The Origins of Folk Music

Folk music has its roots in the oral tradition, and often tells the stories of the people who created it. It is the music of the people, and has been passed down from generation to generation.

Origins in the British Isles

Folk music has its origins in the music of the people living in the British Isles. This music was originally passed down orally from generation to generation. The first written records of folk music date back to the 13th century. In the 18th century, folk music began to be collected by scholars and musicians.

Celtic music

Celtic music is a broad grouping of music genres that have emerged from the native folk music traditions of the Celtic people of Western Europe. It refers to both orally-transmitted traditional music and recorded music and the styles vary considerably to include everything from “trad” or “traditional” folk music to contemporary folk rock.

Celtic music is something of a misnomer, since there is no one style that can be accurately described as Celtic. This is in part because there is no Celtic language, but also because the Celts were spread over a wide geographical area, from Ireland and Scotland to Wales, Cornwall, Brittany and the Isle of Man. Consequently, there are significant differences between the musical traditions of each region.

That said, there are certain musical elements that are common to most Celtic traditions. These include the use of Gaelic modes (or scales), drones, ornamentation and improvisation. Celtic music is also often characterized by its use of traditional instruments such as the fiddle, tin whistle, bagpipes and accordion.

English music

Folk music of England is traditionally based around the music of England’s rural working classes and traditional forms such as sea shanties, jigs, hornpipes and dance songs. It has been influenced both by the native Celtic music of England as well as the Northumbrian form of bagpipe. English ballads date back to the medieval era, and are distinct from the later broadside ballad which developed in the 17th century.

In the 18th century, there was a vogue for collecting folk songs led by figures such as Bishop Thomas Percy and Dr. though these were frequently ” Broadside Ballads” which were written to be sold rather than collected for their own sake. One of the most important collectors oof folk song s in this period was Joseph Ritson whose many collections include The Ancient Songs of England (1790), The Garland Of Good Will (1794) and The Yorkshire Garland (1800). In the 19th century, Folk Music was disseminated more widely thanks to collecting activities led by figures such Robert Burns in Scotland, Cecil Sharp in England and Francis James Child in America who published The English And Scottish Popular Ballads between 1882 and 1898.

A number of important nature parks were established during this period including Dartmoor and Snowdonia which helped to preserve elements of British Folklore. Interest in traditional music revived during World War I when soldiers began to share songs they had learned while serving overseas. Many of these songs were brought back to Britain by returning soldiers and became popular among the general public. In the early 20th century, composers such as Ralph Vaughan Williams and Gustav Holst began to incorporate elements of British Folk Music into their own work.

Today, there is a vigorous tradition of Folk Music in England with many festivals taking place throughout the year celebrating the music and its history.

Origins in the United States

Folk music is a genre of music that typically uses traditional instruments and addresses traditional topics. Folk music is often associated with the social movements of the 1960s, but its history in the United States extends much further back. In this section, we’ll trace the origins of folk music in the United States.

Appalachian music

Appalachian music is a musical form which developed in the Appalachian Mountains of the Eastern United States. It is characterized by its use of the fiddle and banjo, as well as by its songs about love, loss and death.

Appalachian music is often considered to be a descendant of the English and Scottish folk music that was brought to the region by British settlers in the 18th century. However, it also has strong influences from African-American music, particularly the blues. This mix of musical styles has resulted in a uniquely American form of folk music that is enjoyed by people all over the world.

If you’re interested in learning more about Appalachian music, there are many resources available online and in local libraries. You can also find some great recordings of this type of music at your local record store or on iTunes.

Blues

The term “the blues” has been used since the late 17th century to refer to a state of mind or feeling. It was first used in print in 1807 in an anonymous pamphlet titled “A Denunciation of Those Who Sing the Blues,” and by 1850 it was being used as a noun meaning “a low state of mind.” The use of the word “blue” to refer to a form of music dates back to 1861, when it was used in reference to a style of music from West Africa. By 1912, the use of the term “the blues” as a genre of music was well established.

The blues developed from the work songs and field hollers of African American slaves. These songs were typicallyoplainly sung and had simple, repetitive melodic and lyrical structures. Themes often dealt with topics such as separation from loved ones, death, hard work, and poverty. The earliest known published blues song is “The Midnight Cry,” which dates back to 1859.

In the early 20th century, the blues became popular among African Americans in the Mississippi Delta region. It soon spread to other parts of the country, including Chicago, New York City, and Los Angeles. The popularity of the blues led to the development of other genres of music, such as jazz and rock and roll.

Country music

country music, style of American popular music that originated in rural parts of the South and West in the early 20th century. The roots of country music are strongly associated with folk music, which is played, sung, and sometimes written by frequently travelling folk musicians. It is also strongly influenced by the blues, a form of Afro-American folk music that originated in the rural south about the same time as country music. Country music has been a commercial success since it was first recorded in 1922. It is currently one of the most popular genres of pop music in the United States.

Country music is sometimes called “folk” or “roots” music because it incorporates traditional musical forms and instruments—such as the banjo, acoustic guitar, fiddle, and harmonica—that were brought to the United States by European settlers. These elements are often combined with elements of rockabilly, a style of popular American country music that emerged in the mid-1950s; rockabilly is itself a blend of country and rhythm-and-blues (R&B). Another important influence on country music is the cowboy songs of the American West, whichwere sung by cowboys and ranchers as they went about their work. These songs often told stories about life on the range and were filled with images of wide-open spaces, cattle drives, and rodeos.

Contemporary folk music

Folk music has seen a massive revival in recent years, with artists like Mumford & Sons and The Lumineers bringing the genre to the mainstream. But where did folk music come from? In this article, we’ll be taking a look at the origins of folk music and how it has evolved over the years.

The folk revival

In the United States, the folk revival of the 1940s and ‘50s brought traditional songs and styles to a new audience. The Weavers, one of the most popular groups of the time, had a huge hit in 1950 with their recording of Leadbelly’s “Goodnight, Irene.” The Kingston Trio, another well-known group, had hits with “Tom Dooley” and “Where Have All the Flowers Gone?” in the late 1950s.

The 1960s saw a growing interest in traditional music from around the world. Folk musicians such as Joan Baez, Eric Von Schmidt, Bob Dylan, and Odetta were influenced by music from Europe, Africa, and Asia. The American Folk Blues Festival helped to bring blues musicians from the south to Europe in the early 1960s. These tours had a profound effect on many young European musicians who went on to form bands that blended folk, blues, and other types of music.

In Britain, interest in traditional music was sparked by skiffle bands such as Lonnie Donegan’s Skiffle Group and The Quarrymen (which later became The Beatles). The British folk scene grew rapidly in the 1960s, led by artists such as Davy Graham, Bert Jansch, Anne Briggs, Martin Carthy, and John Renbourn. Fairport Convention was formed in 1967 and is generally considered to be the first British folk rock band. They mixed electric instruments with traditional folk songs and achieved great success with their first album – ‘Fairport Convention’ – which included their versions of “Sitterlke Down Servant” and “ Tam Lin”.

Contemporary folk musicians

Contemporary folk musicians often mix traditional folk music with other genres, such as rock, jazz, or pop. Bob Dylan is one of the most famous examples of a contemporary folk musician who has blended different genres together. Other well-known contemporary folk musicians include Joan Baez, John Denver, Gordon Lightfoot, and Crosby, Stills & Nash.