Folk music takes us back to the roots of our culture. - Tulsi Kumar
Even though folk music may not be the most popular genre right now, it still has a significant role in each of our cultures and traditions. The majority of cultures have a common practice of using folk songs to tell stories about their country, the natural world, and other important events. What is beautiful is that it is not just the words that offer insight into others cultures, but also the instrumental music, which can convey the mood of the moment.
As you may recall from earlier posts, the kanklės is a traditional folk instrument. It began with folk music and was used in a variety of ceremonies and rituals, including weddings and funerals. It was not until the instrument's development in the 20th century that it started to be used in more mainstream musical contexts, such as jazz, classical, or POP music.
My relationship with folk music has been quite interesting and has changed unexpectedly in the last few years. Unfortunately, I grew up in a generation where mainstream popular music was the most trendy and where folk sounds began to gradually fade away among younger people, so I started disliking it. I remember taking part in a lot of folk music events and feeling quite unhappy. I think one of the reasons I previously disliked the genre is partly because the kanklės have distanced themselves from the folk music scene. After it evolved, the instrument entered the classical music scene and attempted to ''compete'' with all of the other instruments in the genre in the hopes of being treated with the same respect as the piano or harp. Thus, we did eventually achieve recognition in the ''professional'' music scene, but ironically, we also lost touch with folk music, the genre from which it all originated.
It took many years before I started to see folk music in a whole new light. That is primarily due to the way my musical performances have changed over the years that I have been performing live. It is the way I introduce the instrument to the audience. Previously, I would just make a passing reference to the folk heritage before quickly moving on to the instrument's modern life. After years of performing, I now begin my performances with the traditional kanklės, discuss Lithuanian's folk music and traditions slowly and thoroughly, and play folk music from Lithuania, even if that means that no one in the audience will be able to recognise the tune. Above all, I continue to play a lot of classical music, but I do not use it to hide the traditional elements of the instrument's history; rather, I use it to showcase the instrument's capabilities and demonstrate how effectively a traditional folk instrument can be incorporated into the centuries-old Lithuanian folk music.
To be honest, it was through observing other cultures and their musical traditions that I again developed a love for folk music. Take Scottish culture, for instance. Scotland is well known throughout the world for its traditional music, also known as folk music, which has thousands of years of history. This music is still as well-liked and relevant to culture today as it ever was. They take great pride in both their unique music and traditional clothing. Once again, it is amazing to witness how folk music from different cultures can encourage you to reflect on your own.
Traditional music is important for artists who wish to use their musical performances to discuss their countries. You can always use your words to explain your culture, but why not combine them with some original music that is unique to your nation? Folk music and its lyrics can occasionally help us recognise the ways in which people lived and thought before us.
I now find that playing folk music from different cultures on the kanklės is one of the most beautiful moments. Interestingly, the instrument serves as a bridge connecting two entirely distinct nations and heritages. We can see the power of music.
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