Skip to content

Questions about Folk music

Short answers, pulled from the story.

When did the term folk music first appear in print?

The word folk music first appeared in print during the 19th century. English antiquarian William Thoms coined the related term folklore in 1846 to describe traditions of uncultured classes.

Who defined folk music as what the people sing and when was this definition established?

One widely used definition remains simply that folk music is what the people sing. The International Folk Music Council offered a definition in 1954 or 1955 stating that folk music evolves through cultural processes rather than abstract musical types.

What are the earliest known examples of Chinese folk music and how old are they?

Archaeological discoveries date Chinese folk music back 7000 years based largely on pentatonic scale. Han weddings include suona oboe and chuigushou percussive ensembles descended from imperial temple music.

Which festival was the earliest United States folk festival and who founded it?

Earliest United States folk festival claimed Mountain Dance and Folk Festival 1928 Asheville North Carolina founded Bascom Lamar Lunsford. National Folk Festival USA itinerant event run since 1934 by National Council for Traditional Arts presented 26 communities nation.

When did the Grammy Awards introduce a specific category for folk music recordings?

Popularity of contemporary folk recordings caused appearance Folk category Grammy Awards 1959. Term dropped 1970 favoring Best Ethnic or Traditional Recording including Traditional Blues distinction between Best Traditional Folk Recording and Best Contemporary Folk Recording arrived 1987.