Folk Music Instruments in England

Learn about the different folk music instruments that are popular in England, and how they are used to create traditional English folk music.

Introduction

Folk music Instruments in England play an important role in the country’s music scene. There are a variety of folk instruments that are commonly used in England, ranging from the traditional such as the accordion and fiddle, to the more modern day such as the electric guitar. Each instrument has its own unique sound that helps to create the characteristic sound of English folk music.

The accordion is a popular folk instrument in England. It is a portable keyboard instrument that is played by pressing buttons or keys, which causes reeds to vibrate and produce sound. The accordion is often used in conjunction with other instruments, such as the fiddle, to provide accompaniment for traditional English dances such as Morris dancing.

The fiddle is another popular folk instrument in England. It is a bowed string instrument that is played with a bow. The fiddle has a wide range of notes that it can play, which makes it ideal for playing fast-paced folk tunes. The fiddle is often used in conjunction with other instruments, such as the accordion, to provide accompaniment for traditional English dances such as Morris dancing.

The electric guitar is a relatively new addition to the world of folk music instruments, but it has quickly become popular in England. The electric guitar is played by plucking or strumming strings with the fingers or a pick. The electric guitar can be used to play a variety of different sounds, including traditional folk tunes, rock and roll songs, and even classical pieces.

History

Folk music instruments have been around for centuries and have been used in many different cultures. In England, folk music instruments date back to the medieval times. Many of the instruments that were used then are still used today.

Early history

The English folk music scene began to develop in the 19th century, when a revival of interest in vernacular music occurred. The Romantic movement, led by poets such as William Blake and William Wordsworth, who wrote about the beauty of the English countryside, had a significant impact on attitudes to folk music. As part of this movement, composers such as Ralph Vaughan Williams and Gustav Holst began to collect and arrange traditional songs for use in their own works.

During the First World War, many soldiers from England were exposed to the music of other countries, particularly France and Belgium. This led to a further interest in folk music, which was seen as a symbol of national identity. In the inter-war years, there was a significant increase in the number of commercial recordings of folk music, which made it accessible to a wider audience.

During the Second World War, folk music again came to be seen as a symbol of national identity, and performers such as Ewan MacColl and A. L. Lloyd became popular radio personalities. In the postwar years, there was a renewed interest in traditional music, and performers such as Shirley Collins and Davy Graham helped to lead the way in what became known as the British folk revival.

The medieval period

From the earliest times there were probably professional musicians in England, although very little is known about them. In the Middle Ages, music was an important part of both court and church ceremonies. minstrels were wandering musicians who played a variety of instruments and sang. Some minstrels were also jesters, or court fools, who entertained the king and queen with their music and jokes. Many minstrels were minne-singers, or troubadours, who wrote their own songs about love and chivalry.

The Renaissance

During the Renaissance (1450-1600) a new kind of music began in Europe. It was based on the works of ancient Greek philosophers who believed that music had the power to affect a person’s mood and health. This new music was called “humanist” music, and it used harmonies and rhythms that were thought to be therapeutic. Folk instruments were often used in humanist music, and many of these instruments are still used today in folk music.

The Baroque period

The Baroque period saw the rise of several important folk music instruments in England. The most important of these was the lute, which became increasingly popular among the gentry and nobility. Other instruments included the viola da gamba, the cittern, and the crumhorn. These instruments would play an important role in the development of English folk music.

The Classical period

In the late 17th century, a new style developed that is now called classical music. It was used for opera, which is a story told in music, and for other pieces that were written for special occasions. This type of music was very different from the music of the Renaissance. It was more emotional, and it had more complicated harmonies. The pieces were usually shorter than the pieces of the Renaissance.

During the classical period, there were three main types of instruments:
– strings: instruments with strings that are plucked or bowed, such as the violin, viola, cello, and bass
– woodwinds: instruments made of wood or metal that you blow into, such as the flute, oboe, clarinet, and bassoon
– brass: instruments made of metal that you blow into, such as the trumpet, trombone, and tuba

The classical period was from about 1750 to 1830.

The Romantic period

In the early 19th century, a renewed interest in older music and composers, coupled with a nationalistic spirit, led to increased study of English music from the past. Important figures in this movement included Joseph Rastall, Edward Bunting, William Chappell and Abraham Knevett. This period also witnessed significant technical advances in music printing and publishing. The first professional body for musicians in England was set up in 1822 as the Philharmonic Society of London.

The Romantic period saw a dramatic increase in the popularity of folk music and dance, particularly in the north of England. One of the most important collectors of folk songs was Francis James Child, whose The English and Scottish Popular Ballads (1882-98) is still an important source for performers today. The late 19th century also saw the rise of the brass band movement, particularly in Yorkshire and Lancashire.

