.com/script/the-banshees-of-inisherin-2022
Connect with me here:
Levi McClain's Music: https://linktr.ee/levimcclainmusic
Levi McClain's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/levimcclainmusic
Levi McClain's TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@levimcclainmusic
Levi's McClain's Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LeviMcClain
Timestamps:
00:00 - "I just don't like you no more"
03:51 - Bulgarian Music Theory & Balkan Rhythms
09:14 - Storytelling with Odd Meter
14:16 - Psychology of the Fingers & Colm's Song
23:13 - The War Allegory: Music of Pride & Despair
#musictheory #filmmusic #filmmusiccomposer #musictheorylessons #musicanalysis #bansheesofinisherin #filmanalysis #carterburwell #bulgarianmusic #balkanmusic #irishmusic #irishtrad #irishmusictheory #timesignature #oddtimesignature #microtonal #xenharmonic #musictheory101 #movieanalysis #moviereview #filmreview #psychology
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Video Information
Views
1.6K
Likes
119
Duration
27:42
Published
Sep 22, 2023
User Reviews
4.5
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