The Folk Music Encyclopedia

The Folk Music Encyclopedia is a comprehensive guide to the history, theory, and practice of folk music.

What is folk music?

Folk music is a genre of music that is typically passed down from generation to generation orally. Folk music is often associated with traditional instruments such as the guitar, banjo, and fiddle. Folk music often tells stories or celebrates the culture of a particular region or group of people.

The history of folk music

Most music historians credit the start of the folk music revival in the United States to the work of two men, John Lomax and his son Alan. The Lomaxes traveled around the country collecting songs from a wide variety of people, including prison inmates, coal miners, andcowboys. They published several books of folk songs, which helped to bring attention to this type of music.

In the early 1900s, a number of folksong societies were formed, and there was a growing interest in collecting and performing folksongs. This interest continued into the 1940s and 1950s, when many folk musicians began to experiment with adding elements of other genres, such as jazz and blues. This led to the development of what is now known as folk-rock.

The 1960s saw a renewed interest in traditional folk music, thanks in part to the work of musicians such as Bob Dylan and Joan Baez. This led to the formation of several influential folk-rock bands, such as The Byrds and Simon & Garfunkel. Folk music continued to be popular in the 1970s and 1980s, with artists like Emmylou Harris and Bob Dylan still topping the charts.

In recent years, there has been a resurgence in interest in traditional folk music, with younger musicians rediscovering the genre. Many modern folk musicians are incorporating elements of other genres into their music, creating a sound that is uniquely their own.

The different genres of folk music

Folk music can be broadly divided into two main genres: traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. Traditional folk music is a genre of music that was passed down orally from one generation to the next. It is usually rooted in the culture of a particular region or country. Contemporary folk music, on the other hand, is a genre of music that has been developed by folk musicians in the present day. It is often inspired by traditional folk music but may also incorporate elements from other genres, such as pop, rock, or jazz.

The instruments used in folk music

Folk music often uses a great variety of instruments, which can range from the very simple, such as the human voice or a solo fiddle, to the very complex, such as a full folk orchestra. The following is a list of some of the more common instruments used in folk music:

-Accordion
-Banjo
-Bass
-Brass
-Cello
-Clarinet
-Drums
-Guitar
-Harp
-Mandolin
-Piano
-Violin

The lyrics of folk music

Folk music is a type of music that is typically passed down from generation to generation orally. As a result, the lyrics of folk songs are often very simple and easy to remember. Many folk songs are about everyday life, love, and death. Some popular folk songs include “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad,” “Oh Susanna,” and “Home on the Range.”

The origins of folk music

Folk music has its roots in the music of the people – those who work in the fields, in the factories, and in the homes. It is the music of ordinary people, and it has been handed down from generation to generation by word of mouth.

Folk music is usually simple in form and melody, and it often reflects the life and traditions of the people who sing it. The songs often tell stories about love, loss, work, and play. They may be funny or sad, but they always express the feelings of the people who sing them.

Folk music is an important part of our heritage, and it continues to be popular today. Many folk songs have been adapted for use in movies, television shows, and commercials. And some folk songs have become so well known that they are now considered part of the pop culture.

The influence of folk music

Folk music is the traditional music of a people or country. It is usually passed down from generation to generation, and often reflects the cultural values of the community in which it is produced. Folk music can be divided into two broad categories: traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. Traditional folk music is typically older music that has been passed down orally, while contemporary folk music is generally more recent and may be written or performed by modern musicians.

Folk music has had a significant influence on the development of popular music, particularly in the United States. Many American jazz, blues, and country musicians began their careers playing folk music, and many of their compositions have been inspired by folk traditions. In addition, folk music has often been used as a vehicle for political and social protest, as it was during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s.

The popularity of folk music

Although often thought of as a relatively modern genre, folk music actually has a long and rich history. Dating back to the medieval period, folk music was originally created and performed by traditional cultures in order to pass down their stories and traditions. Folk music eventually made its way to the United States, where it became especially popular in the early 20th century. Known for its simple melodies and heartwarming lyrics, folk music quickly gained a devoted following among Americans of all backgrounds.

Despite its simple origins, folk music has evolved tremendously over the years. Today, there are countless different subgenres of folk music, each with its own unique sound and style. Whether you prefer the classic sounds of artists like Woody Guthrie or the more modern stylings of indie folk bands like The Decemberists, there’s sure to be a type of folk music that you’ll enjoy.

The future of folk music

With the ever-changing landscape of the music industry, it is difficult to say where folk music will go in the future. It has been argued that folk music is evolving and becoming more popular with younger generations. With the popularity of shows like The Voice and American Idol, it seems that people are interested in singer-songwriters and other musicians who play acoustic instruments. It is possible that we will see a resurgence in popularity for folk music in the coming years.

The different interpretations of folk music

Most music lovers are familiar with the term “folk music,” but few can agree on a precise definition. For some, folk music conjures up images of acoustic guitars and sing-alongs around the campfire; for others, it brings to mind the sounds of Eastern European fiddlers or Appalachian bluegrass bands.

The truth is, there is no single answer to the question, “What is folk music?” The genre is notoriously difficult to define, largely because it means different things to different people. In general, though, we can say that folk music is traditional music that has been passed down orally from one generation to the next.

This broad definition covers a lot of ground, from the lullabies sung by mothers to their babies in Africa to the ballads about political heroes in South America. Folk music also includes work songs, dance tunes and religious music from many cultures around the world. Because it is passed down through oral tradition, Folk music often reflects the values and beliefs of the community in which it is sung.

Despite its wide-ranging definition, folk music usually shares a few common characteristics: it is usually acoustic (played on unamplified instruments), it often tells a story and it usually contains elements of the culture from which it came.