The 20th century

In the early 20th century, there was a revival of interest in traditional English music. This was led by the work of composers such as Ralph Vaughan Williams and Percy Grainger, and groups such as the English Folk Dance Society and the Morris Ring. Many of the songs collected by Vaughan Williams and Grainger were published in The English Hymnal in 1906, which helped to bring them to a wider audience.

During the First World War, a number of folk song collections were made by soldiers who were serving in the trenches. These collections were often made in an attempt to capture a sense of home and nostalgia for a time before the war. After the war, there was another revival of interest in traditional music, led by figures such as Cecil Sharp. This revival continued into the 1960s with The Watersons and The Young Tradition, two folk groups who were particularly influenced by traditional music from England and further afield.

Types of instruments

Folk music in England has been around for centuries and has been passed down from generation to generation. There are many different types of folk music instruments, each with their own unique sound. The most common folk music instruments are the fiddle, the accordion, and the concertina.

String instruments

String instruments are perhaps the most common type of folk music instrument in England. Common string instruments include the fiddle, viola, cello, double bass, banjo, guitar, and mandolin. These instruments can be played either solo or in a group, and are often used in traditional English folk songs.

Wind instruments

Wind instruments are among the most popular in folk music, particularly in England. The most common is the fiddle, which is a stringed instrument played with a bow. There are also many different types of flutes, such as the penny whistle, recorder, and tin whistle. bagpipes are another popular option, especially in Scotland.

Percussion instruments

Percussion instruments are often used in folk music, and there are a variety of different types that can be used. The most common type of percussion instrument is the drum, which can be used to provide a steady beat for the other instruments to follow. Other types of percussion instruments include cymbals, tambourines, triangles, and xylophones.

Famous English folk music instruments

There is a great variety of folk music instruments in England. Each county has its own characteristic sound. The most famous English folk music instruments are the Northumbrian pipes, the melodeon, the accordion, the fiddle, and the concertina.

The fiddle

The fiddle is by far the most popular instrument in traditional English folk music. It is often used as the lead instrument, providing the melody and main tune, while other instruments play supporting roles.

The fiddle has a long history in England, with references to the instrument dating back to the 13th century. By the 16th century, it had become a commonly used folk instrument, particularly in the north of England. Today, there are many different regional styles of English fiddle playing, each with its own distinctive sound.

The fiddle is usually played with a bow, although it can also be played with fingers or a pick. The strings are usually made of gut or synthetic material, and the body of the instrument is typically made from wood. Modern fiddles come in a variety of sizes and shapes, but they all typically have four strings tuned in fifths (G-D-A-E).

Other popular English folk music instruments include the concertina, melodeon (a type of accordion), mandolin, bouzouki, guitar, bandwagon (a type of drum), and Bass (a type of drum).

The accordion

The accordion is a portable, freely-held keyboard instrument, with a square piano keyboard on one end and a series of buttons on the other. The keyboard is used to play the melody, while the button keys produce the harmony. The instrument is held between the player’s hands, with the keyboard resting on one thigh and the buttons on the other. The player pumps air into the instrument using a squeezebox mechanism located at either end of the keyboard.

The melodeon

The melodeon is a reed organ that was extremely popular in Victorian England. It is played by pressing buttons on the front of the instrument, which open and close valves that allow air to flow through reeds of different pitches. The melodeon was originally designed as a portable instrument that could be played in chapels and other small spaces, and it quickly became one of the most popular folk music instruments in England.

The concertina

The concertina is a popular English folk music instrument. It is a type of accordion, and has a squeezebox-like mechanism. The concertina was first invented in 1834 by Sir Charles Wheatstone. It became popular in England in the 1850s, and was used by English workers in the fields and mines. The concertina is still played today, and is often used in traditional English folk music.

The bagpipes

Bagpipes are probably the most famous English folk music instrument. They are often associated with Scotland, but they actually originated in England. Bagpipes have been around for centuries, and they were originally used to accompany battles and other loud events. Nowadays, they are mostly used for traditional folk music.

The bagpipes are a wind instrument that is made up of a bag, a blowpipe, and a set of pipes. The bag is filled with air, and the player blows into the blowpipe to inflate the bag. The pipes are then played by finger-pressing on the holes in the pipes. Each pipe produces a different note, and the player can create melodies by playing different combinations of notes.

Bagpipes are usually made from sheepskin or calfskin, although other materials such as PVC can be used. They come in many different sizes, but the most common size is the Great Highland Bagpipe, which has a bag that is about 18 inches tall and 9 inches wide.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are many different types of folk music instruments that are commonly used in England. Each instrument has its own unique history and sound that contribute to the overall sound of folk music. While some instruments are more popular than others, all of them play an important role in the traditional folk music of England.