Which of the Following Categories of Black Folk Music is Not Considered?
Contents
The African American musical tradition is rich and varied, and includes many different genres. But which of the following categories of black folk music is not considered part of that tradition?
Introduction
Black folk music is a term used to describe a wide range of music genres, including but not limited to blues, jazz, gospel, R&B, and hip-hop. While all of these genres have their roots in the African-American experience, not all of them are considered to be black folk music. In fact, some experts argue that black folk music should be limited to only those genres that were created and/or popularized by black Americans. This would exclude genres such as blues and jazz, which were developed by black Americans but later adopted by white Americans. It would also exclude R&B and hip-hop, which are popular among both blacks and whites. Ultimately, the decision of which genres to include under the umbrella of black folk music is a matter of opinion.
The Various Categories of Black Folk Music
There are various categories of black folk music, each with their own unique history and sound. These categories include Blues, Gospel, Jazz, and R&B. While each category has its own distinct sound, they are all united by the fact that they were born out of the black experience in America.
Work Songs
Work songs were one of the earliest forms of black folk music. These songs were created to help pass the time while performing various tasks such as farming, plantation work, or even household chores. Although work songs are no longer commonly sung, they have heavily influenced many other genres of music including the blues, gospel, and even rock and roll.
Spirituals
Spirituals are religious songs created by African Americans during the slave era. The songs were often created to express the slaves’ yearning for freedom and their Christian beliefs. Although spirituals were created by slaves, they are not considered slave music because they were not meant to be sung in public. Spirituals were usually only sung in private or in church.
Ballads
Black folk music includes a wide range of musical genres, from work songs and spirituals to blues, jazz, and hip-hop. While some of these genres have their roots in African musical traditions, others developed in the United States as a result of the unique experiences of Black Americans.
One of the most important aspects of Black folk music is its ability to tell the stories of everyday people. Whether it’s the story of a hard day’s work in a field or factory, or the story of love and loss, black folk music has always been about more than just entertainment. It’s about finding common ground and sharing common experiences.
One genre of Black folk music that is often overlooked is the ballad. Ballads are narrative songs that were traditionally performed by oral tradition in both Africa and Europe. In America, ballads were often adapted to fit the experiences of African Americans. For example, the ballad “Omary” tells the story of a young slave who escapes from his plantation and is later captured and sold back into slavery. While “Omary” may not be as well-known as some other genres of Black music, it is an important part of the African American musical tradition.
Blues
The blues is a genre of music that derived from the work songs and field hollers of African-American slaves. These songs were typically about the struggles of everyday life, such as work, relationships, and depression. The blues soon spread from its roots in the American South to other regions of the country, and eventually became one of the most popular genres of music in the world.
Today, there are many different subgenres of the blues, including delta blues, Chicago blues, and Mississippi Hill Country blues.
The Category That Is Not Considered Black Folk Music
There are many different types of black folk music, but not all of them are considered to be part of the genre. Some music critics and historians believe that only music created by black people in the United States is considered to be black folk music. Others believe that only music created by working-class black people is considered to be black folk music.
Jazz
While there are many different genres of black music, not all of them are considered black folk music. One genre that is often excluded from this category is jazz. This is because jazz is seen as a more commercialized and polished type of music, whereas black folk music is typically rawer and more grassroots.
This does not mean that jazz is not important or significant to black history and culture; it just means that it does not fit into the definition of black folk music. So, if you’re ever wondering which of the following categories of black music is not considered black folk music, the answer is jazz.
Conclusion
All of the categories of Black folk music listed are considered to be valid genres. There is no one category that is not considered to beBlack folk music. Each category has its own distinct history and traditions, and all are respected and honored as part of the Black cultural experience.
