List of Asian folk music traditions

This is a list of folk music traditions, with styles, dances, instruments and other related topics. The term "folk music" can not be easily defined in a precise manner; it is used with widely-varying definitions depending on the author, intended audience and context within a work. Similarly, the term "traditions" in this context does not connote any strictly-defined criteria. Music scholars, journalists, audiences, record industry individuals, politicians, nationalists and demagogues may often have occasion to address which fields of folk music are distinct traditions based along racial, geographic, linguistic, religious, tribal or ethnic lines, and all such peoples will likely use different criteria to decide what constitutes a "folk music tradition". This list uses the same general categories used by mainstream, primarily English-language, scholarly sources, as determined by relevant statements of fact and the internal structure of works.

These traditions may coincide entirely, partially or not at all with geographic, political, linguistic or cultural boundaries. Very few, if any, music scholars would claim that there are any folk music traditions that can be considered specific to a distinct group of people and with characteristics undiluted by contact with the music of other peoples; thus, the folk music traditions described herein overlap in varying degrees with each other.

East Asia

User:TUF-KAT/folkcountry
Tradition = Hakka [Ying-fen, Wang, "From Innocence to Funny Rap", in the "Rough Guide to World Music", pgs. 235 - 240]
Styles = bayin - gezaixi - shan'ge - tea-picking opera
Dance =
Instrumentation = suona
Other =

User:TUF-KAT/folkcountry
Tradition = Han [Jones, Stephen, "The East Is Red... And White", in the "Rough Guide to World Music", pgs. 33 - 43; Rees, Helen, with Zhang Xingrong and Li Wei, "Sounds of the Frontiers", in the "Rough Guide to World Musics", pg. 44 - 48; Karolyi, pg. 179]
Styles = chuiguishou - funereal music - hua'er - Jingyan dagu - Nanguan ballad - pingtan - sheng-guan - sizhu - wedding music - Xi'an drum music
Dance = bunso - yangge - yo
Instrumentation = dizi - erhu - erxian - gaohu - guanzi - pipa - qin - sanxian - shawm - sheng - suona - xiao - yangqin - yunluo - zheng
Other =

User:TUF-KAT/folkcountry
Tradition = Holo [Ying-fen, Wang, "From Innocence to Funny Rap", in the "Rough Guide to World Music", pgs. 235 - 240]
Styles = beiguan - budaixi - gezaixi - nanguan
Dance =
Instrumentation = dongxiao - erxian - pipa - sanxian - suona - yueqin
Other = quguan

User:TUF-KAT/folkcountry
Tradition = Hui [Rees, Helen, with Zhang Xingrong and Li Wei, "Sounds of the Frontiers", in the "Rough Guide to World Musics", pg. 44 - 48]
Styles = hua'er
Dance =
Instrumentation =
Other =

User:TUF-KAT/folkcountry
Tradition = Japanese [Clewley, John, "The Culture Blender", pgs. 143 - 159; Karolyi, pg. 199; Fujie, Linda, "East Asia/Japan" in "Worlds of Music", pgs. 318 - 375; [http://www.worldmusiccentral.org/staticpages/index.php/glossary World Music Central] ]
Styles = danmono - gagaku - hikyoku - honkyoku - jigoe - kiyomoto - kouta - ma - matsuri-bayashi - min'yo - nogaku - yuri
Dance = Bon Odori - shishi mai - shishi odori - tanko bushi
Instrumentation = biwa - fue - kotsuzumi - koto - nokan - otsuzumi - odaiko - okedo - sawari - shakuhachi - shamisen - shime-daiko - shinohue - shirabe - taiko - yosuke
Other = geisha - iemoto - Komuso - matsuri - suizen

User:TUF-KAT/folkcountry
Tradition = Korean [Hwang, Okon and Andy Kershaw, "Our Life Is Precisely a Song", in the "Rough Guide to World Music", pgs. 160 - 169]
Styles = chapka - min'yo - nongak - p'ansori - sanjo
Dance = sinawi
Instrumentation = ajaeng - changgo - ching - haegum - kayagum - kkwaenggwari - komungo - p'iri - puk
Other = kyemonyonjo

