folksong
Definition
Noun: A song that is traditionally sung by the common people of a region and forms part of their culture. It is typically passed down orally from generation to generation, rather than being composed by a known individual or written down commercially.
Usage
The word "folksong" is used to refer to traditional music that expresses the life, history, and beliefs of ordinary people in a community. It is often associated with acoustic instruments and simple, memorable melodies.
Examples
- The singer performed a beautiful Appalachian folksong about working on the railroad.
- Collecting and preserving regional folksongs is important for cultural heritage.
- That melody sounds like an old Irish folksong.
Advanced Usage
- "To be in the folk song tradition": To be created or performed in the style and manner of traditional folk music.
- Her new composition is firmly in the folk song tradition, using only a guitar and telling a story of migration.
- As an attributive noun: Used before another noun to describe a type or category.
- The festival featured a folk song competition.
Variants and Related Words
- Folk song (noun): An alternative, two-word spelling with the same meaning.
- Folk music (noun): The broader genre or category of traditional music, which includes folksongs.
- Folksinger (noun): A person who sings folksongs.
Synonyms
- Traditional song
- Ballad (when the song tells a story)
- Folk ballad
Idioms and Phrases
- (As) old as a folksong: Used to describe something very old or traditional.
- That recipe is as old as a folksong; my great-grandmother used to make it.
Noun
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a song that is traditionally sung by the common people of a region and forms part of their culture
