What is Folk Music?

Folk music is a genre of music that is typically passed down from generation to generation. It is often based on the music of the people who live in a certain region or country.

Introduction

Folk music is a genre of music that typically uses acoustic instruments and sings about personal stories and struggles. It often has a feeling of closeness and community. Folk music can be found all over the world, and each region has its own unique style.

In the United States, folk music has its roots in the music of immigrants who came to the country in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This music was often passed down from generation to generation, and it became an important part of American culture. Some of the most popular folk songs in the United States include “This Land Is Your Land,” “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,” and “The Times They Are A-Changin’.”

Folk music is usually based on tradition, but it can also be very creative. Folk musicians often use traditional instruments to create new sounds, and they sometimes write their own songs. Many folk musicians are also storytellers, and they use their music to share personal experiences or to tell ancient tales.

If you’re interested in learning more about folk music, there are many resources available online and in libraries. You can also find a lot of great folk music by attending concerts or festivals in your area.

What is Folk Music?

Folk music is a type of music that is typically passed down from generation to generation. It is usually associated with a certain culture or region. Folk music often has a simple melody and is easy to sing along to.

Origins

Folk music has its origins in the medieval world, with songs and stories being passed down through generations. In Europe, these were often based on religious themes or folk tales, while in Asia and Africa they were more likely to be about historical events or the lives of important people. Folk music was also an important part of the oral tradition in Native American cultures.

Over time, folk music has evolved to include a wide variety of styles and genres, from traditional ballads and dance tunes to more modern songs that reflect the experiences of contemporary life. While some folk musicians continue to perform traditional songs, others have embraced new influences and incorporated them into their music. This has led to the development of a wide range of different folk music traditions around the world.

Characteristics

Folk music is a type of music that is typically older and has a traditional sound. It often has a simple melody and is easy to sing along to. Folk music is usually passed down from generation to generation and often tells a story. Many folk songs are about love, loss, or hard times.

Popular Folk Music

Folk music is a music genre that typically uses acoustic instruments and often originates from folk traditions. It is commonly used to refer to music that is written and performed by musicians who identify with a particular region or culture. Folk music has often been seen as the music of the people, as it is passed down from generation to generation.

America

Folk music in America is rooted in the music of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. But over time, it has been influenced by music from Africa, Native American music, and music from other countries in Europe. Folk music is usually passed down from one generation to the next by people who learn it from family, friends or neighbors.

Folk songs can be about anything, but they often deal with topics like love, loss, war or social change. And because folk songs are usually about the everyday lives of regular people, they can be very relatable. In fact, many popular folk songs have been adapted into children’s songs or used in commercials and movies.

Some well-known American folk songs include “Shenandoah”, “Home on the Range”, “Clementine”, “Oh Susanna” and “This Land is Your Land”.

United Kingdom

Folk music of England is often contrasted with that of Scotland and the Celtic tradition, which includes Breton, Cornish and Welsh music. English folk music has remained vibrant throughout the 20th century, despite a large number of far-reaching social changes. It has undergone something of a revival in recent years, with an increasing number of young performers taking up the tradition.

Rooted in the music brought to Britain by invading Germanic tribes in the 5th century AD, folk music was later influenced by the arrival of the Romans, Scandinavians and Normans. By the Tudor period (1485–1603), it was becoming less common in urban areas, though it continued to be played at country dances and by town pipers and waits (town musicians). Many instrumental varieties developed during this time including: The pipe and tabor; The cittern; The hurdy-gurdy; The lute; The fiddle; The bagpipe

Instrumental dance tunes remained very popular among rural people until well into the 19th century. These traditions were taken up by urban performers from about 1800 onwards, first in England itself and then across Europe and North America as part of the Romantic movement.

Ireland

Irish folk music includes many kinds of songs, including ballads, singing in unison, laments and jigs. The instruments commonly associated with Irish folk music are the fiddle, penny whistle, accordion, concertina, uilleann pipes and bodhran. Folk music has been influenced by other genres such as rock and roll, blues and pop.

Instrumentation:
The fiddle is the most traditional instrument associated with Irish folk music. It is a stringed instrument that is played with a bow. The penny whistle is a small flute that is often used in Irish folk music. The accordion is a portable keyboard instrument that is also commonly used in Irish folk music. The concertina is a similar instrument to the accordion but it is smaller and contains fewer buttons. The uilleann pipes are a type of bagpipe that is native to Ireland. The bodhran is a frame drum that is often used in traditional Irish music.

Contemporary Folk Music

Contemporary folk music is a genre that encompasses a wide variety of styles. It generally includes traditional folk music, as well as music that has been influenced by other genres, such as pop, rock, and jazz. Contemporary folk music often has a “roots” feel to it, and is typically acoustic-based.

America

In the United States, folk music is often associated with the music of the country’s ethnic groups, including African American, Irish American, Italian American, Native American, and Scottish American. It is also sometimes associated with the music of immigrants from other countries to the United States, such as Caribbean singers. Folk music in the United States can be divided into several different genres, including blues, gospel, old-time music, and Cajun music.

United Kingdom

Folk music of England is traditional music from England. It is often contrasted with courtly, classical and later commercial music. Folk music has been preserved and transmitted orally, through print and later through recordings. The term is used to refer to both traditional music and music composed, or delivered, in a traditional style. It has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers.

The Cavalier ballad “The World Turned Upside Down” was collected by Peter Warlock in the twenties from a Mr. Humphries of Lichfield, Staffordshire; it refers to the execution of King Charles I on January 30, 1649. The New model Army had brought the King to trial at Westminster Hall; he was found guilty of treason against England and condemned to death. The executioner was Richard Brandon; he died in 1649, his body being exhumed in 1850 when his scaffold was demolished during repairs to Parliament

Ireland

Folk music in Ireland is often accompanied by traditional instruments like the fiddle, accordion, tin whistle, flute, and bagpipes. The best-known performers of Irish folk music include The Dubliners, The Pogues, and Enya.

Folk music in Ireland has been influenced by many different cultures over the centuries, including Irish, English, Scottish, and Continental European. In recent years, American and Canadian folk music has also had an impact on the development of the genre in Ireland.