Old Folk Song
tagStarted 18th centuryPeak 1800–1930Last big hit still active
Located in 1 route
Old folk song is the archaic layer of repertory that feels older than any one performer: modal turns, floating verses, antique subject matter, and melodic shapes worn smooth by repetition.
History
Many of these songs arrived through British and Irish ballad streams, while others formed in North America and then circulated orally for decades before recording.
Defining artists
Essential listening
Sources
- Britannica
- Library of Congress
- Smithsonian Folkways. citeturn10search2turn9search2turn0search16