User:TUF-KAT/folkcountry
Tradition = Li [Rees, Helen, with Zhang Xingrong and Li Wei, "Sounds of the Frontiers", in the "Rough Guide to World Musics", pg. 44 - 48]
Styles =
Dance = pole dance
Instrumentation = xylophone
Other =

User:TUF-KAT/folkcountry
Tradition = Miao [Rees, Helen, with Zhang Xingrong and Li Wei, "Sounds of the Frontiers", in the "Rough Guide to World Musics", pg. 44 - 48]
Styles = lusheng
Dance =
Instrumentation = flute - Jew's harp - mouth organ
Other =

User:TUF-KAT/folkcountry
Tradition = Naxi [Rees, Helen, with Zhang Xingrong and Li Wei, "Sounds of the Frontiers", in the "Rough Guide to World Musics", pg. 44 - 48]
Styles = Baisha Xiyue - Dongjing music
Dance =
Instrumentation = jizi - juelie - lengnong - qiben - suona
Other =

User:TUF-KAT/folkcountry
Tradition = Okinawa [Clewley, John, "The Culture Blender", pgs. 143 - 159]
Styles = katcharsee - shima uta - umui
Dance = eisa-daiko - zatsu odori
Instrumentation = sanshin - yonshin
Other =

User:TUF-KAT/folkcountry
Tradition = Salar [Rees, Helen, with Zhang Xingrong and Li Wei, "Sounds of the Frontiers", in the "Rough Guide to World Musics", pg. 44 - 48]
Styles = hua'er
Dance =
Instrumentation =
Other =

South Asia

User:TUF-KAT/folkcountry
Tradition = Baluchi [Broughton, Simon, "Kings and Queens of the Road" in the "Rough Guide to World Music", pgs. 146 - 158]
Styles =
Dance =
Instrumentation = sorud - tanburag
Other = osta

User:TUF-KAT/folkcountry
Tradition = Baul [Hunt, Ken and Simon Broughton, "Everything Is Left Behind" in the "Rough Guide to World Music", pgs. 94 - 101]
Styles =
Dance =
Instrumentation = dotara (lute) - ektara - khamak (pitched drum) - napur (ankle rattle)
Other =

User:TUF-KAT/folkcountry
Tradition = Garo [Hunt, Ken and Simon Broughton, "Everything Is Left Behind" in the "Rough Guide to World Music", pgs. 94 - 101]
Styles =
Dance =
Instrumentation = horsehair fiddle - trumpet
Other =

User:TUF-KAT/folkcountry
Tradition = Gujarati [Hunt, Ken and Simon Broughton, "Everything Is Left Behind" in the "Rough Guide to World Music", pgs. 94 - 101]
Styles = dandiya [The "Rough Guide" refers to "dandiya" as on "folk-based"]
Dance =
Instrumentation =
Other =

User:TUF-KAT/folkcountry
Tradition = Kashmiri [Hunt, Ken and Simon Broughton, "Everything Is Left Behind" in the "Rough Guide to World Music", pgs. 94 - 101]
Styles =
Dance =
Instrumentation = sarangi
Other =

User:TUF-KAT/folkcountry
Tradition = Kerala [Hunt, Ken and Simon Broughton, "Everything Is Left Behind" in the "Rough Guide to World Music", pgs. 94 - 101]
Styles = chenda melam - keli - kuzhal pattu - paandi melam - tayambaka
Dance =
Instrumentation = chenda (barrel drum) - kombu (trumpet) - kuzhal (oboe) - maddalam (barrel drum)
Other =

User:TUF-KAT/folkcountry
Tradition = Manipuri [ [http://www.worldmusiccentral.org/staticpages/index.php/glossary World Music Central] ]
Styles =
Dance =
Instrumentation = Dhon Dholok Cholom - Pung Cholak - Rasa Lila - Sita Harana
Other =

User:TUF-KAT/folkcountry
Tradition = Maria [Hunt, Ken and Simon Broughton, "Everything Is Left Behind" in the "Rough Guide to World Music", pgs. 94 - 101]
Styles =
Dance = bison-horn dance - wedding dance
Instrumentation = drum - flute
Other =

