Folk Music: The Bridge between the Past and the Present Essay Example

my family and I make sure to visit Cherokee, North Carolina along the way.

Cherokee Indian culture continues to be passed down through the g enervation through SE of music, traditional dance, and handcrafted art every day in Cherokee. W e [my family] have been able to experience much of their American Indian folklore when visiting this site. Maintaining this historical community is important in order for people to iconic nun to understand certain aspects of development in our nation. Traditional Indian stomp dances had multiple purposes; such as friendship, animal, and rain dances (Lee).

Like much of the folk music created by Europeans, certain music [containing the "heartbeat" of a drum] by the Am Rican Indians ere culturally based; containing traces to hunting and warfare (Lee). Neighbors typically exchanged different songs and dances with one another , creating diverse intertribal folk music (Lee).

Presently, Protestant churches, commonly throughout American Indian communities, portray European hymns and other tribal aspects (Lee). Observing the connect actions made between Europeans and American Indians, it is clear that folk music has been a an office intent tool, per SE, in connecting people over time.

Even to a smaller degree in my personal life, co injections are easily dad between myself and other people when taking part in different music's elated activities. Even if all the people taking part in a new musical arrangement don't know on e another, it is usually pretty easy to relate and become well acquainted with other people.

T Hough the simians I am speaking of play music byways of reading what has been recorded d, rather than by definition of folklore, the connection still

stands clear between people and music.

Some members of the American Folklore Society (AS), established 1888 by Franz B as, turned their attention away from European tradition and instead focused on American In Ian groups; recording their "music, crafts, and other cultural artifacts" in order to preserve the traditions (Donaldson). Recognizing that folklore influence not only occurs in mainstream American life, but in small scale societies, as well, Boas and other members of the IFS open deed a field of study including "monoester" people (Donaldson).

To gain fundamental support for folklore's new developing scholarly pursuit, local chapters demonstrated different musical try additions, adapted from settlers, at hosted festivals, concerts, and fiddle conventions (Donaldson These events eventually lead to folklore's inclusion of newly generated traditions from peep lee who had migrated and settled down in frontier regions.

It is important to understand the origin Of the term "folklore" if one is to fully grasp the idea of folk music. Much of the music style, including its title, comes from Gear many. The word "folk" is derived from the German term "folk," meaning people (MS).

Though I t is of German origin, folk music received its classification/ title from England (MOB). The English applied the term to "the illiterate peasants who passed on stories and legends through so Eng" rather than by publishing books (MOB). Its original definition has since broadened, but genera Lily remained the same; the music isn't printed on a score but rather performed from memory ( List).

"The essential characteristic Of folklore is that it consists Of beliefs, customs, and traditions w which are far behind civilization in their intrinsic value to man,

though they exist under the cover of a civilized nationality" (Genome).

This is one of the main differences between traditional music and most of the music produced today; most people today play music written down in word DSL or notes instead of straight from memory. From what I've observed, there aren't many songs o f today's generation that are welkin and have not been given an official melody or I Yuri. Though today's music is still influenced through other current artists, the songs are give en a set melody and therefore do not follow the define action of folklore.

Once a traditional song becomes widely popular and known by a general melody, there isn't ml_ACH room for it to be pee rationalized and passed on; therefore, it loses the ability to be called a folk piece (List).

It has been argued that in order for a song to be considered "genuine folk mum sic," it must exhibit multiple different traits; such as being passed on through aural trans mission (not written down), containing multiple variants (modifications of the melody), and having the origin of the song unknown to the performer (List).

Music that contains these characteristic CSS falls under the category of "oral tradition" (List). It makes sense for these to be the require ants of a traditional folk song. Had this list not been established, there could be songs that may AP pear to be old and traditional, but actually follow a rhythmic pattern and set of lyrics; which takes away from the original idea behind folklore.

The primitive style behind folk music is what ma ekes it so rich and valuable.

Though songs

such as "Happy Birthday' and "For Hs a Jolly Good F allow' are often learned by ear, they are constant in their melody, preventing them from falling g under the category of "folk" (List). During the nineteenth and twentieth century, the United States began to experience a vast amount of German immigration (Cohen). With the newly ear paving people came a newly arriving style of music.

After being settled in for some time, the Germ an immigrants began hosting folk music festivals in the sass's in the Pennsylvania area, which eventually grew into a major phenomena (Cohen).

The main kickoff for the newly thriving folk music festivals in Pennsylvania rest eluted from the launch of the Northern Singers Union in Philadelphia in 1850 (Cohen Grandmother folk music festivals quickly spread to the South, at one point forming the Text s Sunburned in October, 1 853; a singers union, holding a statewide singing festival (Cohen). G reran Americans continued to keep the folk music tradition thriving into the twentieth century. In the early 1 9005, given the purpose to promote patriotism through the city diverse nationality s, festivals were held in Milwaukee that featured many different songs and dances.

Around 19 25, The Pennsylvania Federation of Singing Societies began a threaded generates the at attracted German singers from all across Pennsylvania (List).

Similar festivals began popping up around the country in places such as Cleveland, Cincinnati; and Buffalo, New York dour ins and after World War I (List). During the asses, [roots] folk music in America became a very popular way for people of different backgrounds and points of view to express how they fee It

about some of the current events (PBS).

Spirituals sung by Africanizing slaves: protest songs sung by 1 9605 youth; Technicians singing the corridor ; and 'union songs' sung by labor organizers" are some of the different stylistic backgrounds and reasoning behind a lot of the folk music passed on during that time period (PBS). Contemporary folklorists often used their music to make note of different things they found unjust; whether it being over class, r ace, gender, etc (PBS). Music performances were often the place people could generally set the Eire racial differences aside and enjoy something together (PBS).

The musicians themselves sees were able to do the same; often setting their differences aside and rather influenced each 20th ms playing styles (PBS).

Racial segregation doesn't exist in the music world; that's what makes it so SP Cecil. Reflecting back on my life, there have been multiple occasions where tension that is usually present with certain people is easily diminished once we started playing music c together. Music, especially in the folklore style, is really powerful; working wonders that even t he musicians creating it can't understand.

Though, due to racial logic during the time, racial segregation usually kept musicians and audiences apart, that didn't keep black Americans from enjoying the music produced by white musicians via radio broadcast (PBS). "Responses to racism and racial segregation were reflected in American roots music (PBS). The importance of America's folk music was becoming even more apparent.

Even before its growing population in America the asses, folk music caught the eye of President Roosevelt (Reuses). President Or shovels was very fond of the folksiest music and presented a

sample of the style to the king an d queen of England when they visited the U.

S. N 1939. Viewing that folk music is a necessary piece of history, the United States governments faces a seventeenth campaign, beginning in 1 96 9, over federal government institutional support (Reuses). The campaign resulted in the Aimer can Folklore Preservation Act in 1976, "calling for the establishment of the American Folk e Center to 'preserve and present American Folklore" (Reuses).

Today, many music artists w Ark to preserve the folksiest music; singing traditional songs as well as creating their own. The re has been much success in the keeping the lifestyle alive and well.

Many people continue to tie the Smoky Mountains to folk music because it has been preserved so well in the area. W hen traveling to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, my family instantly turns on folk music to help gather the historical feel to the mountains. There are many sites to visit in the park w here people sing traditional songs, as well as dress up in traditional folklore clothing.

It is throw GHz visiting those different locations that I have made my strong connection and appreciation f or the lifestyle. The American Folklore Preservation Act was an investment that was undoubtedly Roth it.