Folk Music Influences from Around the World

Get a taste of folk music from around the world with these top folk songs. From America to Ireland, these tracks will give you a taste of traditional music.

Celtic Folk Music

Celtic folk music has its origins in the music of the Celtic people, which is a group of people who share similar ancestry, culture, and history. The Celtic people are originally from the British Isles, but they can also be found in other parts of the world, such as Australia, Canada, and the United States. Celtic folk music is a type of traditional music that is typically characterized by its use of traditional instruments, such as the fiddle, bagpipe, and accordion.

The Celtic countries

Celtic folk music has its roots in the music of the various Celtic peoples of Europe. Celtic music is a broad grouping of music genres that have emerged from the traditions of the Celtic people. It can be traced back to ancient times, and has been influence by many other genres of music, such as folk, rock, and classical.

The Celtic countries are those regions with a Celtic heritage: Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Brittany (in France), Cornwall (in England), the Isle of Man, and Galicia (in Spain). There are also sizable Celtic diaspora communities in North America, Australia, and New Zealand.

Celtic folk music has been particularly popular in recent years, with many artists fusing traditional folk influences with other genres to create their own unique sound. Some popular Celtic folk artists include The Pogues, Loreena McKennitt, Flogging Molly, The Dubliners, and The Dropkick Murphys.

The Celtic music tradition

Celtic music is a genre of folk music that has its roots in the cultures of northwest Europe, particularly Ireland and Scotland. While there are many different subgenres of Celtic music, it is generally characterized by its use of traditional instruments such as the fiddle, bagpipes, and accordion, as well as its focus on folkloric themes.

Celtic music has been influences by a number of other genres over the years, including rock and roll, blues, and even Hip Hop. In recent years, Celtic music has also begun to enjoy a resurgence in popularity, with many artists releasing Celtic-influenced albums and touring internationally.

Whether you’re a fan of traditional Celtic music or looking to branch out into some of its more modern incarnations, there’s sure to be something here for you!

American Folk Music

American folk music is a genre that has been shaped by the various cultures that have settled in the United States. The music is a blend of traditional British, Irish, Scottish, and African American music. This genre of music has been around since the early 1800s.

The influence of British and Irish music

The folk music of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland has been particularly influential on the development of American folk music. The emigration of musicians from Britain and Ireland to the United States in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries brought with them a valuable cargo of folk songs and tunes. Although many of these songs were disseminated in print, they also circulated widely in oral tradition as part of the repertoires of fiddlers, ballad singers, sailors and others. In some cases, such as “Barbara Allen” and “Lord Randall,” British and Irish versions of songs became so widely known in America that they took on a new identity as “American” folk songs. Other songs, like “The Streets of Laredo” or “The Unfortunate Rake,” exist in both British and Irish versions, attesting to the close musical connections between these two traditions.

The influence of African-American music

The influence of African-American music on American folk music is widely acknowledged and documented. blues, jazz, and rock and roll are all genres that have been profoundly shaped by the contributions of African-American musicians. In the early days of American folk music, African-American artists were sometimes denied credit for their work or imitation was seen as a form of flattery. Over time, however, the contributions of African-American musicians have come to be widely recognized and respected.

Today, there is a growing appreciation for the wide range of musical traditions that have been shaped by African-American culture. These include everything from traditional Spirituals and gospel music to more modern styles like hip hop and R&B. The influence of African-American music can be heard in virtually every corner of the musical world, and it continues to inspire new generations of artists.

The influence of Native American music

Native American music has had a profound impact on the development of American folk music. Early folk musicians were inspired by the melodies and rhythms of Native American songs, and many of the instruments they used were based on Native American designs. The most iconic example of this is the banjo, which was adapted from a West African instrument by slaves in the colonial United States.

Native American music is characterized by its use of complex polyrhythms and drone-like tones. These elements can be heard in many American folk songs, particularly in the southern region of the United States. The influence of Native American music can also be seen in the work of classical composers such as Aaron Copland, who incorporated these elements into his ballet “Appalachian Spring.”

Latin American Folk Music

In this article, we will be discussing the various folk music influences from around the world, with a focus on Latin American folk music. Latin American folk music has been influenced by a variety of factors, including the region’s history, geography, and cultural diversity.

The influence of Spanish and Portuguese music

Spanish and Portuguese music has had a significant influence on Latin American folk music. The music of Spain and Portugal was brought to the Americas by the Spanish and Portuguese colonists. This music influenced the development of various genres of Latin American folk music, such as samba, tango, fado, zarzuela, milonga, bomba, plena, rumba, bolero, choro, and bossa nova.

