Alice Brandon, age 16, of Missoula, Mont., for her question:
ARE THERE MANY KINDS OF FOLK MUSIC?
Folk music is music which has grown up among the people as an important part of the daily life. The experts say there are three types of folk music: dance songs, legendary folk songs and composed folk songs.
The oldest type of folk music probably comes from dance songs. They were first sung as an accompaniment for dancing. The names of the composers have been lost to history.
The dance song always has a strongly accented rhythm. Some of the dances imitate the work of the people, such as the shoemaker's dance. Some are associated with the place of origin, such as the gavotte from France, the mazurka and polonaise from Poland and the tarantella from Italy.
The legendary folk song is usually of early origin. It is poetic in character and speaks directly from the singer's heart. "Loch Lomond" from Scotland, "Vermeland" from Sweden, the Welsh "All Through the Night" and some American spirituals that were sung by slaves are excellent examples.
The composed folk song belongs to a later date. It reflects the daily life of the people. The composer is almost always known. Among the most famous examples are "Annie Laurie" from Scotland, "Die Lorelei" from Germany, "O Sole Mio" from Italy and "Swanee River" from America.
Patriotic songs may be either legendary or composed and often stem from some historical crisis. The Welsh song "Men of Harlech" is a great legendary song of patriotism. "La Marseillaise," "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" and "The Battle Cry of Freedom" are among famous patriotic songs that have been composed.
American folk music is broad in scope and in its number of songs. Part of the folk music is imported, as in the Mexican songs of the Southwest, the Creole songs that were first heard in Louisiana and the English ballads on the Kentucky mountains.
The language and customs of each country or geographical area are reflected in its music.
Many English and American folk songs tell a story of a person or event.
Great political movements have been responsible for folk songs. Slavery in America helped to produce most of the spirituals. The oppression of the czars gave rise to the most dramatic of the Russian peasant songs.
Folk music of the Latin people reflects their love of romance, beauty and gaiety. This is in contrast to the slower, more regular music of the Teutons or the fiery music of the Slavs.
Geographical conditions also influence folk music. Those who lived an outdoor life in warmer climates use music for folk festivals and dances. Their music is more vigorous in rhythm than that used in cooler regions.
Folk music often contains unusual rhythms and unusual scales, which frequently change from major to minor. Such folk instruments as the mandolin, tambourine, bagpipe, ukulele, guitar and castanets have greatly influenced both the melody and the rhythm of folk music.