The Distinction between Folk and Popular Music

Abstract

I have only twice before had the temerity to speak at a Conference of the IFMC. This will be my third and last time. I feel I owe my audience an apology because my subject will be the same as on previous occasions and I have little to say that has not already been said many times. But the subject is such an important one that it is good to be constantly reminded of the problems. For the last two hundred years, in fact ever since the awareness of folk song emerged during the Romantic period, scholars have argued over the definition of folk song. As Goethe said: “Man schreibt so oft den Namen Volkslieder aus und weiss nicht immer ganz deutlich was man sich dabei denken soil.” And if that were true in Goethe's time how much truer is it today when little distinction is drawn by the general public between folk and popular song.

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