Folk

Page 2

Mandolin
Jacob do Bandolim: amateur musician who instilled mandolin fashion throughout America

Jacob Pick Bittencourt, nicknamed Jacob do Bandolim or Mandolin Jacob, was a Brazilian musician and composer working in…

August 18, 2019
Koto
First compositions for koto presented out of court by Yatsuhashi Kengyō in the 17th century

Yatsuhashi Kengyō was a 17th-century Japanese composer who created a new concept of koto music, introducing the…

August 11, 2019
Songwriter
The resonance of African tribal heritage in Ali Farka Touré's guitar

Ali Farka Touré was one of the first Malian songwriters to arrange African folk music for acoustic and electric guitar,…

July 20, 2019
Choir
Gershwin's Summertime: the most recorded song draws inspiration from Ukrainian lullaby and African American spiritual

Written by the American composer George Gershwin in 1934, Summertime aria is now the most recorded song in the history…

July 3, 20193 comments
Band
Tinariwen: 40 years of nomadic desert music driven by Ibrahim Ag Alhabib's guitar

Formed by Ibrahim Ag Alhabib in the late 1970s, the African band Tinariwen always had a clear mission to preserve the…

June 19, 2019
Koto
Michio Miyagi & Renée Chemet: near century-old collaboration of koto and violin linking Japanese traditions with Western classic

In the first half of the 20th century, many Asian composers sought a way to represent their cultures on the global…

June 9, 2019
Orchestra
Traditions of 3 countries woven into the music of neglected Asian composer Chiang Wen-Yeh

The life path of the prominent Asian composer Chiang Wen-Yeh is closely connected to the three countries—Taiwan, Japan,…

May 18, 2019
Erhu
The Erhu fiddle melody recorded by blind Abing spread worldwide revealing composition methods of Chinese folk music

One of the most recognizable Chinese folk tunes, Erquan Yingyue, also called The Moon Reflected on the Er-Quan Spring,…

April 21, 2019
Kora
African bard Foday Musa Suso represents griot culture by mixing kora music with Western minimalism and jazz

The most important role in the preservation of tradition in the culture of West Africa has been played by griots…

April 10, 2019
Choir
Māori singing tradition arranged for Rotorua choir by Alfred Hill

The impressive vocal traditions of the Māori people were first reported by Captain James Cook who explored the coast of…

April 3, 2019
Flute
Japanese traditions meet Western avant-garde in reflective tunes of Toshio Hosokawa

Japanese contemporary composer of extraordinary aerial themes, Toshio Hosokawa, draws inspiration from the ancient…

March 1, 2019
Erhu
The renaissance of Chinese Erhu fiddle led by Liu Tianhua

Made from exotic woods and snakeskin, the erhu fiddle is the most common ethnic instrument used in both orchestral and…

February 8, 2019
Santour
Azam Ali's magnificent vocal journeys through languages

In recent decades, the mixing of styles and cultures in popular and classical music has grown into quite a common trend…

December 28, 2018
Ravanahatha
The Ravanahatha: from Hela civilization to the primary instrument of Rajasthani folk

The ravanahatha (also known as ravanhatta or rawanhattha) is an ancient stringed musical instrument that is suggested…

December 21, 20181 comment
Collaboration
Nordic folk fiddle reshapes polished classical sound in the music of Gjermund Larsen

Gjermund Larsen is a Norwegian musician and composer who dedicated his career to the music of his native land. His work…

December 18, 2018
Songwriter
Just Another Diamond Day: the stunning rediscovery of the hippie-era gem

Vashti Bunyan is an English singer and songwriter primarily known for her 1970 album Just Another Diamond Day, which…

November 30, 2018
Songwriter
The timeless tragedy of Molly Malone

Not many songs can boast international recognition of being so deeply and fondly Irish the way Molly Malone does. Also…

October 12, 2018
Collaboration
Literary recital for fiddle and harmonium with British flavour

A rare duo that brings together two of Britain's foremost folk and jazz artists was formed by a Scottish fiddler Aidan…

August 31, 2018
Songwriter
Voice of Wassoulou preserves the ancient roots of West Africa

Oumou Sangaré is a Malian singer regarded as the greatest female voice in modern African music. She began her career as…

August 21, 2018
Collaboration
Harp traditions of two continents united in a unique collaboration

Senegal and Wales share few obvious similarities, but Seckou Keita and Catrin Finch, respectively maestros of the kora…

August 14, 2018
OUD
Endless possibilities for one of the world’s oldest instruments

Joseph Tawadros was born in Cairo, Egypt in 1983 and moved to Australia three years later. Several members of his…

August 5, 2018
Orchestra
'English Dances' creator was fascinated by jazz in youth

Sir Malcolm Henry Arnold (1921–2006), British composer and conductor, has an impressive body of work to his name,…

August 4, 2018
Fiddle
Fresh take on the The Isle of Man folk tradition

The Isle of Man, or Mann, is an island in the Irish Sea which small but proud nation can boast a vast cultural heritage…

July 17, 2018
Songwriter
Ghosts of past wars alive in the Lowlands of Holland

The Lowlands of Holland is a popular British folk song that depicts a young widow mourning her husband whose ship was…

July 16, 2018
Violin
Scottish fiddle tradition elevated by guitar ornamentation

Duncan Chisholm is a contemporary Scottish fiddle composer whose interpretations of traditional Highland music are…

July 4, 2018
Songwriter
Ursula Le Guin as told through English alt-folk

Alt-folk band This Is the Kit is a project started by the British musician Kate Stables that comes to life through…

June 29, 2018
Violin
Sweet little waltz from a traveling Swedish fiddler

Early Swedish music was primarily characterized by ballads and kulning, songs typically sung by women for the purpose…

June 12, 2018
Guitar
Classical flamenco duo rising from Mexican heavy metal band

Internationally acclaimed Mexican acoustic duo Rodrigo y Gabriela plays unique instrumental blend of flamenco, jazz,…

June 6, 2018
Harp
The Celtic Baroque roots of Stairway to Heaven

Irish musician Turlough O'Carolan (1670-1738) is considered to be a pioneer in blending court music of the Baroque era…

May 14, 20186 comments
Fiddle
The jig dance tradition: five centuries old and still counting

Jig is a folk dance that became popular in Scotland and northern England in the 16th century and in Ireland in the 18th…

May 1, 2018