folk music

American  

noun

1. music, usually of simple character and anonymous authorship, handed down among the common people by oral tradition.

2. music by known composers that has become part of the folk tradition of a country or region.

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folk music British  

noun

1. music that is passed on from generation to generation by oral tradition Compare art music

2. any music composed in the idiom of this oral tradition

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folk music Cultural  

1. A kind of music originating from the ordinary people of a region or nation and continued by oral tradition. The ballad (see also ballad) is a typical form of folk music. Music is also called “folk” when it is made by artists and composers who are inspired by, or imitate, true folk music. Composers such as Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie are folk musicians of the second kind.

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Etymology

Origin of folk music

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

It’s not just about folk music; it’s about the artists — the people, really — who make it.

From Salon

British folk music comedy-drama, The Ballad of Wallis Island, has also done well, with representation in five categories including best film and outstanding British film.

From BBC

“Because really that, to me, is what folk music is. It’s passed on, it’s transformed — it turns into something else and then passed on again.”

From Los Angeles Times

The line-up spans rock, country and folk music across three main stages.

From BBC

Born in Glasgow into a singing family, he released a number of albums over the years and was among the earliest steel-string players in British folk music.

From BBC

Related Words

• country music