The Best Books on Folk Music

Check out our list of the best books on folk music. This list includes a mix of fiction and nonfiction books that focus on the history, culture, and music of folk music.

The Anthology of American Folk Music

The Anthology of American Folk Music, edited by Harry Smith, is a six-album compilation released in 1952 by Folkways Records. The anthology served as a document of the folk music revival of the 1950s and 1960s. It was released on CD in 1997 by Smithsonian Folkways, with an expanded edition released in 2000.

The Folk Songs of North America

Few music genres are as nebulous as folk music. Is it the music of the people, or is it the music of a particular culture or region? Is it acoustic or folky? Is it traditional or contemporary? Thankfully, there are plenty of great books on folk music that can help us make sense of this often-overlooked musical tradition.

The Folk Songs of North America by Alan Lomax is a classic work on the subject, and one that offers a clear definition of folk music: “the song repertoire of a people that is transmitted orally from one generation to the next.” Lomax goes on to explore the various ways in which folk songs are passed down, from adults singing to children to songs being learned from records and radio. He also looks at how oral tradition can lead to songs being changed over time, often becoming quite different from their original versions.

Folk Songs of Britain, Ireland and America by John Greenway is another essential book on the subject, and one that delves deeper into the history and origins of many popular folk songs. Greenway examines how these songs were created and how they have been adapted over the years. He also looks at how they have been used in popular culture, from films and TV shows to political campaigns.

Finally, The Rough Guide to Folk Music by Simon Broughton is a great book for those looking for an overview of the genre. Broughton looks at the different subgenres of folk music, from Irish trad to British Isles ballads, and he includes a helpful glossary of terms. He also includes a CD with tracks from some of the most important folk musicians, making this an essential book for anyone interested in exploring this musical tradition.

Folk Music: A Regional Exploration

Folk music is often thought of as the music of the people, or the music of the common man. It is a type of traditional music that is passed down from generation to generation, and it often has roots in the oral tradition. Folk music is usually pretty simple in terms of its melody and harmony, and it usually doesn’t use complex instrumentation.

One of the best things about folk music is that it can be a great way to learn about other cultures. Because folk music is often passed down orally, it can give us a glimpse into the lives of people who lived in different times and places. And because folk music often reflects the regional culture where it comes from, it can be a great way to learn about different parts of the world.

If you’re interested in learning more about folk music, here are some great books to check out:

Folk Music: A Regional Exploration by Mark Humphrey – This book takes a regional approach to exploring folk music around the world. It includes chapters on North American folk music, British Isles folk music, Scandinavian folk music, Central European folk music, and East Asian Folk Music. Each chapter includes information on the history and origins of the style of folk music being explored, as well as examples of traditional songs and dances.

The Big Book of American Folk Songs by Pete Seeger – This book is a collection of over 300 American folk songs, arranged alphabetically by title. Each song includes information on its history and origins, as well as lyrics and guitar chords. This book is a great resource for anyone interested in learning more about American folk songs.

Folk Songs of Britain, Ireland, and America by John Lomax – This book is a collection of over 500 traditional folk songs from Britain, Ireland, and America. The songs are arranged alphabetically by title, and each one includes information on its history and origins. This book is an essential resource for anyone interested in learning more about traditionalfolk songs from these three countries.

World Folk Songs for Solo Singers byarranged by Joan Frey Boytim – This book contains 50 traditionalfolk songs from around the world that have been arranged for solo voice with piano accompaniment. The book includes an accompanying CD with recordings of each song performed by professional vocalists. This book is a great resource for anyone interested in learning more about traditionalfolk singing from around the world.

The Encyclopedia of Folk, Country, and Western Music

The Encyclopedia of Folk, Country, and Western Music is a comprehensive reference work on the music of the United States and Canada. Edited by ethnomusicologist John Greenway, the encyclopedia was published in 1966 by Crown Publishers.

The encyclopedia is organized into four sections: ” Folk Songs of the United States,” ” Folk Songs of Canada,” ” Folk Songs of Mexico and South America,” and ” Folk Songs of Europe.” Each section contains a general introduction followed by alphabetically arranged entries on individual songs, songwriters, performers, and genres. The entries include information on the history and background of the song or artist, as well as discographies and bibliographies.

The Encyclopedia of Folk, Country, and Western Music is an essential resource for anyone interested in American folk music.

The Routledge History of Folk Music

The Routledge History of Folk Music explores the wide-ranging history of folk music from its earliest beginnings to the present day. It chronicles the major events and movements that have shaped folk music over the years, and explores the ways in which folk music has been used and appropriated by various cultures.

The book is divided into four sections:

-The Origins of Folk Music: This section looks at the origins of folk music and its development over time.

-Folk Music in the United States: This section examines the history of folk music in the United States, from its roots in European folk music to its development as a distinct American genre.

-Folk Music in Britain and Ireland: This section looks at the history of folk music in Britain and Ireland, from its Celtic roots to its more recent incarnations.

-Folk Music in Other Cultures: This section looks at the history of folk music in other cultures around the world, including Africa, Asia, Australia, and Latin America.