User:TUF-KAT/folkcountry
Tradition = Murung [Hunt, Ken and Simon Broughton, "Everything Is Left Behind" in the "Rough Guide to World Music", pgs. 94 - 101]
Styles =
Dance =
Instrumentation = plung
Other =

User:TUF-KAT/folkcountry
Tradition = Nepalese [Tingey, Carol, "The Hills Are Alive", in the "Rough Guide to World Music", pgs. 196 - 202]
Styles = panchai baja
Dance =
Instrumentation = arbajo - barrel drum - Jew's harp - kettle drum - maadal - sarangi - shawm
Peoples =
Geography =
Other = gaine - damai

User:TUF-KAT/folkcountry
Tradition = Newari [Tingey, Carol, "The Hills Are Alive", in the "Rough Guide to World Music", pgs. 196 - 202]
Styles = caca - jogi - malasri- Goon lā
Dance = Lakhey - Pulukishi - Jyapu Pyaakhan
Instrumentation = barrel drum - Dhime - flute - nava dapha - naykhin - shawm - Bhusyaa
Peoples =
Geography =
Other = bisket jatra

User:TUF-KAT/folkcountry
Tradition = Punjabi [ [http://www.worldmusiccentral.org/staticpages/index.php/glossary World Music Central] ; Hunt, Ken and Simon Broughton, "Everything Is Left Behind" in the "Rough Guide to World Music", pgs. 94 - 101]
Styles = bhangra - dafjan - giddha
Dance = bhangra
Instrumentation = dhol
Other =

User:TUF-KAT/folkcountry
Tradition = Rajasthani [Hunt, Ken and Simon Broughton, "Everything Is Left Behind" in the "Rough Guide to World Music", pgs. 94 - 101]
Styles =
Dance =
Instrumentation = bhapang - kamayacha (fiddle) - khatal (castanets) - harmonium - jantar (zither) - murali (double clarinet) - pungi (double flute) - ravanhatha - sarangi - satara (double flute) - surnai (oboe)
Other = Bhopa - Jogi - Langa - Manganiyar - Sapera

User:TUF-KAT/folkcountry
Tradition = Santal [Hunt, Ken and Simon Broughton, "Everything Is Left Behind" in the "Rough Guide to World Music", pgs. 94 - 101]
Styles =
Dance =
Instrumentation = chodro banam
Other =

User:TUF-KAT/folkcountry
Tradition = Sri Lankan [Ganhewa, Lalith, "Sounds of Serendipity", in the "Rough Guide to World Music", pgs. 230 - 234]
Styles = cantiga - kaffirinha - Kolam - Nadagam - Sokari
Dance = baila
Instrumentation =
Peoples =
Geography =
Other =

User:TUF-KAT/folkcountry
Tradition = Tamil Nadu
Styles =
Dance =
Instrumentation = Urumee - Thavil
Peoples =
Geography =
Other =

User:TUF-KAT/folkcountry
Tradition = Uttar Pradesh [Hunt, Ken and Simon Broughton, "Everything Is Left Behind" in the "Rough Guide to World Music", pgs. 94 - 101]
Styles = kajaris
Dance = charkula
Instrumentation =
Other =

Southeast Asia

User:TUF-KAT/folkcountry
Tradition = Batak [Sutton, R. Anderson, "Asia/Indonesia" in "Worlds of Music", pgs. 266 - 317]
Styles = gendan keteng-keteng - gondang
Dance =
Instrumentation = bonang -kendbang - keteng-keteng - kulcapi - mangkuk - trompong
Other =

User:TUF-KAT/folkcountry
Tradition = Cambodian [Clewley, John, "Heavenly Dancers", in the "Rough Guide to World Music", pgs. 20 - 23]
Styles = ayai - kam nap - pleing kar
Dance = ramvong
Instrumentation = tro
Peoples =
Geography =
Other = User:TUF-KAT/folkcountry
Tradition = Hmong [Clewley, John, "Beyond Our Khaen", in the "Rough Guide to World Music", pgs. 170 - 174]
Styles = gaeng
Dance =
Instrumentation =
Peoples =
Geography =
Other =

