20 Interesting Elements About Folk Music
Folk music is one of the earliest, emotion-filled music of Black people.
This genre features instruments like the banjo, congas, and even the djembe.
The music in this genre also focuses on polyrhythmic beats: poly meaning many different and rhythmic deriving from the word rhythm.
Let's Dig Into The Instruments Shown Above
The instruments listed above are (from left to right) the banjo, the congas, and the djembe.
The Banjo has a long neck and a round body.
The Congas are larger drums of African origin that are tall, narrow, and lower toned.
The Djembe makes 3 sounds: base, tone, and slap. The base is the lowest, deepest sound, the tone is a higher pitched sound, and the slap is a sharp sound made from hitting the drum.
What Are The Roots of Folk Music ?
Depending on who you ask, folk music stems from any group of individuals, or folk, who have shared experiences, ethnicities, or cultures.
To me, folk music stems from Africa.
Before the voluntary and involuntary migration across the Atlantic, Africans created music and sounds that folk music is derived from.
As mentioned earlier, folk music is filled with emotion: sadness, happiness, suffering, excitement, mourning, and even pain.
This emotion, felt before, during, and after the Transatlantic Slave Trade, is one of the key elements of our Folk that have survived its heinous effects.
Where is Folk Music Now - Has It Evolved ?
