Key Stage 3 Music - Folk Music

Lesson 1


Lesson Objectives

  • Begin to learn some of the main musical features of traditional Folk Music through listening and performance/ensemble tasks.
  • Learn how to sing part of a folk song with others.

Happy Birthday

  • How do we know this song?
  • When would we sing it?
  • Why?
  • What are the words?
  • What's the tune?
  • How did you learn it?

What is Folk music?

  • Based on Tradition and Culture.
  • Was known as the music of the lower classes.
  • The composer was often unknown.
  • Passed down through the generations.
  • Aural tradition - learnt by ear - no sheet music!
  • Form of entertainment the lower class could participate in (dancing, singing, playing instruments).
  • Didn't need to be educated to learn Folk songs.

What was the function/purpose of Folk Music?

  • To relieve boring, repetitive working class jobs, such as farming and hard labour.
  • Folk songs would be sung to keep workers in high spirits and motivated to completed the job.

What are the Musical Features of Folk Music?

  • Repetitive Melody line - easy to remember
  • Simple chords.
  • 4/4 and 6/8 time signatures.
  • Use of scales - Major/minor, Pentatonic scales and Modes.
  • Lyrics - sung using their accent and to tell a story 
  • Some Folk songs would be purely instrumental (i.e. Irish Jigs).
  • Instruments include voice, guitar, flute, tin whistle, banjo, bagpipes, spoons!


Wild Rover Lyrics


I've been a wild rover for many a year

And I spent all my money on whiskey and beer,

And now I'm returning with gold in great store

And I never will play the wild rover no more.


chorus:

And it's no, nay, never,

No nay never no more,

Will I play the wild rover

No never no more.

I went to an ale-house I used to frequent

And I told the landlady my money was spent.

I asked her for credit, she answered me "nay

Such a custom as yours I could have any day."


chorus

I took from my pocket ten sovereigns bright

And the landlady's eyes opened wide with delight.

She said "I have whiskey and wines of the best

And the words that I spoke sure were only in jest."


chorus

I'll go home to my parents, confess what I've done

And I'll ask them to pardon their prodigal son.

And if they caress (forgive) me as offtimes before

Sure I never will play the wild rover no more.

chorus




Plenary - Discuss in pairs/groups....

What is Folk music?

What is the function of Folk Music?

Name 2 instruments that are used to play Folk Music.

How is Folk Music passed down through generations?