Folk music is one of the most traditional and popular forms of music in the world today. It is enjoyed by millions of people in almost all countries, especially in western civilization. It is said that it has planted itself in the ‘hearts of man’ because it comes from the heart of man.
Much of folk music in the early days or feudal times, came from people who labored in the fields, forests and villages. These were not easy times, so the villagers, by singing and dancing, found a way to make their tasks lighter.
Songs for every kind of activity, mood and thought were sung from morning to night. These songs dealt with aspects of daily life including: work songs; love songs; cradle songs; drinking songs; patriotic songs; dancing songs; mourning songs; narrative and epic songs. All of this music—that came from the hearts of people—was called folk music.
Music is reflective of the people who make it. If people are sad and burdened, then the songs are usually sad. “Whether people are bold and dashing; sad and oppressed; tender and loving; or dreaming and romantic; the same spirit is in their music,” wrote Thomasine McGeehee and Alice Nelson in their book, People and Music. Folk music gives us a true reflection of who people are and what they are about.
Folk songs of different nations have certain characteristic features. Although difficult to describe accurately, folk songs represent the national traits and the character of the people from whom they originated. Interestingly, most folk music of Western nations is of relatively recent origin.
Russian Folk Music
“The spirit of Russian folk music dominated the evolution of both vocal and instrumental art music,” according to the Harvard Dictionary of Music. “Prior to circa 1700, musical activity in Russia was, aside from folk music, restricted mainly to the church.”
Russian folk music began as vocal music. Instrumental music was banned for a period of time in Russia by Tsar Alexis I, due to the influence of the Russian Orthodox Church. They said musical instruments were from the devil.
Another possible reason they banned instrumental music was because they were singing disrespectful songs about the Tsar to instrumental accompaniment. This was most likely the real or main reason.
The songs the people sang were an every-day event in the lives of the villagers. These songs were indicative of the four seasons and important events in their lives.
From an article in Making Music, Russian immigrant, Sergei Teleshev, said, “Russian Folk music has rich melodies and harmonies.” Teleshev leads a Russian folk trio in America. “We usually talk about our instruments because they are unique here in the United States,” Teleshev said.
Russian Instruments
Instruments in Russia were again used in the 19th Century when they lifted the ban. The early folk instruments were simple in design and construction. They were: Gudok, a three-string pear-shaped fiddle and a Gusli, an autoharp like wing-shaped instrument; Doudka, a simple wind instrument and Rozhok, a flute made of one or two wooden pipes.
As folk music developed more sophisticated instruments were used. The instruments played today in Russia include the Domra, a Russian long-neck lute of the 16th and 17th Centuries. It has a round body with three strings, is plucked and sounds like a mandolin. It is the forerunner of the Balalaika.
The Balalaika is an instrument of the guitar family. It has a triangular body, a long fretted neck and three gut strings. It is played with a pick and comes in seven different sizes. 
The Russian accordion, or Bayan, is a chromatic ‘button’ accordion. It is unlike modern accordions that have a piano style keyboard.
“Folk music in America means just what it means in Europe and elsewhere: music of indeterminate antiquity, unknown origins and it is traditionally handed down from one generation to another,” wrote Howard McKinney and W. R. Anderson in Discovering Music. Each country also creates or chooses a national instrument that best appeals to its national character.
In America, folk music had a resurgence in the 1960’s and 70’s and is still a very popular form of music. It is, and will always be, the music of the people; expressing their experiences, traditions and stories of their lives.
The Danville Community Band presents it’s Annual Blackhawk Museum Concert “In My Merry Oldsmobile” Sunday, March 29, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. Blackhawk Automotive Museum, 3700 Blackhawk Plaza Circle. Free concert with admission to the Museum. Free parking. Please submit questions and comments to banddirector01@comcast.net. Visit our website at www.danvilleband.org for up-to-date information about the Danville Community Band.
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