Folk music

Folk music is a broad genre that connects people to their shared history and identity. It includes traditional music passed down through generations and contemporary styles that evolved later.

Some people refer to these styles as world music or roots music. The genre is often defined by how it is shared rather than just how it sounds. It can be music transmitted orally or music with unknown composers. Many see it as an authentic expression of a specific way of life. It often represents the culture of a community or a nation.

Traditional folk music relies heavily on a process called oral transmission. Before the 20th century, many people could not read or write. They learned songs by memory rather than using books or recordings.

This method creates a "folk process" where the community reshapes the music over time. Performers often improvise their own chords and harmony parts. They do not use the strict, written sheet music found in classical music. Instead, they make spontaneous arrangements that reflect their own style. This allows the music to remain a living, changing tradition.

There are several distinct types and characteristics within the genre. Traditional folk music is often culturally particular to a specific region. For immigrant groups, it serves as a tool for social cohesion.

These groups use songs and dances to maintain their cultural identity. Another type is contemporary folk music, which emerged during the mid-20th century. This style includes newly composed songs with known authors. It can also fuse with other genres, such as folk rock or folk metal. This contemporary form often shares the same performers and venues as traditional music.

History shows that folk music has always been part of human life. In the past, music was created during both work and leisure.

Workers used singing to keep rhythm during tasks like planting or weaving. It also helped reduce the boredom of repetitive manual labor. The term "folklore" was coined in 1846 by William Thoms. He used it to describe the customs of the uncultured classes. Earlier, German thinkers used the word "Volk" to mean the people as a whole. The second folk revival reached its peak in the 1960s.

Folk music covers a wide range of significant subject matter. Narrative verse is a major element in many cultures. This includes epic poetry that tells stories of battles or natural disasters.

Some songs are laments that mourn lost lives or defeated armies. Others are triumphant songs that celebrate victories. Many narratives focus on folk heroes like Robin Hood or John Henry. Music also marks the yearly cycle through holidays like Christmas or May Day. It can also celebrate personal events like weddings or funerals.

Technically, folk music often utilizes specific structures for its melodies. A tune is a short instrumental piece or melody.

Many tunes follow a common pattern called binary form, or AABB. A collection of similar tunes is known as a tune-family. Sometimes, musicians string these tunes together into medleys or sets. Some studies suggest that European musical patterns follow mathematical sequences. These sequences may help melodies survive through generations of oral passing. This mathematical stability helps keep the tradition alive.

Folk music connects to broader social and economic systems. In some societies, music is categorized by social class. It has been described as being associated with the lower classes in stratified societies.

It can also be seen as a way to preserve ways of life that are disappearing. Because cultures interact, folk music often becomes a fusion of different influences. This can change the instruments, tunings, or even the phrasing of a song. Ultimately, folk music remains a powerful way for people to bond through shared experience.