The term of traditional music indicates the whole of the musics which are strongly bound or associated with a Folklore, to a religious Culture national or , even in an geographical area.

• the oral transmission : the melodies are learned from ear, or by imitation of the fingers

• the presence of the song, which is sometimes even at the origin of the instrumental practice
• Of the rates/rhythms or accents associated with dances
• the importance with the melody on the accompaniment, sometimes very summary (bumblebee)
• the importance of the ornamentation, from phrased, the stamp, which seeks often to imitate the song
• Their presences in the village f4etes, marriages, etc
• Of the airs sometimes utility : agricultural work, accompaniment of rites, etc
• a permanent evolution which takes into account the possibilities and the tastes of each time: the choice of the instruments evolves/moves, the melodies, their interpretations, etc

Traditional musics

In France

One distinguishes several great units from traditional, close musics by their cultural bases. These musics are more or less convergent with the language (language of oc, language of oil, Celtic language) spoken.

Thus, the traditional music most known, is the music Bretonne, which actually comes from Low Brittany (or Breton-speaking Brittany).

In addition, music of the center, being able to be refined in music of Auvergne, the Morvan, Berry, Bourbonnais. Close relations by their repertory, the type of dance and their instruments, except for the relatively particular Auvergnate music, and having essaimé everywhere in country of language of oil. One thus finds it in the Vendée, High Brittany (Brittany Gallicante, or Gallo country), Flanders Gallicante and Wallonia, Picardy; with local characteristics, of course. Lastly, the music of language of Oc, occitane, Catalan woman, etc This alive music was largely influenced during the popular migrations with XIXe and XXe centuries; one finds repertories common of the La Rochelle to Dijon, while passing by Rennes and Lille.

Remain some cultural basins with a music characteristics, in Alsace, Flanders-Frenchwoman, or in the Alps.

Each one of these culture includes in the instruments used a Cornemuse, and/or a Accordéon (arrived from Italy at the beginning of the century). One can associate with it according to the areas a flute, violin, hurdy-gurdy with wheel, bombards, percussion.

• Breton Music

• Music auvergnate
• Music limousine
• Aquitanian Music
• Corsican Music
• Basque Music
• Music of the Nord-Pas-de-Calais
• Music landaise

In Europe

• the Celtic musics (Brittany, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Galicia)
• Scandinavian musics (Norway, Sweden, Finland)
• musics of the balkans (Bulgaria, Romania, Macedonia, Greece…)
• the music Klezmer

In Morocco

• Berber Music

In the Middle East

• Dabkeh

Places or one can hear today traditional musics in France

• Festivals, in particular Lorient, St Chartier, Novels (organized by the group Empi and Riaume )
• In the bars: one finds sometimes sessions of music Irishwoman, Breton, or centers France.
• In the Balls folk, Balls trad or Fest Noz, generally in village halls, sometimes in outside.
• Concert halls.

See too

• traditional Song
• Irish traditional Music
• Berber Music
• Breton traditional Music
• Music klezmer
• Turkish Music
• Latin Music
• Music folk
• Old-time music

Random links:

Maurice Faure | Joe Gift Baker | Company of the French speech in Canada | Order of Holy-Catherine | Roads of the Gironde