Many of us associate folk music with 20th century artists such as Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger and Bob Dylan; yet these 20th century performers popularized an older form. The folk revival of the 1950s and 60s led to innovative interpretations of traditional folk tunes that became political anthems, giving birth to genres such as folk …
Folk music seems to experience a revival every decade or so; many younger audiences were first exposed to this genre thanks to O Brother, Where Art Thou? as its soundtrack. Nickel Creek combined bluegrass, jazz and folk songs. Later came Gillian Welch – an expert singer/songwriter with an intimate voice who composed poignant songs about …
As with any instrument, recorders require practice and guidance in order to thrive. Thankfully, there are various resources available that can help guide this practice as well as teach its history and how it should be played. Most systems of classification for folk melodies emphasize products and features shared among many repertories, such as contour …
Folk music is an enduring tradition within any culture or region, usually featuring acoustic instruments and English language lyrics. Sometimes folk songs may also carry political messages – like Woody Guthrie’s songs with leftist pro-labor messages. Folk music is a form of music which encourages widespread participation, often found at coffeehouses or bars. North America …
Folk music is an enduring genre that unifies cultures. Through history and into modern society, this powerful form has withstood numerous challenges but continues to shape society today. However, its precise definition remains difficult. Folk songs typically feature narrative-based texts that tell a narrative from events in one culture to the next, often making reference …
Folk music fans alike often gather together at song circles as an informal way of sharing tunes they love – many events offer free entrance. A slim singer was mesmerizing his audience with his multi instrumentalism (guitar, banjo, dulcimer and concertina) and unabashed commitment to folk music politics (in which gender wars, labor laws and …
Folk music has long been used by individuals to both foster cultural identity and shape politics. One prominent figure who used folk music this way is Woody Guthrie, known for writing songs addressing topics like war and civil rights in his songs. Folk music can typically be found being performed using traditional instruments like violins …
Folk music refers to any musical composition created by the people living within a particular region or nation, from Country Blues to Tuvan throat-singing. Genre hallmarks include vibrant imagery and poetic language, narrative structure and storyline development, as well as being mostly acoustic in sound quality without too many loud or harsh instruments. It is …
Folk musicians must find a delicate balance between making political statements and upholding artistic vision in their music. Phil Ochs is well known as being “a singing journalist.” Music has the unique power to bring people together and express ideas both rationally and emotionally, which explains why folk has such an enormous capacity to effect …
Greenwich Village coffee houses were known to serve as an anchor point for iconic folk singers of that era, such as Phil Ochs, Joan Baez and Pete Seeger; this lively scene also provided an avenue for future folk-rockers. At the peak of the folk revival, old guard folkies still believed traditional music would lead America …