There are not really different kinds of folk music. It is more like folk music exists in different countries and cultures and that is what makes it different. Almost every country or continent has their own folk music for example, Africa, Asia, Europe e.g. Celtic music, Australia, Eastern Europe, Nordic music, North America and Latin America. All these countries and probably more have their own branch of Celtic music.
There is no single definition of folk music. It is just a genre that started during early cultures and has continued to advance today.
Below is some information about the history of folk music.
• Origins.
Folk music in America has been found to have roots in the spoke traditions of early cultures. This would have been English and Irish ballads, but these have eventually mixed and joined together with Native-American and African style.
• Introduction of the blues.
During the times of slavery, when Africans were transported to America, they remember their musical traditions and sang songs of hardship. These songs were mixed with a European folk style that would eventually become the well loved form music form, the blues.
• The Golden Age.
During the early 1950's, folk music dramatically increased in popularity and many folk artists emerged on the scene such as Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie.
• Re-emergence.
Although the interest in folk music that was sparked in the 1950's started to die, the next decade brought with it a surge of folk popularity. The reason behind this was probably its main role in social protesting by the Byrds and Bob Dylan. These artists combined folk with rock music, which helped to bring the relatively unknown genre in the mainstream.
• Evolution.
Folk music has continued to evolve and change over the decades, and it is still changing today. And despite the love of popular music, folk music still continues to have quite a considerable amount of influence over it.
There is no single definition of folk music. It is just a genre that started during early cultures and has continued to advance today.
Below is some information about the history of folk music.
• Origins.
Folk music in America has been found to have roots in the spoke traditions of early cultures. This would have been English and Irish ballads, but these have eventually mixed and joined together with Native-American and African style.
• Introduction of the blues.
During the times of slavery, when Africans were transported to America, they remember their musical traditions and sang songs of hardship. These songs were mixed with a European folk style that would eventually become the well loved form music form, the blues.
• The Golden Age.
During the early 1950's, folk music dramatically increased in popularity and many folk artists emerged on the scene such as Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie.
• Re-emergence.
Although the interest in folk music that was sparked in the 1950's started to die, the next decade brought with it a surge of folk popularity. The reason behind this was probably its main role in social protesting by the Byrds and Bob Dylan. These artists combined folk with rock music, which helped to bring the relatively unknown genre in the mainstream.
• Evolution.
Folk music has continued to evolve and change over the decades, and it is still changing today. And despite the love of popular music, folk music still continues to have quite a considerable amount of influence over it.
