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In a message dated 3/14/01 1:06:36 PM Pacific Standard Time, MDESTE1 writes:
<< AHA, the old question of what is folk music. I have no idea. Music by
folks?
Some acoustic guitar element. Anyone? Steve Dulson must know!
garret said, "and something that *i* connect with folk albums is a
lack of instruments. (but, i would be open to a proper explanation of what
folk music entails.) Joni herself maintains that none of her albums are
folk." >>
Interesting question. I have played folk music for all of the time Ive been
playing music. Never actually ever considered myself a "rock" musician
although I have played Rock at times and even wrote some "rock" songs. So
what is "folk" music.Some may argue but heres my take. If you think about the
word "folk". What does it connote or mean. Well first of all it is simple in
structure. has to be because it is played of and by and for "the folk" or the
people. An important aspect of it however in this context is that it is
played "amongst" the folks. ie. early folkmusic was in essence the only
available "news" report. In the old days it was played by quasi musicians,
artisans or bards. Therefore it was simple in its production. But it was mor
eoriented towards "whats happening" in the culture and at the time. Again it
is music played amidst what copuld be called common settings. ie around a
campfire or fireplace or gathering at a meal table. Telling stories.
spreading good cheer amongst gatherings of "the folk". When Woody Guthrie
began to use "folk music" to tell more quasi political themes (albeit some
patriotic) the political left (late 1940's) which inhabited many of the
common folk venues in America began to interpret the "news" or "story
telling" aspect of the genre in whatb used to be a less political musical
scheem. They used all the "folk music instruments" to broadcast their
"stories" and hence the older distinction that used to apply ceased to apply
and the lines that used to define "folk music" themes blurred until today
when Hip Hop afficianados attribute a description of its values in precisely
the same way that one used to describe "folk music". As such my personal view
is that today it is an open question. Just as men wear earings (and dresses)
and change the diapers folk mjusic as one commonly thinks of it is that music
confined to the first half of the 20th centure and prior. Yeah I know many
will argue vehemently agsint this view but then as i said Ive been playing
the folk classics for many years (not alot lately) and much of the early 60s
stuff was in fact folk music like Kingston Trio, PP&M , Bert jansch,l
renbourn, etc and so forth. lastly I would tend to agree with Joni. I dont
think anyone could ever have called her a hard core folk musician. I could
discuss more if anyone is interested. marcel deste
