Folk Music Composers You Should Know

If you’re a fan of folk music, then you should definitely check out these composers. They’re some of the best in the business and they’re sure to give you a new appreciation for the genre.

The Origins of Folk Music

Folk music is a genre of music that is often passed down orally from generation to generation. The term “folk music” can be used to describe music that is created by people who are not professional musicians. Folk music is often created for entertainment purposes, but it can also be used to tell a story or to preserve history. Folk music has been around for centuries and it is still being created today.

The British Isles

The British Isles have a long and rich tradition of folk music, which has been passed down through the generations orally. The first collectors of folk songs were 18th-century scholars, who collected and published songs that were considered to be representative of the oral tradition. These collectors believed that the songs they were collecting were representative of a bygone era, and they were interested in preserving them for future generations.

Some of the most famous British folk songs include “Greensleeves,” “Barbara Allen,” and “The Banks of Sweet Willow.” These songs are still performed today, and are known all over the world.

In the 19th century, there was a renewed interest in collecting and publishing folk songs from the British Isles. This time, however, there was also an interest in creating new compositions based on traditional themes. This led to the development of a new genre known as “art music,” which combined traditional folk melodies with classical music compositional techniques.

One of the most famous composers of art music was Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958). Vaughan Williams was a collector of folk songs from the English countryside, and he used these melodies as the basis for many of his own compositions. His most famous work is probably “Fantasia on Greensleeves,” which is based on the traditional English folk song “Greensleeves.”

Another important composer of art music was Gustav Holst (1874-1934). Like Vaughan Williams, Holst was also interested in collecting and arranging traditional folk tunes. His most famous work is “The Planets,” a suite for orchestra that features sections based on each of the planets in the solar system (with the exception of Earth).

Today, there are many composers who are inspired by folk music from the British Isles. Some use traditional melodies as the basis for their own compositions, while others create entirely new works that are influenced by traditional styles.

The United States

The United States is home to many different styles of folk music, each with its own history and cultural roots. Here are just a few of the most iconic American folk music composers:

1. Woody Guthrie: One of the most influential folk musicians of the 20th century, Woody Guthrie was known for his social activism and left-wing politics. His songs often told stories about the struggles of everyday Americans, and he is perhaps best known for his anthem “This Land Is Your Land.”

2. Lead Belly: A prolific songwriter and performer, Lead Belly was a central figure in the American folk music scene of the 1930s and 1940s. He popularized many traditional songs, as well as creating some of his own, and his unique style influenced generations of musicians.

3. Pete Seeger: A contemporary of Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger was also a committed social activist who used his music to promote political causes. He was a member of the legendary folk group The Weavers, and he wrote some of the most iconic protest songs of the 20th century, including “Where Have All the Flowers Gone?” and “Turn! Turn! Turn!”

4. Joan Baez: A talented singer-songwriter with a beautiful voice, Joan Baez rose to prominence in the 1960s as one of the leading figures of the American folk music revival. She has continued to perform and record throughout her career, and she remains an important voice in the folk community today.

5. Bob Dylan: One of the most influential musicians of any genre, Bob Dylan started out as a folksinger in the early 1960s before branching out into other styles. He has won multiple Grammy Awards and is widely considered to be one of the greatest songwriters of all time.

The Composers

There are many folk music composers you should know. In this article, we will introduce you to some of the most famous and influential folk music composers. We will also provide a brief overview of their work and contributions to the genre.

Francis James Child

Francis James Child (September 18, 1825 – September 11, 1896) was an American scholar, educator, historian and folklorist who compiled The English and Scottish Popular Ballads, a five-volume work that was published over a period of thirty-three years (1882–1915). It included 1,Child ballads,’ ballads derived from English and Scottish traditional sources. Some of Child’s ballads were subsequently collected by others in a six-volume work also called The English and Scottish Popular Ballads.

Sidney Carter

Sidney Carter (1915-2004) was an English singer, songwriter and folk musician. He is best known for his 1967 song “The Folk Singer”, which has been covered by many artists including Bob Dylan, Simon and Garfunkel, and Bruce Springsteen. Carter was also a prolific composer of children’s songs, and his work has been adapted into several stage musicals.

