German folk
Deutschfolk is a term for folk music that comes from German-language sources. This style was particularly popular in the 1970s. The term "Deutschfolk" is mainly used in the sense of a (subjectively perceived) resurgence of German-speaking folk music around 2000.
German folk songs and newer art songs with folk song character are sung analogously to the interpreters of Irish folk music or American songwriters , but often with their instruments. In addition, many bands have dances of German or other origin. Instruments that are frequently used include plucked instruments such as the guitar , mandolin , bouzouki , and more rarely also violin and accordion or other instruments from traditional folk music .
Deutschfolk was created around 1970 as part of the popularization of Irish, Scottish and American songs in Germany. At that time, numerous German folk musicians wanted to sing songs in their mother tongue in addition to adapting English-language folk music or the music of other countries. The initial distance between the post-war period and German folk songs was overcome. The rise of folk music in the GDR began a few years later.
In contrast to folk music, the interpreters of the Deutschfolk do not try to reproduce dance melodies and songs. Instead, especially in the 1970s, they played their music for a politically often left-wing alternative audience. The interpreters benefited from the predominant German language, which made it easier to convey political messages. At the same time, folk music was practiced by broad circles, especially young people. Numerous song books with German and foreign texts that were widely distributed were published. Around 1980 this trend subsided.
In the 21st century, some German folk artists are propagating a "Deutschfolk Revival", ie a return of the German folk song with the aforementioned instruments to the public consciousness.
See also
literature
- Tom Kannmacher : The German folk song in the folk song and songwriting scene since 1970 . In: Jahrbuch für Volksliedforschung , Vol. 23 (1978), pp. 33-42, ISSN 0075-2789
- Florian Steinbiß : Deutschfolk - In search of the lost tradition. The return of the folk song . Fischer-Taschenbuchverlag, Frankfurt / M. 1984, ISBN 3-596-22988-X .
- Jürgen Frey, Kaarel Siniveer: A History of Folk Music . Rowohlt, Reinbek 1987, ISBN 3-499-17693-9 .