Folk music encompasses traditional and contemporary genres, originating from oral traditions and often lacking known composers. It's characterized by its use of traditional instruments, focus on cultural or national identity, generational evolution, and association with folklore. It stands apart from commercial and classical music. The term 'folk music' emerged in the 19th century, although the music's history extends further back.
From 1906 to 1909, Isaac Albéniz composed Suite Iberia, a piano work reflecting his Spanish heritage.
In 1909, Isaac Albéniz, who produced piano works reflecting his Spanish heritage, including the Suite Iberia (1906–1909), passed away.
In 1911, John Lomax published "Cowboy Songs and Other Frontier Ballads", marking his first major work studying distinctly American folk music and establishing him as a prominent folk music scholar.
In 1915, Krisjanis Barons published the sixth volume of Latvju dainas, a collection of 217,996 Latvian folk songs, contributing to the preservation of Latvian folk music.
From 1916 to 1918, Cecil Sharp worked in America, recording traditional songs of the Appalachian Mountains in collaboration with Maud Karpeles and Olive Dame Campbell, becoming a major scholar of American folk music.
From 1916 to 1918, Cecil Sharp worked in America, recording traditional songs of the Appalachian Mountains in collaboration with Maud Karpeles and Olive Dame Campbell, becoming a major scholar of American folk music.
In 1918, Enrique Granados, composer of zarzuela and Danzas Españolas, passed away.
Around 1920, the British folk revival, which began approximately in 1890, came to a close.
In 1922, Jean Ritchie was born in Viper, Kentucky, and became a prominent figure in preserving and recording Appalachian traditional songs.
In 1927, Carl Sandburg published "The American Songbag", a collection of songs gathered during his travels, adding a class dynamic to popular understandings of American folk music.
In 1928, the Mountain Dance and Folk Festival was founded in Asheville, North Carolina, by Bascom Lamar Lunsford, and is sometimes claimed as the earliest United States folk music festival.
From 1933 to 1942, Alan Lomax made recordings under the auspices of the Library of Congress, including sessions with Jelly Roll Morton, Woody Guthrie, Lead Belly, and Muddy Waters.
In 1934, Sarah Gertrude Knott established the National Folk Festival in St. Louis, Missouri, promoting folk music and its role in social goods.
In 1936, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) was created after lobbying by the Canadian Radio League, aiming to promote Canadian music, including traditional music.
From 1937 to 1942, the National Folk Festival was held in Washington, DC, at Constitution Hall under the sponsorship of the Washington Post.
From 1933 to 1942, Alan Lomax made recordings under the auspices of the Library of Congress, including sessions with Jelly Roll Morton, Woody Guthrie, Lead Belly, and Muddy Waters.
From 1937 to 1942, the National Folk Festival was held in Washington, DC, at Constitution Hall under the sponsorship of the Washington Post.
In 1946, Alan Lomax began his independent archive of recordings, which was later digitized and offered by the Association for Cultural Equity.
In 1946, Manuel de Falla, who incorporated Andalusian flamenco influences into his works like Nights in the Gardens of Spain and Siete canciones populares españolas, passed away.
In 1954, the Sidmouth Festival began.
In 1959, the Newport Folk Festival began near Newport, Rhode Island, running most years until 1970 and then from 1985 to the present.
In 1959, the popularity of "contemporary folk" recordings led to the creation of the "Folk" category in the Grammy Awards, marking recognition of the genre.
In 1962, the four-day Philadelphia Folk Festival began, sponsored by the non-profit Philadelphia Folksong Society, hosting contemporary and traditional artists.
In 1965, the Cambridge Folk Festival began in Cambridge, England, noted for its wide definition of folk musicians.
Around 1970, the song Mullā Mohammed Jān spread from Herat to the rest of Afghanistan, and Iran where it was recorded, becoming popular due to its repetitive refrain and predictable structure.
In 1970, the Grammy Awards dropped the "Folk" category in favor of "Best Ethnic or Traditional Recording (including Traditional Blues)", which shows the evolution of folk music recognition.
The Newport Folk Festival ran most years from 1959 until 1970.
In 1974, Isabelle Mills wrote that knowledge of Canadian history is essential in understanding the mosaic of Canadian folk song, highlighting the influence of European and Anglo-Saxon settlers.
In 1985, the Newport Folk Festival resumed after a hiatus, continuing to the present with an attendance of approximately 10,000 people each year.
In 1986, the town of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, started hosting the Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival.
In 1987, the Grammy Awards created a distinction between "Best Traditional Folk Recording" and "Best Contemporary Folk Recording", further differentiating the genre.
In 1997, Canso, Nova Scotia, began hosting the Stan Rogers Folk Festival, which takes place annually during the last weekend of July.
In January 2012, the American Folklife Center and the Association for Cultural Equity announced the digital release of Alan Lomax's vast archive of recordings from 1946 and later.
As of March 2012, approximately 17,400 of Alan Lomax's recordings from 1946 and later were made available free online, digitizing his independent archive.
In 2015, Jean Ritchie, a key figure in preserving Appalachian traditional songs, passed away, leaving behind a legacy of classic recordings and compilations.
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