folk ballad
Quick Summary
A ballad is a short narrative folk song, originating in Europe during the Middle Ages and continuing to the present day in communities with strong folk singing traditions. Ballads are typically concerned with conflict, disasters, crime, heroes, and sometimes humor.12
While the term "ballad" can refer to any narrative song, the traditional folk ballad is characterized by its musicality. Ballad tunes are often based on musical modes rather than modern scales and may use gapped scales (hexatonic or pentatonic). The music is usually repetitive, with the same tune sung for multiple stanzas, and the melody is designed for singability with simple intervals. Ballads play a role in preserving community histories and national cultures.31
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