Defining Folk Music

Folk music is one of those genres that can be hard to define. Is it traditional music from a specific culture? Music that is passed down orally? Music with simple instrumentation? In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the different ways people have defined folk music – and why it can be such a difficult genre to pin down.

What is Folk Music?

Folk music is a genre of music that is usually passed down orally from one generation to the next. Folk music is usually about the everyday lives of the people and is often about love, loss, and other emotions. Folk music often has a strong beat that is easy to dance to.

Origins

Folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted orally, music with unknown composers, or music performed by custom over a long period of time. It has been contrasted with commercial and classical styles. Starting in the mid-20th century, a new form of popular folk music evolved from traditional folk music. This process and period is called the revival and reached a zenith in the 1960s. This form of folk music is sometimes called contemporary folk music or folk revival music to distinguish it from earlier folk forms.

Smaller, similar revivals have occurred elsewhere in the world at other times, but the term folk music has typically not been applied to the new music created during those revivals. This type of folk music also includes fusion genres such as folk rock, electric folk, and others. While contemporary folk music is influenced by this process, it is also influenced by rock music, pop music, blues and others.

Characteristics

Folk music is the music of the people, primarily of Europe and North America,and generally excludes commercial pop music. It often reflects the cultural heritage of the community in which it is performed and, thus, has a local character. It originates with the traditions of a mass society that shares certain common values, aspirations, and historical experiences.

The term folk music was first popularized in the early 20th century by scholars such as Cecil Sharp and Ralph Vaughan Williams, who were interested in folk songs collected from the oral tradition. These songs were considered to be part of the national heritage of England, and they were collected in order to preserve them for future generations. The term came to be used more broadly, however, to refer to all traditional music, whether or not it had been collected previously.

Characteristics
Folk music is typically characterized by its use of traditional instruments such as acoustic guitars, banjos, and fiddles; its simple melodies; and its reliance on oral tradition rather than sheet music. It is often reliant on storytelling and often tells stories about real life experiences such as love, loss, heartbreak, hard work, and struggle.

Types of Folk Music

Folk music is a genre of music that is typically passed down from generation to generation. Folk music can be found all over the world, and it often has a strong connection to the culture it comes from. There are many different types of folk music, each with its own unique history and sound.

Traditional Folk Music

Traditional folk music is music that is passed down orally (or aurally) from one generation to the next. It is music that is learned by ear and not from notation. In this way, it is different from “art music” which tended to be more formal and learned from sheet music. Traditional folk music typically contains “folk elements” which are musical characteristics that reflect the life experiences and culture of a particular group of people. Some examples of folk elements include:
-Repetition
-Instrumentation
-Use of modal scales
-Simplicity of melody and harmony
-Performance in small groups or by individuals
-Songs about real life experiences

There are many different types of traditional folk music from all over the world. Some examples include: Celtic folk music, Appalachian folk music, blues, flamenco, and klezmer.

Contemporary Folk Music

Contemporary folk music is a genre that encompasses a wide range of styles. From traditional folk songs to modern interpretations of classics, there is a style of contemporary folk music to suit everyone. Here are some of the most popular contemporary folk artists and their signature sounds.

The Lumineers are an Americana Folk band that formed in Denver, Colorado in 2005. The band’s sound is based around acoustic instruments, with a particular focus on the mandolin andcello. The Lumineers’ debut album was released in 2012 and was hugely successful, reaching number two on the US Billboard 200 chart and selling over one million copies in the US alone.

Mumford & Sons are a British Folk Rock band that formed in London in 2007. Mumford & Sons’ sound is based around acoustic instruments and includes a lot of banjo and mandolin. The band’s debut album was released in 2009 and was very successful, reaching number one on the UK Albums Chart and number two on the US Billboard 200 chart.

Of Monsters and Men are an Indie Folk band from Iceland that formed in 2010. The band’s sound is based around acoustic instruments and includes a lot of piano. Of Monsters and Men’s debut album was released in 2011 and was very successful, reaching number one on the Icelandic Albums Chart and number six on the US Billboard 200 chart.

Notable Folk Musicians

Folk music is a type of traditional and popular music that is typically passed down from one generation to the next. It is often reflective of the culture and society of the time and place in which it was created. Folk music typically includes elements of oral tradition, such as ballads and folktales, and can be found in many different cultures around the world. Some notable folk musicians include Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie, and Pete Seeger.

Woody Guthrie

Woodrow Wilson “Woody” Guthrie was an American singer-songwriter and musician, whose musical legacy includes hundreds of political, traditional and children’s songs, pairing revised versions of traditional tunes and original compositions. He frequently performed with the slogan This machine kills fascists displayed on his guitar. His best-known song is “This Land Is Your Land”. Many of his recorded songs were about his experience as a migrant worker during the Great Depression and Dust Bowl. Throughout his life Woody Guthrie was associated with United States Communist groups, though he was never a member of any.

Joan Baez

Joan Baez is an American singer, songwriter and activist. Her contemporary folk music often includes songs of protest or social justice. Baez has performed publicly for over 60 years, releasing over 30 albums. Fluent in Spanish and English, she has also recorded songs in at least six other languages. Although generally regarded as a folk singer, her music has diversified since the counterculture days of the 1960s and now encompasses everything from folk rock and pop to country and gospel.

Bob Dylan

Although he started out as a protege of Woody Guthrie, penning topical songs about the social ills of the day, Dylan quickly began to expand the definition of folk music with his sparse, poetic lyrics and distinctive singing style. Incorporating elements of blues and country music, Dylan’s songs captured the zeitgeist of the early 1960s, culminating in his anthemic “Blowin’ in the Wind” and “The Times They Are A-Changin'” – both Top 40 hits.