The Nature of Folk Song in Australia

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Music is a language of emotions that can represent different feelings and pierce them into the soul without boundaries. The brain is always interconnected with music it gives a pleasant mood, relieves stress, and depression. Various types of music could satisfy a human being throughout his life, handling all of their mood swings.

Music therapy is an evidence-based clinical therapy which as enormous proven results in improving people’s life. It is a wonder drug that sets things right. There are various kinds of music available. When it comes to Australia its tradition is related to oral and folkloric. The country has a unique trend of folk songs, their nature will be more interesting to investigate.

1. Evolution 

The folk song tradition was taken into Australia by early Settlers of England, Scotland, and Ireland. Their tradition bought a mix of novel elements including new instruments in their songs. There are no separate instruments available for this type, the musicians themselves craft instruments for their tunes. Some of these works are internationally popular like the didgeridoo of Northern Australia. Many British singers stayed here and included the country’s material in their repertoires.

2. Nature of music

The nature of folk music here was based on distinctive themes and express emotions. They were sung based on the experience of war, drought, and floods. These kinds of songs remain unknown for centuries. Only in the early 1960s, the country received the first international success in the folk-pop group “The Seekers”. This crew after achieving the award for their album they continued to maintain their songs in the same genre. The tunes remain the same but songs continue with a different story. It has the beautiful nature of binding language and literature together.

3. The folk culture

This culture comes within the community and is intrinsic to the existence of its people. They earn existence by living inside the hearts of the people that involve themselves with the songs. The sound or the instruments used to accompany the lyrics represent the fashion opted for the song. Any instrument, including modern-day electronics, might be used to accompany them. It is not the performance of the song that determines its status or its subject. The status depends on how people feel about the song. The relevance is purely for recognition, where a progression of words may be recognized and identified as being shared with another version.

4. Importance

Australians find this genre of music to spend their leisure time. It is said that they spark memories and bring back those sweet old times of life. They are very simple and repetitive. Singing them makes everyone feel competent. The workplaces use this version to engage their staff and reduce their work stress to a great extent. One good source for kids to make them dance and learn at the same time. They not only act as a good source of time pass but also remain very meaningful.

5. Education

Wondering how? Yes, this version of the music is used for educational purposes also. They convey messages so beautifully in a way understandable for all age groups. For example, if a girl reaches her adolescence the songs are spun out in a way that, she gains awareness about what change has happened to her and conveys her duties.

The method of teaching this music differs in Australia. Preservation is very important in these kinds of songs as they are not random ones and they belong to the tradition of the country.

Final thoughts

Over 200 years Australia has grown into a multi-cultural nation. The folk music here has a broader range of influence and coming of age with its modern amalgams of folk, pop, and world music. Australian style of this genre continues to survive in small festivals in religious centers. This tune remains history and understanding them helps to avoid mistakes of the past. Australians mustn’t lose their connection to the past that resides in the teaching and storytelling of folk.