Folkmusic

Folkmusic refers to traditional music that originates in a particular community or region and is passed primarily by ear through generations. It encompasses songs, tunes, and instrumental pieces that reflect local histories, occupations, and rituals. Unlike commercial pop or composed concert music, it is often anonymous or credited to communities rather than individuals. Characteristics commonly include simple melodic shapes, repetitive rhythms, and emphasis on storytelling, work, and social functions. Instrumentation varies by culture, ranging from fiddles and banjos to bagpipes, oud, tin whistles, or drums.

The geographic scope is broad, with numerous national and regional varieties. European folk traditions include ballads, dances, and laments; in North America, folk, traditional bluegrass, and Cajun styles emerged from immigrant and enslaved communities; African diasporic musics contribute griot storytelling and polyrhythms; Asian folk traditions include vocal and instrumental lineages linked to rural life. Folkmusic has long served communal purposes, such as work songs, rites, harvests, and political or social expression. In the 20th century, field recordings by folklorists and later the folk revival brought anonymous tunes into public consciousness under new performers.

In contemporary usage, "folk music" is often a broad umbrella that includes traditional material as well as new compositions in a traditional idiom. Artists may preserve traditional repertoires or fuse them with rock, classical, electronic, or world music elements. Ethnomusicologists study folkmusic as a living, evolving practice embedded in social life, language, and identity, while preservation initiatives document endangered repertoires. The term remains fluid and sometimes contested, reflecting changing ideas about what constitutes folk music and who represents it.