The Instrumental Values of Folk Music
Introduction
Folk music, finding its popularity in America during the mid-1920’s to 1930’s contains a variety of instruments. Because folk music originated with the Black community, the instruments used in Black folk music and white folk music vary. Some of the instruments that were used in Black folk music include the banjo, bones, washboard, guitar, djembe and many more. In these songs, the instruments could serve as the focal point alone or be an enhancement to the vocalists’ talent. This post will focus on three instruments, the guitar, the djembe, and the voice. The aptitude of these instruments is what has allowed folk music to leave a lasting impact on the history of Black music overall.
Variations of the guitar is one of the most common instruments utilized in folk music. Artists like Elizabeth Cotten use the guitar as a primary notion of their song. Her vocals and guitar playing seem to portray an equal rhythm as they work together to create the song. The timbre of folk guitar playing is much like current day country music, as the notes swing from one to another.
The djembe is an African drum that has makes 3 sounds, the bass, slap, and tone. While folk music is made with the use of primarily string instruments, there are times when other things are used like the djembe. The timbre of this instrument is low and deep, I do not know of another instrument that can mimic this distinct sound. In the song Day-O by Harry Belafonte, the djembe can be heard in the background providing a constant beat.
While many people may not think of ones voice as an instrument, it is actually the most powerful instrument of all. The voice is one instrument that all folk singers have in common. Odetta Holmes, while she did use instruments in recordings and live performances, with her it is clear that her favorite and most used instrument is her voice. Her timbre is powerful, deep, and soulful. This makes sense seeing as Black folk music stemmed from negro spirituals and would lead to the blues genre. Black folk singers used their voices as instruments because they know the power that they held within their words.
Conclusion
The impact of folk music has lasted through generations and has spanned many different genres of music. This sacred genre of music that was brought to America by Africans has provided a segue between negro spirituals and the blues. The value that these instruments, guitar, djembe, and the voice add to the folk music genre is unmatched. Overall, this genre would not be the same, let alone as influential without the instruments it contains.
