AOS3 - Contemporary British Folk Music Flashcards
Where did British folk music originate from?
Sea shanties
What texture did a lot of sea shanties use?
Call and response (Imitation)
Was folk music usually written down?
No, hardly ever. Instead it was passed on through the generations by aural tradition
What language is folk music sometimes sung in?
Gaelic
Types of folk songs
- Work songs, to uplift workers
- Ballads, stories of love or legends
- Dance music, played at celebrations
Examples of common foll instruments
- Fiddle
- Accordion
- Tin whistle
- Bodhran
- Uilleann Pipes
- Bagpipes
- Hurdy Gurdy
Describe the melodies of folk music
Used the pentatonic scale and quite often conjunct
What sat underneath the main melody to reinforce it?
A drone note that was usually the tonic
What was the structure of most traditional folk songs
Strophic form - the tune stays the same but the lyrics change
What instrumentation may contemporary folk music also use?
- Drumkit
- Bass guitar
- Keyboards
- Electric guitar