Where is Folk Music From?

Folk music is music passed down from generation to generation by word of mouth. It is music that is not written down, but passed on by ear.

Origins of Folk Music

Folk music has been around for centuries, with its origins dating back to the medieval era. The music was originally created and performed by peasants and was passed down from generation to generation. Folk music has been influenced by a variety of different cultures and has evolved over time. Today, there are many different types of folk music from all over the world.

Europe

Folk music has its origins in the medieval period, and can be defined as music that was created by common people for other common people. It is often passed down orally, and has been shaped by the culture and traditions of a particular region.

There are many different types of folk music, from the traditional ballads of Britain and Ireland to the blues of the American south. Folk music often has a strong connection to the land, and is often about the everyday lives of ordinary people.

Folk music has been an important part of European culture for centuries, and has had a significant influence on popular music. Many famous musicians have been inspired by folk music, including Bob Dylan, who famously used traditional folk songs to create his own unique sound.

United States

Folk music in the United States is often used to refer to music made by people who come from a variety of different cultures and traditions. The term ‘folk music’ can be used to describe a wide range of music, including country music, bluegrass, blues, and even rock and roll.

The term ‘folk music’ first became popular in the early 20th century, when Publisher John Lomax and his son Alan began collecting songs from around the United States. The Lomaxes believed that folk music was an important part of American culture and should be preserved. They published several books of folk songs, including Cowboy Songs (1910) and Folk Songs from the Mississippi Delta (1963).

The Lomaxes’ work inspired other folk song collectors, such as Dorothy Scarborough, who collected songs from the Appalachian Mountains, and H.E. Jacobs, who collected songs from African American communities in the South. These collectors helped preserve a rich tradition of American folk music that is still enjoyed today.

Types of Folk Music

Folk music is a genre of music that typically uses acoustic instruments and emphasizes on traditional music. It is often associated with countries like Ireland and Scotland. Folk music has been around for centuries and is still popular today. Let’s take a look at some of the different types of folk music.

Traditional

Folk music includes both traditional music and the genre that evolved from it during the 20th century folk revival. Some types of folk music may be called world music. Traditional 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. The term originated in the 19th century, but is often applied to music older than that. Some types of folk music are also called world music.

Traditional 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. The term originated in the 19th century, but is often applied to music older than that. Folk music tends to have certain characteristics that distinguish it from other genres: it is often transmitted orally, it is frequently anonymous, and it represents the cultures of ordinary people rather than those of elites.

One type of traditional folk music is called balladry, which refers to a narrative song that tells a story (often a love story). Ballads were originally created and performed by troubadours in medieval Europe. Many traditional folk songs from the British Isles are ballads; these were collected and published in large volumes starting in the 18th century. Ballads sometimes use simple melodies, but they can also be quite complex (as in some Scottish ballads). Another type of traditional folk song is the work song, which was sung by laborers while they worked. Work songs were particularly common among African American slaves in the United States; some of these songs later became blues songs. A third type of traditional folk song is the protest song, which expresses political or social dissent. Protest songs have been popular throughout history; they became particularly common during the Industrial Revolution and the American Civil War

Contemporary

Contemporary folk music is a genre that encompasses a wide variety of styles. It generally includes Folk-Pop, Singer-Songwriter, Contemporary Celtic, and Worldbeat. Below are some specific styles that fall under the contemporary folk music umbrella.

Folk-Pop: A blend of folk and popular music, often featuring acoustic instruments and simple melodies. Singer-songwriters such as James Taylor and Carole King are considered Folk-Pop artists.

Contemporary Celtic: A fusion of traditional Celtic music with other genres such as rock, jazz, and world music. The Chieftains are a well-known Contemporary Celtic group.

Worldbeat: A type of world music that incorporates various global sounds and styles. Paul Simon’s “Graceland” is an example of Worldbeat music.

Notable Folk Musicians

Folk music is a music genre that emerged in the 18th century from traditional songs. Unlike other music genres, folk music is often passed down orally from one generation to the next. Folk music is typically associated with countries like Ireland, Scotland, and England. In this article, we’ll talk about some of the most notable folk musicians from these countries.

Joan Baez

Joan Baez is an American singer, songwriter, musician, 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 considered a folk singer, her music has diversified since the counterculture era of the 1960s and encompasses genres such as folk rock, pop, country, and gospel music.

Early in her career, Baez was notable for her relationship with Bob Dylan and for her solo debut album Joan Baez which featured three tracks (including “Farewell Angelina” and “House of the Rising Sun”) that Dylan had written or co-written. She has recordings of contemporary artists like Ryan Adams, Josh Ritter, Steve Earle and Ani DiFranco among others. On her most recent album Whistle Down the Wind (2018), she covers songs written by contemporary songwriters including Tom Waits, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Ani DiFranco, Shane MacGowan, Josh Groban andtTori Amos

Woody Guthrie

Woodrow Wilson “Woody” Guthrie was an American singer-songwriter and folk musician, whose musical legacy includes hundreds of political, traditional and children’s songs, ballads and improvised works. 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 are archived in the Library of Congress. Throughout his life, Guthrie was associated with United States Communist groups, though he was seemingly not a member of any.

Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan (born Robert Allen Zimmerman on May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter, author, painter, and Nobel Prize laureate who has been a major figure in popular culture for more than fifty years. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when songs such as “Blowin’ in the Wind” (1963) and “The Times They Are a-Changin'” (1964) became anthems of the anti-war and civil rights movements. His lyrics during this period incorporated a wide range of political, social, philosophical, and literary influences, defied existing pop music conventions and appealed to the burgeoning counterculture.