In 1955 the International Folk Music Council published this definition of Folk Music which I think still holds well.

".... Folk Music is music which has been submitted to the process of oral transmission. It is the product of evolution and is dependend upon the circumstances of continuity, variation and selection. The term can therefore be applied to music that has been evolved from rudimenary beginnings by a community that has been uninfluenced by art music; and it can also be applied to music which has originated with an individual composer and has subsequently been absorbed into the unwritten, living tradition of a community. But the term does not cover song, dance or tune that has been taken-over ready made and remains unchanged. It is the re-fashioning of the music by the community that gives it its folk character...."

Also Scholes in "The Oxford Companion to Music" offers some extremely interesting ideas as to the constitution of Folk Song. He covers these themes: -

Origin and Meaning of the term Nature of Folk Song History of the Folk Music Movement The Words of Folk Songs Composers' use of Folk Tunes Folk Music as the basis of all Music

Another fascinating text is "Essays in the Study of Folk-Songs", published in 1886 by Countesss Martinengo-Cesaresco.

Regards,

Michael Batory michael.batory@bcuc.ac.uk