traditional folk music

Traditional folk music is music passed down through generations within a community, typically by ear rather than written notation.

It reflects the cultural identity, history, and daily life of ordinary people—work songs, ballads, dance tunes, lullabies.

The songs often have unknown or collective authorship, having evolved through countless performances: She learned traditional folk music from her grandmother.

The term distinguishes older, orally transmitted repertoire from contemporary folk or folk revival movements.