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What
's Folk?
Folk arts are those deeply
held cultural expressions -- music, crafts, cuisine, stories
and dance -- passed down through time by families, communities,
tribal, ethnic and occupational groups.
It is art that grows from our cultural roots, wherever our families
came from.
More specifically, the National Endowment for the Arts defines
Folk & Traditional Arts this way:
"The folk and traditional arts are rooted in and reflective
of the cultural life of a community. Community members may share
a common ethnic heritage, language, religion, occupation, or
geographic region. These vital and constantly reinvigorated artistic
traditions are shaped by values and standards of excellence that
are passed from generation to generation, most often within family
and community, through demonstration, conversation, and practice.
Genres of artistic activity include, but are not limited to,
music, dance, crafts, and oral expression."
The programming of the National Folk Festival reflects the richness
of these roots embracing the heritage and traditions of all Americans,
from those families that have been here for centuries to the
traditions of our nation's most recent immigrants.
Music and dance from all over the country are performed by the
country's very best traditional artists, each representing their
own cultural traditions. Legendary masters as well as the next
generation of dynamic young artists celebrate the musical soul
and cultural roots of America.
What kinds of music can you expect at the National Folk Festival?
To name a few styles: Blues, Bluegrass, Rockabilly, Carribean,
Klezmer, Jazz, Cowboy, Polka, Cajun, Tamburitza, Old-Time, Mariachi,
Western Swing, Honky-Tonk, Rhythm and Blues, Zydeco, Native American,
African, Middle Eastern, Asian, Appalachian, Hispanic, Eastern
European, Celtic and Pacific Islander. |
