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Folk Songs
Bohemia
Of all the Slavic countries Bohemia has the most cheerful and light-hearted folk-songs. Many of them have a very graceful character, as for example the first of the two songs hereafter quoted; others a dance like quality expressive of pure animal spirits and gay, healthy feeling.
Folk Songs
Denmark
The first of the following Danish songs is a fatherland song dear to the hearts of all Danes composed by Henrik Rung. The second is a true folk-song.
Folk Songs
England
The songs of the British Isles are considerably diversified, owing to the mingling of various races, and differences of physical geography. The songs of England, on the whole, are less wild and introspective than those of Ireland or Scotland.
Folk Songs
Folk Songs History
ALL the great ,composers have gained inspiration from the music of their people, their folk, whence this music derives its name; from melodies created by musicians, most of them anonymous, whose names do not figure impressively in histories and dictionaries, but whose simple and beautiful songs have outlived the passing of generations, brought comfort, healed sorrow, and made for better understanding and brotherhood among men.
Folk Songs
France
French folk-songs differ strongly in character, according to the district from which they come.
Folk Songs
Iceland
he Icelandic folk-song here quoted was taken down from the singing of an Icelander (probably of Rejkiavik) in the year 1843. It is a narrative song in the manner of a saga, or wonder-tale.
Folk Songs
Ireland
Ireland has produced some of the most beautiful, varied, and imaginative folk-music in the world. The best Irish melodies may be described as nobly pathetic; strong in human appeal; or filled with a heroic quality which cannot die.
Folk Songs
Italy
This is the land which inspired Mignon's song, the land of sunshine, beauty, and noble art tradition. Its folk-songs reflect and express this graceful and beauty loving spirit, and are characterized by a most seductive charm.
Folk Songs
Norway
The mountain pastures of Norway are known by the name of saeters. To the saeters the cattle of the lower lands are transported for the whole time during which they are available.
Folk Songs
Russia
The songs of Russia are of infinite variety and meaning. The Slav is one of the most musical of all peoples. It is not easy to classify in a few words the many varieties of Russian songs.
Folk Songs
Scandinavia
The outstanding characteristic of Scandinavian songs is an elemental strength, a native ruggedness. A song expressive of sadness is characterized not so much by the human emotion of sorrow as by that mystical and awesome feeling which comes from being much alone with wild nature.
Folk Songs
Scotland
What Thomas Moore did for Irish folk-music Robert Burns had done for Scotch folk-music some time previously. He wrote truly poetical verses of a folklike character for many of the traditional Scottish airs.
Folk Songs
Spain
Few countries have a more picturesque past and a more fascinating and individual type of folk-music than Spain.
Folk Songs
Sweden
The Nacks are water-sprites supposed by some to be enchanted human beings. The Nack dwells in lakes and rivers, and plays on a harp or a viol while anxiously waiting for redemption and deliverance.
Folk Songs
United States
Folk-songs which are wholly and inseparably a product of the life of the American nation are the supremely beautiful and pathetic melodies originated by the African slaves.
Folk Songs
Wales
The folk-music of Wales probably contains musical fragments of greater antiquity than are to be found else-where in the British Isles, for Wild Wales, as one of the ancient bards calls it, was the last stronghold of the original inhabitants of Britain.
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