Volksmusik

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Music of Germany
Popular and modern	Electronic - Rock (Krautrock) - Hip hop - Alpine New Wave - Highlife - Cabaret - Volkstümliche Musik - Schlager - Klezmer - Heavy metal
Classical	Chorale - Opera - Baroque - Classical - Romantic - Lied
Folk	Oom-pah - Volksmusik - Schuhplattler - Yodelling
History (Timeline and Samples)
Awards	German Music Instrument Prize - German Music Awards
Charts	Media Control
Festivals	Rock am Ring and Rock im Park, Donaueschinger Musiktage
Media	Keys
National anthem	"Das Lied der Deutschen"
Regional music
Bavaria - Danish-German - Swabia - Sorbia - Northern Germany
Other Germanic areas
Austria - Denmark - Flanders - Liechtenstein - Luxembourg - Netherlands

Volksmusik (literally translated from the German as "people's music") is the common umbrella designation of a number of related styles of traditional music from the Alpine regions of Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Alto Adige/Südtirol (Italy). It tends to be dialect-heavy and invokes local and regional lifestyles and traditions, particularly those of the Alpine farmers and peasants.

Typical instruments range from Alpenhorns to Zithers and acoustic guitars, and even violas and harmonicas. Harmonized singing is frequent, but other pieces may require yodeling, while instrumental arrangements are particularly frequent for fast dances or brass pieces.

Volksmusik continues to be performed by many local groups and orchestras throughout the European Alps and should not be confused with volkstümliche Musik, which is largely to be found in broadcasting media and on ancillary merchandise.