Folk Music is defined as music that originates from ordinary people from a specific region which is passed from generation to generation orally. As such, the beginning of “folk music” albeit the lack of the term will undoubtedly trace back to the beginning of mankind. There is belief that the “Troubadours” that performed in cities and towns throughout the 1100’s-1600’s were the first performers of “folk music”. The unfortunate issue is that many of the works were lost or destroyed throughout history and therefore many of the historical documentation required did not survive or is no longer available.

However, throughout my recent journey of research I have found the actual word “folk music” to have it’s earliest newspaper reference was in the 1800’s. In 1870 The Evening Telegraph from Philadelphia Pennsylvania introduced the word “folk-music” in an article that was discussing the history of European art such as plays and social life. The article then attributes the history of playing folk music to Scotland and Germany and then discusses how beautiful folk music is. In 1889 The Evening Star from Washington D.C. wrote an review in there magazine for the “Swedish Ladies Concert” who sing folk-music from the Scandanivis and remarked how well the ladies sang without instruments. They then proceed to say that this concert will again be played tonight. Many articles through this time referred to folk music in the sense of Indian or Negro works that gave the listeners the opportunity to hear foreign music here at home. One article was even so bold to claim and I paraphrase that “it was strange that the only folk-music we have is from the slaves” and that was presented from “The Courier” located in Lincoln, Nebraska in 1897.

After more research that left the realm of “folk music” and the use of keywords such as of “folk” and “songs” “historical songs” I found a gem. There was a published work and was from a Russian artist Nikolay Lvov. He actually published the “Collection of Russian Folk Songs with their tunes” in the 18th Century and was sponsored by the royal government of Russia. This is important because it shows that “folk music” was real and even the government understood the  significance. The bases for folk music in the later 18th century was a discussion of nationalistic pride as Lvov attempted to present.

Towards the 19th century Americans began to not only embrace folk music of their europeans ancestors but also created their own unique folk music. As such, folk music began to remind travelers of home – especially during the civil war. There is a story that was promoted by General Winfield Hancock’s wife Almira in her book about her husband about how a song “Kathleen Mauvourneen” brought tears to General Lewis Armistead. It was said that this song reminded the old friends of better times before they would go off to serve different armies throughout the civil war.

Sources used to collect information:

Google Books
ProQuest Historical Newspapers
Chronicling America at Library of Congress

Books:

Reminiscences of Winfield Scott Hancock – Almira Hancock 1887

Magazines:

The Evening Telegraph – Philadelphia, PA 1870

The Evening Star – Washington, DC 1889

The Courier – Lincoln, NE 1897