Ewan MacColl

Ewan MacColl was a Scottish singer, songwriter, folklorist, and left-wing activist. He is particularly associated with the rediscovery and development of the traditional songs of England, Scotland and Ireland. He was also a champion of the English industrial folk music movement of the mid-20th century.

The Songs

Music has been a part of human culture for thousands of years. It is something that is enjoyed by people of all ages and from all walks of life. There are many different genres of music, and each one has its own unique history and style. Folk music is a genre that is steeped in tradition and has been passed down from generation to generation. In this article, we will take a look at some of the most well-known folk music composers and the songs that they are best known for.

“The Ballad of John Axon”

“The Ballad of John Axon” is a song composed by Ewan MacColl in 1957. The song tells the story of John Axon, a railway engineer who died while working on the Manchester–Sheffield–Wath electrification project. The song was inspired by an article MacColl read in the Manchester Guardian about Axon’s death.

The song was recorded by MacColl and his wife Peggy Seeger on their album The World Turned Upside Down (1957). It has been covered by many artists, including Joan Baez, Judy Collins, Dick Gaughan, and Bruce Springsteen.

“The Manchester Rambler”

The Manchester Rambler is a traditional folk song written by Ewan MacColl in 1953. The song is about a group of ramblers (people who enjoy hiking and walking in the countryside) who walk from Manchester to Glossop, Derbyshire. The song is notable for itsDescription of the landscape and for its political lyrics, which critique the British government’s attitude towards the working class. The song has been covered by many artists, including Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, and The Dubliners.

“The False Knight on the Road”

“The False Knight on the Road” is a traditional folk song that was composed in the 18th century. The song tells the story of a young man who is tricked by a false knight into giving up his horse and possessions. The false knight then leaves the young man stranded on the side of the road.

The song has been recorded by a number of artists, including Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, and Peter, Paul and Mary. It has also been adapted into a children’s book, “The False Knight on the Road: A Folk Song”, by Celia Barker Lottridge.

The Legacy

Folk music has been around for centuries, and has been used as a way to express the history, culture, and values of a people. It is a genre that is often passed down from generation to generation, and has been a part of the human experience for as long as we have been on this earth. There have been many great folk music composers who have helped to shape the genre, and their legacy continues to live on today.

The British Folk Revival

The British Folk Revival of the early 1960s brought traditional British folk music back to the mainstream. This was a time when many people were interested inRevival of traditional music and culture, and the Folk Revival gave rise to some of the most influential folk musicians of all time. Here are four British folk composers you should know.

1. Ralph McTell is a singer-songwriter who is best known for his 1974 song “Streets of London”. McTell was an active member of the Folk Revival and his work is influenced by traditional British folk music.

2. Martin Carthy is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist who has been credited with helping to bring traditional British folk music back to the mainstream. Carthy is best known for his work with The Watersons, a folk group that was active during the Folk Revival.

3. Dave Swarbrick is a violinist, mandolinist, and singer who was an important part of the Folk Revival. Swarbrick was a member of Fairport Convention, one of the most influential British folk bands of all time.

4. Anne Briggs is a singer and songwriter who was an important part of the British Folk Revival. Briggs’ work is heavily influenced by traditional British folk music, and she has been credited with helping to bring this type of music back to the mainstream

The American Folk Revival

The American Folk Revival was a music movement in the United States that began in the late 1940s and reached its height in the mid-1960s. Its roots were in the folk music of England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, but it quickly incorporated songs from other cultures as well. The folk revival was also called the Second British Invasion, since many of the artists who became famous during this time were British.

The most famous musician of the folk revival was Bob Dylan, who released his debut album in 1962. Dylan’s songs “Blowin’ in the Wind” and “The Times They Are A-Changin'” became anthems of the civil rights and anti-war movements, respectively. Other notable folk revivalists include Joan Baez, Judy Collins, Pete Seeger, and Simon & Garfunkel.