Music: An Appreciation, 10th Edition (Kamien)

Chapter 11: Hector Berlioz

Folk Tradition and Art Music

Pretend you are a collector of folk songs within your own tradition, and that you need to decide which songs will be preserved. Remember that many songs in your environment as you grew up are traditional: playground, lullaby, patriotic, and religious songs are often traditional songs that speak for your own cultural milieu. Answer the following questions:

1. Which songs that you heard as a child would you want to save, and why?
2. What do these songs tell us about your culture?
3. Describe the musical elements (such as melody and rhythm) in these songs.
4. If you were an art music composer as well as a folk music collector (as Béla Bartók was), would you impart only the flavor of these tunes in your music as Bartók did, or would you incorporate the actual folk songs in your music?