Music of the Channel Islands for hundreds of years. Song in Jèrriais celebrates the language and its survival. Songs derived from French mark geographic identity and proximity to France, while songs derived from the UK and Ireland re-present Jersey's wider heritage. The development of tourism in the 19th century brought a demand for dance music in tea-rooms and hotels. Some local composers supplied songs and sheet music aimed at a tourist market. Claude Debussy composed part of "La Mer" in Jersey. John Ireland settled for a time in Guernsey. The Channel Islands Music Council was founded in 1974 to promote music in the islands. In
Maritime history of the Channel Islands at La Hougue Bie, Jersey give evidence of either populations living on or visiting the islands. Guernsey and Alderney were separated from mainland Europe around 7,000 BC with Jersey some time after, but even at 4,000 BC the islands were close to the mainland coast for basic boats to move between islands. Archaeological evidence of trade from the Iron Age period is in evidence in the Islands, with goods manufactured on the western coast such as armlets, Breton pottery and amphorae from the Mediterranean indicating trade along the Atlantic coast from Iberia to Ireland. Armorica was the nearest trade zone.