[World Music] A Guide to Folk Music: A Collection of Traditional Songs from Around the Globe
Traditional and folk music has a charm that’s different from works categorized into genres like rock, jazz, or R&B, doesn’t it? It’s like you catch a glimpse of a world different from where you are now… scenes you can’t quite put into words start to unfold in your heart.
In this article, we’ll be introducing a wide variety of folk music loved around the world.
From pieces brimming with exotic flair to songs that feel surprisingly familiar, we’ve gathered a truly broad selection! Listen to the tracks featured here and open a new door.
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[Music of the World] A Guide to Folk Music: Collection of International Folk Songs (11–20)
Lasst uns froh und munter seinNEW!Volkslied
This is a song that fills you with the excitement of children eagerly awaiting St.
Nicholas Day, the kind you want to listen to as winter arrives.
Based on records from around 1855, it has long been beloved for its catchy, approachable melody.
In Germany, it’s still cherished today as a seasonal classic, sung in schools and at home.
It’s a perfect piece for family togetherness while preparing for Christmas, or for relaxing on a winter evening with a warm drink in hand.
Mein Vater war ein WandersmannNEW!Volkslied
This is a wandering song said to have first appeared as a poem in the German-speaking world in 1847.
Later, in 1953, a new melody was added, and thanks to music festivals in the UK and broadcasts by the BBC, it became a global choral hit.
It was also sung in a 1955 film and has since become widely beloved.
The joy of walking in nature rides on a bright melody, and the light, march-like rhythm and easy-to-remember choral calls are especially striking.
In Japan, it is cherished as a song for children to march along to energetically.
It’s a perfect tune for times when you feel like moving your body outdoors, such as on a hike.
Funiculi Funicula
In Japan, the term “canzone” is used to refer to Italian folk songs.
The word itself means “song,” so it doesn’t denote any specific genre of Italian music.
However, it’s often used to describe songs that have been passed down around Naples in Italy.
The piece we’re introducing, “Funiculì, Funiculà,” is counted among them.
Its melody is very familiar, but when you listen with the awareness that it’s Italian music, it certainly carries a distinctly exotic flair.
FroschgesangNEW!Kinderlieder
Known in Japan as a familiar round under titles like “Kaeru no Uta” and “Kaeru no Gasshō,” this piece is, in fact, based on a children’s song that was sung in the German-speaking world in the 19th century.
It was introduced to Japan around 1930 through a Swiss educator, and it spread widely after Toshiaki Okamoto added Japanese lyrics.
It has long been used in educational settings such as textbooks and music classes and is loved across generations.
Its short lyrics and simple melody make it perfect for singing with young children.
Why not spend a delightful moment enjoying the unadorned melody of a German folk song by raising your voices together?
El Condor Pasa (The Condor Flies Away)
I imagine many of you remember learning about this in school.
The widely known cover by Simon & Garfunkel, “El Condor Pasa,” is a song from the folk tradition known as folklore that has been passed down around the Andes in South America.
As the title suggests, it’s a majestic piece that evokes the image of a condor gliding freely through the vast sky.
It’s curious how it feels both pastoral and mysterious at the same time.
Folklore isn’t a genre limited to one specific region, so there are pieces that have developed uniquely from place to place.
Flag of Dublin
Traditional Irish music, with the distinctive tone of the uilleann pipes, leaves a strong impression.
Some may be more familiar with the term “Irish music.” Although it bears the name of a country, it’s loved worldwide, especially across Europe, without borders.
When you listen, images of grand natural landscapes come to mind—its soft, rich sound paired with a lively sense of momentum is particularly striking.
The video introduced here features the band FourWinds performing “The Banner of Dublin.” Dublin is the capital of Ireland.
[World Music] Recommended Ethnic Music: A Collection of Folk Songs from Around the World (21–30)
Shiyahanba
A hymn to freedom and hope woven by the voices of South Africa.
Popularized in 1984 with the album “Freedom is Coming: Songs of Protest and Praise from South Africa,” this piece gained support as a symbol of the anti-apartheid movement.
Its powerful African rhythms and bright melodies have made it beloved in churches and schools around the world.
Discovered by the Swedish group Fjedur at a South African girls’ school and arranged by music director Anders Nyberg, the charm of the Zulu language spread globally.
With its simple, heartfelt melody, the song is often performed to strengthen community bonds and at events that pray for peace, and its universal message remains as vibrant as ever.