folk melody
Passed-down musical theme
A folk melody is a tune associated with traditional or folk music—songs passed down through oral tradition rather than formal composition.
Folk melodies tend toward simplicity and memorability, often featuring pentatonic scales or modal structures that predate modern harmony: The composer wove folk melodies into his symphony.
The term sometimes distinguishes the melodic line from lyrics or arrangement.
- traditionalFollowing long-held customs
- old worldEvoking earlier times
- handed downPassed to successors
- balladNarrative poem or song
- tuneMusical sequence of notes
fiddle · penny whistle · jig · reel · country dance · haunting · pastoral · homeland · hearth · lullaby · dance · sea shanty · village · accordion · ancient · oral · mother tongue · heritage
- melodytune, theme, air, phrase, motif
- Bosnian musictraditional music, love songs, mountain songs, wedding music, epic songs
- Hindustani musicraga, dhrupad, tabla, sitar, lay
- folk brassoompah, brass band, polka, tuba, trombone
folk melodyclassical composition
Formal orchestral or chamber work
symphony · art song · written music · chamber music · lieder
folk, melody, folks, folksy, folky, folkish, folklore, folksong, folktale