American Folk Music

1. American Folk Music What is it? Where did it come from? What can we learn from this type of music?

2. What is Folk Music? • Folk music is music created and performed by common people (not the rich) and passed down from generation to generation.

3. What cultures make folk music? • Folk music is found in every culture and is created by the common people of that culture. Since every culture is a little different, there are many types of folk music. Indian Folk  Musicians Chinese Folk Musicians  How are all types of folk music the same?

4. What is American Folk Music? • American folk music comes from the common people of America. America, however, is made up of many cultures. The folk music is therefore a blend of many cultures. • When immigrants came to America, they sang the songs of their previous cultures. Their previous culture was a part of their identity and helped them remember their past. • As different cultures shared songs with one another, musical ideas began to mix together. Thus . . . American Folk Music

5. Where do folk songs come from? • Most folk songs are traditional songs that are past down from previous generations. In many cases, no one knows who first sang them. • Folk songs are rarely ever written down. Instead, people share them to one another orally (by singing). • Because these songs aren’t written down, they change over time (words may change; melodies may lengthen or shorten; two or more songs may be mashed together).

6. What instruments are found in folk music? • Because folk music was created by the common person, any instrument s/he owned could be used. The more popular instruments include: • Guitar • Double Bass • Fiddle • Banjo • Mandolin • Dulcimer • Harp

7. And when there were no instruments? • When slaves had no instruments, they made music with their voices. • Other musicians create their own instruments out of what they found around the house. These groups were called Jug Bands.  From the movie “Emmet Otter’s Jug Band Christmas”

8. What topics are found in folk songs? • Folk songs usually have lyrics and those lyrics are often just as important as the melodies. • Folk song lyrics deal with almost every type of human activity (work, religion, love, family). • Some folk songs describe history so it’s never forgotten. • Other folk songs are fictional and have little meaning. Instead, they are meant for celebrations, for dances, and for enjoyment.

9. What types of folk songs are there? • In America, there are a few types of folk songs we find again and again. The first is a ballad. • A ballad is a song that tells a story, often times about real events. • Another type of folk song is the spiritual. • A spiritual is a song that deals with religion. • African-Americans sang many spirituals . . . some were about their beliefs and others were about escaping slavery and finding freedom.

10. . . . other types of Folk Songs? • In additional to ballads and spirituals, many types of folk songs deal with activities or situations: • These are some (not all) • Work songs • Prison songs • War songs • Songs for children • Dances (Reels, Square Dances)