Types and genres of folk songs

Folk songs are those legends, music and words of which appeared during the development of a certain culture. In most cases these songs do not have an author, since they were composed by the people. All existing genres of folk songs can not be enumerated. But about the most basic you can learn from this article.

At school, children are given the basics of folklore in music and literature classes. About what kind of genre of folk songs, 4 class learns there. Teachers conduct general education lessons, on each of which children are acquainted with a certain type of folk art. Particular emphasis is placed on the genres of folk songs, examples of which students are trying to find in reality.

About the homeland

Probably the very first songs that appeared on Earth are songs about the homeland. They head the section "genres of folk songs". Examples of such creativity can be found in the culture of the peoples of France, Germany, England and Scotland.

Songs about the homeland, in turn, are divided into:

- ballads;

- epics;

- historical songs;

- fables.

The first type of folk songs bears in itself a somber character. Their content was clear, clear and consistent. The appearance of the very first ballads is attributed to the Middle Ages, in Russia this genre appeared only in the XIX century.

The most famous examples of this type of songs are: "Gromval", "Lyudmila", "Sun and Month", "Airship", "Song of the Wise Oleg".

Bylins also appeared in the Middle Ages and mean "a story, according to the facts". A vivid example is "The Lay of Igor's Host". The basis of such songs were stories about everyday objects and some facts of history.

The content of historical songs included all kinds of historical events that occurred with the people. But this type of creativity ended its existence in the XIX century, as it was superseded by new emerging folk forms of folklore. These songs displayed events dating back to the second half of the 14th century. ("Taking Kazan", "The Oversight of the Cossacks", "Poltava") and until the end of World War II.

Fables were some type of songs that combined all the previous ones, only they were written in comic form and had no real relation to history.

Workers

Working or labor songs were created very, very long time to facilitate the work of workers. In the same spirit, people composed some more genres of folk songs. Work tunes were performed with a certain rhythm and intonation, which encouraged people to work actively. Most often they were attended by certain cries and repetitions. In the song there were jokes, which cheered people up.

The most vivid and memorable example of this genre is "Eh, uhnem!". The rhythm of the song itself is made in such a way that it is connected with the uniformity of movements during work.

About love

The type of songs about love is included in a special section "genres of folk songs". Lyrical motifs of this type of creativity are most often performed by the female sex, only in the most rare cases it happens to be a chorus of men. The main types of songs about love:

- wedding;

- lamentations;

- Pestles.

Wedding songs were the basis of every family, because everyone knew them. Such a great holiday was accompanied by various songs, both sad, about the parting of the daughter with the parental home, and the merry, which prophesied a young happy life. Singing love songs started even on the girls' party.

The genre of lamentation is a song that carried a tragic content and was accompanied by a sad melody. This type of folk art combined not only songs about unrequited love or love at a distance, but also it could be song stories about some deplorable event.

Pestushki can be attributed to the genre of songs about love and the genre of lullabies, as they began to sing their mother to their children in the cradle. These songs praised the child, wished him health and happiness in his life.

Round dance and dance

Round dance and dance are the most fun and favorite genres of Russian folk songs. Examples of this type have been preserved in a very large number: "Millet", "On Ivanushka chapan", "I do not thank you, Abbess you", "At the gate, the gate of Father", "Katenka cheerful."

Round dance and dance songs consist of an invitation to dance (round dance), the action itself and the final part of it.

These genres of folk songs carried a satirical content, which was associated with dancing and poetry. For a while this type of creativity was a kind of magical ritual ritual. But over the years these songs have lost their relevance and have become just a way of entertainment on holidays. Most often, dances were taken in the spring, as it was believed that it was possible to call for warmth, less often people were entertained in the summer, as there was enough work. But the winter gatherings ended with very fast dances and songs.

About nature

The nature of Russia is very rich and diverse, respectively, and songs about it simply can not be counted. Farmers and plowmen came up with these songs in their spare time, as they wanted to take a break from work, and they were always among the living nature.

Many genres of folk songs, calendar-ritual, labor, soldiers, attribute this kind of songs to the subsection of their main. But this is not a correct judgment at all. There are a lot of songs about nature, they draw a parallel between nature itself and the existence of man, as well as the created world around him. There is no place for work or military disassembly, or any celebrations. They are created only to tell about all the beauty around the working people.

Therefore, songs about nature are independent phenomenon and can not be a part of any of the sections "genres of Russian folk songs". Examples of songs about nature simply do not count: "Snow white, fluffy," "Listen, the lark", "The sun descends the steppe," "Spring. Big water "," Evening ringing ".

Ritualistic

The calendar-ritual songs accompanied the Russian people for a very long time, as they were performed at all seasons and regardless of holidays or weather. This kind of folklore has existed for more than two thousand years. There are a lot of subspecies of this genre:

- Winter songs (carols);

- spring (spring);

- Summer (songs on Ivan Kupala);

- Songs of plowing and sowing, harvesting;

- Ascension songs;

- Maslenichnye.

This list can be continued for a long time, because these are the most common genres of Russian folk songs. Examples of ritual songs have survived to this day, they are taught at music lessons in the 4th grade. They are "Koleda-Moleda", "Sow girls of linen", "Sequence of wreaths".

Chastushki

For Russian culture there are various funny motifs and a variety of genres of folk songs. Class 4, for example, without fail learns ditties and does it with great pleasure, since these are very easy quatrains that have musical accompaniment. In ancient times, these songs were composed by rural youth and performed on various walks to a balalaika or accordion. Over time, chastushki have become more domesticated and have a display even in today's culture.

There is an opinion that the first chastushki appeared in the XVII century. But they were more like satirical poems, not songs.

Chastushki include other genres of folk songs:

- lyrical (with a variety of content);

- suffering (about love);

- matanya (appeal to the beloved / noma);

- dance (the most common satirical version of the chastushkas).

Lullabies

The most lyrical genre of folk songs is considered to be a lullaby. Even from ancient times it was believed that they are performed by either mothers or babysitting to their children for their lulling. Music accompaniment is required by all previous genres of folk songs. Lullaby songs are performed a capella.

This genre of song is a kind of child's guard from evil forces. It was believed that in a dream you can see terrible creatures, ghosts or just unpleasant events, but when the child opened his eyes - it all disappeared. That is why in some lullabies you can hear frightening words, for example "a gray top will come and bite a barrel".

Soldiers

Soldier's songs are a part of a larger genre - walking songs. They also include Burlak, Chumak, workers (if this work is far from home) and yamschitskie.

The first soldier's songs appeared together with the Cossacks in the XVII century. Since this phenomenon was new (new living conditions and traditions), the songs were able to fully reflect the events of those years. The main themes of such songs: military-historical events, which paint in paints everything that is happening, the creation of images of heroes. Soldiers' folklore told about military actions truthfully and severely, but this did not mean that soldiers and Cossacks did not invent humorous songs.

These genres of folk songs with examples have been preserved until today in very large numbers. It is "Lights ignited beyond the Liao River", "We are known by the Turks and the Swedes", "Poltava battle", "Hurray to the Tsar - the Father of Russia", "Raven horses are bursting".