Folk music in a sense is the roots of the World Music genre.  The traditional songs of cultures around the world come from the oral tradition.  Composers such as Komitas, Bartok, and Kodaly (and many others ) transcribed the folk songs of country dwellers and cultures from around the world.  This started the "flame" that moved accross the world to develop and celebrate the songs and dances of these cultures.

Every culture has its songs as much as its stories.  Folk songs is a deep rooted tradition in everyone's heart.  We all relate back to it.  Songs include topics as weddings, festivals, love, work, and many others.  The songs tell a story like the folk tales.  


The powerful part of folk songs is that since it's from the oral tradition that it evolves as it is passed down.  Komitas has transcribed multiple versions of single songs.
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Many of our generes of modern times, including Rock N' Roll, has its root to Folk songs as well.  Many of these songs are in the same style which includes a guitar or similar instrument and perhaps winds.  Traditionally speaking the instruments where simple to learn and play, however as anything evolves in the modern styles so has the instruments.  Modern music has more eveloved instruments, but also rooted in these simple instruments.
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