Traditional Folk Songs
Folk music is often confused with traditional music. Both terms are used semi-interchangeably among the general public; however, some musical communities who actively perform living folkloric music use both phrases interchangeably. Folk music is a sort of traditional and predominantly rural music that was originally passed down through families and other small social groupings. The phrase "folk music" and its variants in other languages refer to a wide range of musical genres; the meaning of the term changes depending on location, social class, and historical period. The basic traditions of folk music are conveyed orally or aurally, that is, by hearing rather than reading of words or music, typically in informal, local social networks of relatives or friends rather than in institutions such as school or church. Folk music is more frequently related with other activities such as calendric or life-cycle rituals, work, games, enculturation, and folk religion; it is also more likely to be participatory rather than presentational.
