The Profound Influence of Culture on Musical Thought and Folk Music

This essay delves into the significant influence of culture on folk music, arguing that music is more than just a collection of harmonious notes but a profound expression of cultural sentiments. It examines how historical events, such as World War II, and socio-political climates, like dissent against government policies, are reflected in music. The essay also explores how cultural preferences, such as the Chinese youth's affinity for Western music, symbolize deeper desires for freedom. It references Timothy Taylor's perspective on cultural imperialism and the impact of Western culture on global music. Furthermore, the essay highlights how cultural narratives, like the romanticism associated with France, add defining features to specific music genres. Ultimately, it concludes that culture is indispensable in shaping and defining music as we know it today, providing a crucial context for understanding its diverse forms and expressions.

Running head: INFLUENCE OF CULTURE ON FOLK MUSIC
Influence of Culture on Folk Music
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1INFLUENCE OF CULTURE ON FOLK MUSIC
Music is not just a harmonious compendium of sonorous notes assembled to give shape
to a composition which shall sound very pleasant to the ears (Bohlman 2002). Music is way
beyond than the form it can be perceived, it is quintessentially an expression of the culture of a
particular region of the world (Myers 1992). The emotions, the narrations, the imageries that
form a part and parcel of a particular genre of music, is but a reflection of the cultural sentiments
(Rice 2014). This essay shall be discussing about the influence culture has on music.
The music that was in vogue in the United States of America at around the time in history
when the Second World War took place reflects a sense of nationalist and patriotic sentiments
(Wade 2013). The hostile political and social conditions that had engulfed a major portion of the
world in both direct and indirect ways also found expression in music (Lomax 2017). That
sentiment got replaced during the post war period by the spirit of dissent against the US
Government’s overseas expeditions and the foreign policy decisions which was plain and simply
wreaking havoc across the world (Cohen 2017). The aggression and the harsh words found in the
musical compositions of Beatles band symbolized that discontentment. Music was no more a
source of entertainment. It became a medium by which protest began to be conveyed at the level
of civil society, using a non-violent and non-disruptive approach. It can also happen that
preference for a particular kind of music can be reflective of the cultural sentiments of a
particular region. For instance, the liking for Western Music amongst Chinese youth is not just a
matter of its popularity, but an indication of the heart-felt yearning for more freedom and
openness which their government does not permit. Amidst the perpetual climate of repression,
they have found their way of feeling at being free by developing fascination for Hollywood
music (Vulliamy 2017). The usage of stringed musical instruments and a selected few percussion
instruments in middle-eastern music is due to the permissibility issues necessitated by the

2INFLUENCE OF CULTURE ON FOLK MUSIC
dominant islamic faith of the region. Timothy Taylor had opine that the prime factor behind the
world wide popularity of western music, especially that of American and British music can be
attributed to the effect of cultural imperialism that those countries exert on the world. It is a well
known fact that adopting western lifestyle in terms of thought, actions and imbibition of cultural
traits is considered to be the hallmark of progressiveness. That factor has also been made
possible because of colonial occupation of Asia, Africa and Latin America by Western powers,
and also because of the emergence of USA as the sole super power in the world after the end of
the cold war. He had also criticized the lack of importance given to the cultural aspect of music
in the American context, owing to the overwhelming emphasis on individualism (Cox and
Warner 2017). The images of romanticism conjures up in the mind at the mere mention of
France, a country associated with passion and love. Gerard Philip had toiled hard to produce
masterpieces to keep that legacy of the place alive. He had created sensation not only in the
country with an exuberant undertone of redefining romance, but also all over the world. His
compositions had added a new dimension to how the world viewed French Romance (Gebesmair
2017).
Thus it becomes very clear that the cultural narrative is no less important in adding a
defining feature to a particular genre of music associated with a particular ethnicity. Without
culture, music would not have been the way we perceive it today.

3INFLUENCE OF CULTURE ON FOLK MUSIC
References
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Cohen, S., 2017. Decline, renewal and the city in popular music culture: Beyond the Beatles.
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Gebesmair, A., 2017. Global repertoires: Popular music within and beyond the transnational
music industry. Routledge.
Lomax, A., 2017. Folk song style and culture. Routledge.
Myers, Helen. 1992. ‘Ethnomusicology’, in Ethnomusicology: An Introduction ed. Helen
Meyers. London: Macmillan, 3–18.
Rice, Timothy. 2014. Ethnomusicology: A Very Short Introduction. New York: Oxford
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Vulliamy, G., 2017. Music and the Mass Culture Debate 1. In Whose Music? (pp. 179-200).
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Wade, Bonnie. 2013. Thinking Musically: Experiencing Music, Expressing Culture, 3rd edn.
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