Tan Dun, a Chinese composer based in the United States, wove folk melodies of China into his "Symphony 1997; Heaven, Earth, Mankind." In his composition, he used the huge set of bronze bells ,excavated from the tomb (433 B. C.) of Marquis Yi, known as a bianzhong, a legacy from 24 centuries ago. The instrument has a range of five octaves, each bell capable of sounding two pitches. The bells are designed to perform a twelve-tone chromatic scale within each of its five octaves. Decorated with gold inlay, the bells are perfectly preserved (From notes to the cd). The set was moved to Hong Kong for the celebration of the return of Hong Kong to China, and are included prominently in the symphony. Yo-Yo Ma was the featured cellist in the work. The Chinese folksong "Jasmine Flower," used by Puccini in Turandot, appears in the section "Heaven."

I am sure that folk songs will continue to be used by composers.