Ireland, France, Mexico and Puerto Rico

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Ireland:

Irish music represents a broad range of instrumental and vocal styles developed over an extended history. Although diverse, there are some characteristics and similarities that can be identified. The songs are usually passed on orally from musician to musician instead of written down. The music is in this way is ever changing and being creatively altered, be it slowly because the Irish are a conservative people. Yet there are many versions of most songs. The songs express a more rural than urban lifestyle. The music is performed recreationally and rarely by professional musicians. It is performed at social gatherings and ale houses. The tempo of the songs can be quick or slow in a controlled or relaxed rhythm.
The instrumental music is fast dance music, such as jigs, reels or hornpipes. The choice of notes come from a seven note scale, but sometimes just 5 or 6. String instruments and wind instruments are key.

Irish traditional instruments:

Uilleann pipes: An Irish form of bagpipes
Fiddle
Tin Whistle
Flute
Small accordian/concertina
Bodhran: Hand held drum

France:

Most traditional music in France centered on the development of various forms of song, or Chanson as it is called in French. From the Middle Ages on, song forms grew from both religious roots (the motet and chants) and the secular roots of traveling minstrels, who sung of love and battles. Folk dance is also a popular form of music, especially in the West of France. Other regions have their specialties, such as the playing of bagpipes and hurdy-gurdys in Central France and a Celtic style in the province of Brittany.
France also has a very notable classic tradition with outstanding composers of opera, such as Georges Bizet and Romantic era pioneer, Hector Berlioz. In the late 1800s Impressionist composers like Ravel, Faure and Debussy made significant contributions to classical music and revitalized French music in general.

Some Traditional French instruments:

Accordion
Bombarde: a cross between an oboe and the chanter on the bagpipes
Hurdy Gurdy: A combination violin and keyboard. Strings are shortened and held
down with keys.
Mexico:

Music in Mexico and other Latin American countries share some similarities, but also reflects a strong sense of regionalism and the richness of local differences. Music from this region developed with the blending of Spanish settlers and the indigenous people of the Americas. It is also influenced by the presence of missionaries and the use of costumed song and dance to draw people to Christianity. Wearing costumes (and sometimes masks) during performance is a characteristic of much Mestizo music.
Song form in Mexico is usually strophic, meaning that the melody or tume stays the same but the verses change. Meter is usually a quick 6/8 rhythm. Jarocho ensembles from rural areas in the south are well known. They include a large harp, a four stringed guitar (requinto) and jaranas which are small 8 stringed guitars.
Mariachis are probably the most famous type of group in Mexico. They perform in restaurants and cafes and include violins, trumpets and various guitars. A sense of nationalism and pride in the Mexican peasants and rural culture supported the spread of this music into the cities and upper classes.

Some Mexican Instruments:

Diatonic Harp: Large harp with hollow sounding board
Requinto: 4 string guitar
Jaranas: small 8 stringed guitar
Vihuela: small 5 string guitar with a convex back
Guitarron: large acoustic bass guitar

Puerto Rico:

The presence of slave barracks in Puerto Rico’s history significantly effected the development of music in the region. Like Rumba developed in Cuba through African derived drumming traditions, so did Bomba develop in Puerto Rico. Although it is seldom performed today except by folkloric groups, African rhythms had a strong influence on the development of the ‘Caribbean’ sound. The Bomba ensemble includes dancers, 2 or 3 drummers, percussionists playing sticks and maracas and a singer and chorus. There is call and response interplay between the singer and the chorus.
Other significant influences to the music of Puerto Rico are the Taino Indians, the French and Spanish settlers, and more locally people from Panama and Cuba.
A more sophisticated and composed style of music is called a “Danza” and are usually romantic or festive in style. Both Bomba and Danza though call for movement and rhythm to play a prominent role.

Some Puerto Rican Instruments:
Guiro: A scraping instrument made from the nut of the marimba tree.
Maracas: Hollowed out gourd rattles
Cuatro: Puerto Rican Guitar
Cua: sticks