song originating from and passed down by the common people of a country or region
Folk music can have a number of different meanings, including:
Traditional music: The original meaning of the term "folk music" was synonymous with the term "Traditional music", also often including
World Music and Roots music; the term "Traditional music" was given its more specific meaning to distinguish it from the other definitions that "Folk music" is now considered to encompass.Folk music can also describe a particular kind of
popular music which is based on traditional music. In contemporary times, this kind of folk music is often performed by professional musicians. Related genres include
Folk rock and
Progressive folk music.In American culture, folk music refers to the
American folk music revival, music exemplified by such musicians as
Woody Guthrie,
Pete Seeger,
Bob Dylan and
Joan Baez, who popularized and encouraged the lyrical style in the 1950s and 1960s.
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