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Folk music has been around for centuries, but scholars defined the genre in the 19th century. Originally folk music was defined as music for peasants, or of the folk. Today, folk music cant be completely defined due to the fact that the context and style has changed as music has progressed.

Aspects of Folk Music
Folk music is made up of many intrinsic components. It has simple melody, it is the result of oral transmission, and it is sociological because it reveals the thoughts, interests, and feelings of a group of people. In other words, folk singers and songwriters have the ability to express the most insightful human values.

In folk music there is traditional folk and modern urban folk. Traditional folk music is said to be comprised of ballads or stories that talk about the cultures of various peoples. Modern urban folk is said to be music that sings about peoples roots, and also displays their thoughts and feelings. Modern folk encompasses several genres of music such as blues, country music, hillbilly, rockabilly, spirituals, bluegrass, and Cajun music.

American folksingers of the 20th century reported social events as they actually happened within the lyrics of their songs. They made music that said something about the human condition and how it relates to peoples lives. If you have heard of artists such as Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie, and Ani DeFranco, then you will want to check out some sites about folk music.