Download History of Folk Music

History of Folk
Music
What is Folk?
 Definition

of folk?
Relating to the traditional art or culture of a
community or nation
 Folk
Music includes…
 Traditional Folk Music has been
developed by…

has been transmitted and evolved by a
process of oral transmission or performed by
custom over a long period of time.
American Traditional Music
 Also


known as Roots Music
Includes: bluegrass, country music, gospel,
jug bands, Appalachian folk, blues, Cajun
and Native American music
This is considered American because it is
native to the US or because it developed in
the US
Folk/American Roots
 Types


of American Roots music
Cajun: music of Louisiana, rooted in ballads
of French speaking Acadians of Canada
Appalachian: traditional music of
Appalachia in the eastern US.
 Derived
from various European and African
influences (English ballads, Irish and Scottish
traditional music, hymns, and AfricanAmerican blues)
Folk Instruments
 Instruments
used in folk music were
developed among common people and
may not have a known inventor.
 Made out of wood, metal, other simple
material

Ex. Banjo, guitar, jug, washboard, anything
SIMPLE!
 Contemporary
instruments
folk: String, percussive
Roots Revival (Folk Revival)

Definition of Revival…


The First Folk Revival: academic movement in
the early 20th century


an instance of something becoming popular,
active, or important again.
an academic movement to transcribe and record
traditional British songs in the early 20th century.
American Folk Revival: 1940s

Musicians collected, recorded, and published
old ballads
Folk Musicians
 Carter Family (recorded 1927-1956)
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewnfWoSQz3o
 Stephen Foster (1826-1864)
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1S0keeGIgcY
^^Pete Seeger (1919-2014)
Transnational Revival
 2010s:
Folk-inspired acts became popular
in the UK and US
 Mumford and Sons

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rId6PKlDXeU