Originally, folk music was a form of music that was passed on from person to person, generation to generation, not by being written down but by being performed and practiced in groups or to an audience. Popular folk songs would be heard and transmitted to other audiences, slowly spreading over the countryside, more often than not being adapted and changed to suit the needs of the people performing it. Traditional folk music was always intended to be a reflection of the beliefs and social structures of the community or society which formed and performed the songs – in medieval times, the music reflected chivalry and courtly love; in the early industrial era it reflected optimism and the wealth of a growing middle class; in the 1960s it was instead an expression of unwillingness to conform to the government’s demands.
Another hallmark of traditional folk music is that it is reflective of national or regional culture. This means that regional instruments (Celtic, Middle Eastern, Russian, and so forth) are used in the music itself, and the lyrics are sung in the dialect relevant to the local area. The lyrics may refer to seasonal changes specific to the region, will likely use colloquial terms, and will be indicative of the culture the lyrics have derived from.
Traditional folk songs are also generally not-for-profit and have no copyright – and this is because it is often hard to tell who the original composer was, or because the song has been passed down through many generations and from region to region. Like language, traditional folk music is a basic element of cultural life and as such should not ever be a source of profit.
Another hallmark of traditional folk music is that it is reflective of national or regional culture. This means that regional instruments (Celtic, Middle Eastern, Russian, and so forth) are used in the music itself, and the lyrics are sung in the dialect relevant to the local area. The lyrics may refer to seasonal changes specific to the region, will likely use colloquial terms, and will be indicative of the culture the lyrics have derived from.
Traditional folk songs are also generally not-for-profit and have no copyright – and this is because it is often hard to tell who the original composer was, or because the song has been passed down through many generations and from region to region. Like language, traditional folk music is a basic element of cultural life and as such should not ever be a source of profit.