Should "Folksongs" always imply "Songs"?

Any posts related to the categorization and standardization of IMSLP

Moderators: vinteuil, Davydov

Post Reply
Ansa211
Posts: 4
Joined: Thu Aug 29, 2019 10:16 pm
notabot: 42
notabot2: Human

Should "Folksongs" always imply "Songs"?

Post by Ansa211 »

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?
Backfire_22
Posts: 12
Joined: Fri Oct 18, 2019 7:10 am
notabot: 42
notabot2: Human

Re: Should "Folksongs" always imply "Songs"?

Post by Backfire_22 »

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.
Eric
active poster
Posts: 844
Joined: Wed Oct 31, 2007 6:04 pm
notabot: 42
notabot2: Human
Location: Ithaca, NY
Contact:

Re: Should "Folksongs" always imply "Songs"?

Post by Eric »

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.
Post Reply