Folk music
Date: 2015-10-07; view: 490.
In the same way that cultures have their own festivals, they also have their own traditional folk music: a particular style of music that uses different instruments.
Unlike other kinds of music, folk music usually develops in local communities. Even in one country, different areas, cities and villages often have their own distinctive styles. For example, the traditional music of Cairo is different from the music of other parts of Egypt. Distinctive styles developed because, in the past, most people were born and lived their lives in one village or one small area. Music was individual, not influenced by music from other areas.
Today, most modern music is written as entertainment. Most folk music, however, has a special purpose. Folk songs, for example, were made up to describe important historical events, to help people get through their day's work, or to sing babies to sleep. Until recent times, folk music was not written down. Children learnt it from their families, friends or neighbours.
The musical instruments used in folk also vary from place to place. The people of Upper Egypt, for example, often play the rababah, an instrument like a violin; the simsimiyya is the instrument of the Suez area. The oud is common in the folk music of Cairo. Once, it was taken to Europe, where it evolved into a number of modern Instruments.
Today, travel and modern technology have made it possible for anyone to listen to music not just from other areas, but from other cultures around the world. Because of this, distinctive folk music could disappear in future. With this in mind, it is our responsibility to do everything we can to protect the traditional music of our countries, our regions and our communities.
Definitions:
| celebrate | to do something special because it is a special occasion, or because something good has happened |
| drum (n) | a round musical instrument which you play by hitting it with your hand or a stick |
| fireworks | small objects that explode or bum with a coloured light, used for celebrating special events |
| landmark | something that helps you recognise where you are, such as a famous building |
| mark (v) | to show that something is happening, especially an important event or change |
| position (n) | the place where someone or something is in relation to other things |
| procession | a line of people or vehicles moving slowly as part of a ceremony |
| distinctive | showing a person or thing to be different from others |
| event | something that happens, especially something important, interesting or unusual· |
| evolve | to develop or make something develop gradually |
| folk | traditional and typical of the ordinary people who live in a particular area |
| responsibility | if something is your responsibility, it is your duty to make sure that it is done |
| vary | if things of the same type vary, they are all different from each other |
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