Some of the most famous Spanish and Portuguese folk songs include “Fado Português”, “Samba do Avião”, “Tango Argentino”, “Bossa Nova U.S.A.”, and “Zarzuela española”. These songs have been popularized by many Latin American musicians, including Carlos Gardel, Antonio Carlos Jobim, João Gilberto, Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, Astrud Gilberto, Chico Buarque de Hollanda, Vanessa da Mata, Celia Cruz, Juanes, Shakira, Gloria Estefan, Ricky Martin, and Marc Anthony.

The influence of African music

African music has had a profound influence on Latin American music, both in terms of rhythm and instrumentation. African slaves were brought to Latin America during the colonial era, and their music was blended with that of the indigenous people and European settlers. The result was a rich and varied musical tradition that can still be heard in many parts of Latin America today.

Rhythm is one of the most distinctive features of African music, and it is this that has had the most impact on Latin American music. African rhythms are usually very complex, with multiple layers of percussion played at once. This has led to the development of highly syncopated music in many parts of Latin America, as well as a focus on percussion instruments such as drums and maracas.

Instrumentation is another area where African music has had a significant impact on Latin American folk music. African slaves brought instruments such as drums, xylophones and marimbas with them to Latin America, and these have become key components of the traditional folk music of countries like Brazil, Cuba and Peru.

The influence of Native American music

Latin American folk music has been greatly influenced by the music of the indigenous peoples of the Americas. Native American music is characterized by a wide variety of styles, instruments and singing techniques. It is often communal, informal and highly spiritual.

One of the most important influences on Latin American folk music is the shamanic tradition, in which music is used for healing and religious ceremonies. Shamanic traditions are found throughout the Americas, and they have had a profound impact on the music of Latin America.

Other important influences on Latin American folk music include European folk music, African traditional music, Asia-Pacific traditional music and modern pop music.

Asian Folk Music

Asian folk music has been around for centuries, and it has had a profound influence on the music of other cultures around the world. Asian folk music is characterized by its use of traditional instruments, its unique vocal style, and its intricate melodies. Let’s take a closer look at the origins and influences of Asian folk music.

The influence of Chinese music

Asian folk music has had a significant impact on the development of Western folk music. One of the most notable influences is the music of China.

Chinese music has a long history and is very diverse. It has been influenced by both classical and folk traditions. Chinese music often uses pentatonic scales, which are scales with five notes per octave. This gives Chinese music a distinctive sound that is different from Western music.

Chinese instruments include the erhu (a two-stringed bowed instrument), the pipa (a four-stringed plucked instrument), and the guzheng (a 21-stringed plucked instrument). These instruments are often used in traditional Chinese opera.

Chinese music has been exported to other parts of Asia and the world, including Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. It has also influenced the development of Western classical music, particularly through the work of composers such as Tan Dun and Bright Sheng.

The influence of Indian music

Indian music has had a profound impact on the development of Asian folk music. Indian music is extremely diverse, with a wide variety of regional styles and traditions. Indian music is also one of the oldest and most influential musical traditions in Asia.

Indian music has been a significant influence on the development of Asian folk music traditions. Indian music is extremely diverse, with a wide variety of regional styles and traditions. Indian music is also one of the oldest and most influential musical traditions in Asia.

The influence of Indian music can be heard in the folk musics of many Asian countries, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. In some cases, such as Afghanistan and Nepal, the influence of Indian music has been relatively limited. In other cases, such as Bangladesh and Pakistan, the influence of Indian music has been more significant.

The influence of Indian music on Asian folk music traditions is likely to continue in the future. The popularity of Indian movies and TV shows in Asia is increasing, and this is likely to lead to increased exposure to Indian music.

The influence of Japanese music

Japanese music has had a long and varied history, with many different influences from around the world. One of the most notable and long-standing influences is that of Asian folk music.

Asian folk music has had a significant impact on the development of Japanese music, both traditional and modern. In terms of instrumentation, many Japanese instruments have their roots in Asian folk music, such as the koto (a stringed instrument) and the shakuhachi (a flute). In terms of musical styles, Asian folk music has also influenced a number of Japanese traditional music genres, such as min’yō (folk songs from the Tohoku region) and bon odori (a type of folk dance music).

More recently, Asian folk music has also made its presence felt in the world of Japanese popular music. In the early 20th century, a number of Japanese musicians began to experiment with incorporating Asian folk music elements into their work. These included musicians such as Rentarō Taki, who blended traditional Japanese melodies with Western harmonies, and Kiyoshi Nobutoki, who combined Chinese Folk Songs with enka (a popular Japanese musical genre).

Today, Asian folk music continues to be a major influence on Japanese music, both traditional and modern.