People
influential classic blues singer known for her rural folk blues style recordings
Ma Rainey
A standard pattern of chord changes applied to each stanza of text in blues lyrics
12 bar blues
a musical pattern repeated over and over
ostinato
songs that were used to coordinate the actions of workers and lift spirits or build a sense of community under exceptionally trying conditions
work songs
first instrument to be standard accompaniment to the blues
guitar
known for his blue-yodel and recorded over 100 country music songs.
Jimmie Rodgers
contrasting verses are punctuated by a returning chorus section that is repeated throughout the song.
Verse and chorus form
a pattern of contrasts that emerges as a result of a lead vocalist singing and another person or group responding. This can also occur between instrumental and vocal groups.
call and response
Blues-inflected music from Louisiana that features the accordion and frottoir
Zydeco
Tito Puente was famous for playing this percussion instrument
timbales
cross-over artist known for her country and pop music.
Patsy Cline
a type of ballad that was imported from a different country and has adopted text and/or music of regions in the United States.
naturalized ballad
nonsensical syllables or utterances that are used in an ornamental fashion.
vocables
In American Indian music, a prayer song for the recover of good health and well-being.
healing songs
percussive instrument made of corrugated sheet metal that hangs across the chest. It is scraped rhythmically with hand held metal objects.
Frottior, rug board, wash board
radio show host of Moondog Rock'n' Roll Party that first used the term "rock 'n' roll"
Allan Freed
In Mexican and Mexican-American cultures this is a narrative, epic, strophic song that usually tells a story.
corrido
clave
Spanish religious folk song performed with highly ornamented, unharmonized melody
alabado
the technique of sliding over the strings of the guitar with the broken top of a bottle that is worn over the finger.
bottleneck style
Asian American artist known for music advocacy & combining Asian music traditions with American Traditions
Nobuko Miyamoto
a type of ballad that incorporates wholly new stories that are indigenous to the United States.
native ballad
an awareness of the impact of folk music in urban environments, usually within the framework of inspiring people for social, economic, and/or political action
Folk Consciousness
one of two types of gospel. It is less commercial, often performed in churches, and is concerned with moving the congregation toward religious ecstasy.
traditional gospel
the basic musical ensemble in Indonesian music.
gamelan