folk

Kerala Folk Music

Kerala boasts not only classical Carnatic music, but also an exciting folk music scene that serves to commemorate occasions, recall memories or express emotions. Folk songs can provide a wonderful way to mark special events or express emotions. Mappila Pattu is an endearing folk music tradition from Malabar’s Muslim community that stands the test of […]

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How Old Is Folk Music?

Folk music celebrates community. Grassroot artists take to the road with their musical talent to spread it and promote values such as environmental sustainability and supporting local businesses. Genre also influences classical music. Composers such as Bartok used folk rhythms in his compositions – for example, his Violin Concerto features its opening movement based on

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Folk Music Explained

Folk music plays a pivotal role in helping minority ethnic, occupational and religious communities maintain their cultural identities; this phenomenon is especially noticeable among immigrant communities. Folk music stands out as unique due to being community-generated and passed along orally through generations, evolving over time through “communal re-creation”. Kris Kristofferson, Linda Ronstadt and The Mamas

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House Concerts in Portland, Oregon, Are a Great Way to Connect With Local Artists

Folk music encompasses an expansive genre – spanning traditional songs to swampy rock and clever acoustic pop. If you want to experience this genre firsthand, why not attend a house concert held in private homes? House concerts offer an ideal way to meet local artists. This welcoming, straightforward recording serves as the companion piece to

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Is Folk Music Still Popular?

Folk music typically conjures images of acoustic guitars and soft, soothing music; this is understandable since most folk musicians are singer-songwriters. Folk music may appear to be something from the past, but it remains very relevant in modern industrialized nations as an effective way of helping ethnic, occupational and religious minorities maintain their cultural identities.

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Is Folk Music a Genre?

Folk music in modern industrialized nations provides ethnic, occupational or religious minority groups a sense of self-worth and heritage; additionally it commemorates important personal milestones like weddings and funerals. Recently, I conducted interviews with musicians, venue operators/agents/and the moderator of the folk_music listserv about their experiences within this genre. Definition Folk music has traditionally been

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The Bajo Quinto – A Mexican Folk Instrument With 10 Strings in Five Doubled Courses

The Mexican folk instrument known as bajo quinto is an oversized acoustic guitar with five doubled courses of strings resembling an electric bass guitar. As an integral component of Tejano and border music, its bassy sounds play an integral role in these musical genres. The LBQ1EGT is a full-bodied non-cutaway bajo quinto featuring a Fishman

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Top 10 Folk Music Icons

Folk music serves as a reflection of cultural narratives and individual experiences, so understanding which songs resonate most helps both seasoned fans of folk music to deepen their knowledge while newcomers to find an entryway into its genre. No matter how you define happiness, classic songs like Doc Watson’s ‘Deep River Blues’ or Malvina Reynolds’s

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