Page "Folk music" Paragraph 20

The English term " folklore ", to describe traditional folk music and dance, entered the vocabulary of many continental European nations, each of which had its folk-song collectors and revivalists.

The distinction between " authentic " folk and national and popular song in general has always been loose, particularly in America and Germany-for example popular songwriters such as Stephen Foster could be termed " folk " in America.

The International Folk Music Council definition allows that the term " can also be applied to music which has originated with an individual composer and has subsequently been absorbed into the unwritten, living tradition of a community.

But the term does not cover a song, dance, or tune that has been taken over ready-made and remains unchanged.