IMSLP Forums

The Folksongs category is described as This includes works which make use of authentic folk melodies. As I understand the description, it is meant for instrumental arrangements/renditions of folk melodies as well as actual folk songs written for unaccompanied voice.

When a work is tagged with this category, it is automatically included in the Songs category as well, which is described as This includes all solo vocal works that are not specifically classified as any other type of vocal work. That description does not encourage inclusion of purely instrumental works (even though it does not say that such works may not be included).

I find the automatic inclusion of the Folksongs category in the Songs category contrary to the descriptions; maybe the latter should be extended to say This includes all solo vocal works that are not specifically classified as any other type of vocal work as well as works that make substantial use of melodies of existing songs. or something like that?

That's an interesting point to raise, it's true that many pieces of folk music aren't necessarily songs (although they often end up with at least 8 recorded apocryphal lyrics sets!), for example, the short guitar track "Цыганочка" (Little Gipsy girl) that's popular in Russia.

Well, we also apply "lieder" to any composition so-described even if it's for piano solo, and this in turn implies songs, which is ok too. Remember that songs without words are a Thing. The description of the category "Songs" needs changing.