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Russian Folk Songs History and Origins Analysis

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Analysis: Russian Folk Songs
Introduction
Songs, as a form of art, have various applications and uses in the wider society. In past
generations, they were predominantly used as educational, inspirational, critique and as well
entertainment platforms. However, specific song categories such as folk songs have appropriate
applications. Essentially, the songs should be interpreted just like other forms of literature. Folk
songs are a particular category that covers an array of musical styles and characteristics (Borjanic
55-56). Actually, it combines aspects from traditional aspects, western, Cajun, Zydeco to
appalachain music and urban Diaspora. A folk song is defined as a song that relies on traditional
melodies or modes to present a particular theme or topic (Borjanic 92-93). Russia has had a long
history in all forms of music. Historians claim that Russia folk songs act as a sufficient tool
which reflected the life’s, characters, cultures, feelings and desires of the Russian people. This
research paper explores the Russian folk songs in terms of its origins, style, characteristics;
instrument used their function in the Russian community.

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History and its Origin
Russian folk songs have been developed through a number of centuries and are still
undergoing considerable changes. A classical musician, Nikolai Gogol once claimed that Russian
folk songs denote the living history of the Russian people in terms of their richness, truthfulness,
vividness as well as their entire life’s (Propp 89-90). Folk songs have always played an integral
role in the Russian society. Russian people had folk songs to reflect or signify every situation.
For instance, there are folk songs relating to ritual, rhyme, wedding, dance and lyrical songs
(Borjanic 121). However, the actual origin of the Russian folk song is difficult to discern but
historians claim that it can be traced to the pagan traditions of the Slavonic tribes (first
millennium) as well as other ethnic compositions of the time.
On the other hand, some can easily be traced to the formation of the Russian society, but
only through theoretical means. Some styles can be traced to other tribe’s such as Turkish and
Finno-Ugric. Historians claim that folk songs should be divided into three sub-groups;
traditional, peasant and urban songs. Calendar and invocation are some of the oldest groups of
Russian folklore. Some of the folk songs were practiced before the writing culture began, thus it
was technically impossible to record them (not until the time of Catherine the great).
Nevertheless, some were passed on through generations by word of mouth (Borjanic 20-21).
Russian folklore has also evolved from a mophornic (single melodic style) style into polyphobic
music.
In the late 20
th
century, churches and governors supported the folk song tradition,
therefore preserving it. It is difficult to present a comprehensive folklore historical perspective
due to a number of overlapping and interwoven factors. For instance, no-ritual songs such as

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Username1 Name; Instructor; Course; Date; Analysis: Russian Folk Songs Introduction Songs, as a form of art, have various applications and uses in the wider society. In past generations, they were predominantly used as educational, inspirational, critique and as well entertainment platforms. However, specific song categories such as folk songs have appropriate applications. Essentially, the songs should be interpreted just like other forms of literature. Folk songs are a particular category that covers an array of musical styles and characteristics (Borjanic 55-56). Actually, it combines aspects from traditional aspects, western, Cajun, Zydeco to appalachain music and urban Diaspora. A folk song is defined as a song that relies on traditional melodies or modes to present a particular theme or topic (Borjanic 92-93). Russia has had a long history in all forms of music. Historians claim that Russia folk songs act as a sufficient tool which reflected the life’s, characters, cultures, feelings and desires of the Russian people. This research paper explores the Russian folk songs in terms of its origins, style, characteristics; instrument used their function in the Russian community. Username2 History and its Origin Russian folk songs have been developed through a number of centuries and are still undergoing considerable changes. A classical musician, Nikolai Gogol once claimed that Russian folk songs denote the living history of the Russian people in terms of their richness, ...
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