User:TUF-KAT/folkcountry
Tradition = Iban [Munan, Heidi, "Music at the Crossroads", in the "Rough Guide to World Music", pgs. 175 - 182]
Styles =
Dance =
Instrumentation = gong
Peoples =
Geography =
Other =

User:TUF-KAT/folkcountry
Tradition = Indonesia [Manuel, "Popular Musics", pgs. 207, 213; Bass, Colin, "No Risk - No Fun!", in the "Rough Guides to World Music", pg. 131 - 142]
Styles = ketuk tilu - kroncong - langgam jawa
Dance = ronggeng - tapanuli ogong
Instrumentation = cello - celumpung - flute - guitar - kecrek - kempul - kendhang - ketuk - kroncong - pelog - rebab - ronggeng - violin
Other = komedi stambul - pelog

User:TUF-KAT/folkcountry
Tradition = Karen [Clewley, John, "Songs for Living", in the "Rough Guide to World Music", pgs. 241 - 253]
Styles =
Dance =
Instrumentation = flute - gong - xylophone - zither
Peoples =
Geography =
Other =

User:TUF-KAT/folkcountry
Tradition = Khmer [Clewley, John, "Songs for Living", in the "Rough Guide to World Music", pgs. 241 - 253]
Styles = jariang - cho-kantrum - ruem-trosh
Dance =
Instrumentation = ching - krab - tro
Peoples =
Geography =
Other = User:TUF-KAT/folkcountry
Tradition = Filipino [Munan, Heidi, "Music at the Crossroads", in the "Rough Guide to World Music", pgs. 175 - 182]
Styles = kulintang - agung - rondalla - kundiman - gangsa - laji - gabbang tahta - luguh - lelling - kalangan - saunay
Dance = singkil - pangalay bumayah - tinikling - janggay - asik - itik-itik - binasuan sublian - maglalatik banog salisid kadal tahaw - kadal blelah - karatong pagapir - kapa malong malong
Instrumentation = kulintang - agung - dabakan - kutiyapi - sarunai - suling - kubing - gangsa - guitar - biyula - gabbang - kubing - hegelung - violin - cello - octavina - rondalla - kendang - gambus
Peoples = Ivatan Ifugao Bontoc Kalinga Tagalog Visayan Maranao Tausug Maguindanao Tboli Manobo Ilocano Pangasinan Bikol Bajau
Geography = Mindanao Luzon Visayas Palawan Sulu Archipelago
Other = User:TUF-KAT/folkcountry
Tradition = Lao [Clewley, John, "Beyond Our Khaen", in the "Rough Guide to World Music", pgs. 170 - 174; Clewley, John, "Songs for Living", in the "Rough Guide to World Music", pgs. 241 - 253]
Styles = lam luang - lam phi fa - lam pun - lam tan san - lam tan yao - lam toei - mor khaen - mor lam - mor lam dio - mor lam mu - mor lam pee fah - sarup - soeng - tet lae - wai khru
Dance =
Instrumentation = ching - khaen - khui - phin - ranat - so
Peoples =
Geography =
Other =

User:TUF-KAT/folkcountry
Tradition = Lun Bawang [Munan, Heidi, "Music at the Crossroads", in the "Rough Guide to World Music", pgs. 175 - 182]
Styles = bamboo band
Dance =
Instrumentation =
Peoples =
Geography =
Other =

User:TUF-KAT/folkcountry
Tradition = Malaysian [Munan, Heidi, "Music at the Crossroads", in the "Rough Guide to World Music", pgs. 175 - 182]
Styles = asi - ronggeng - Zikir Barat
Dance = accordion - gambus - gong - joget - violin - zapin
Instrumentation =
Peoples =
Geography =
Other =

User:TUF-KAT/folkcountry
Tradition = Orang Ulu [Munan, Heidi, "Music at the Crossroads", in the "Rough Guide to World Music", pgs. 175 - 182]
Styles =
Dance =
Instrumentation = keluré - sapé
Peoples =
Geography =
Other =

User:TUF-KAT/folkcountry
Tradition = Thai [Clewley, John, "Songs for Living", in the "Rough Guide to World Music", pgs. 241 - 253]
Styles = bong lang - lam tad - likay - nang taloon - pii klong - pleng choi
Dance = fon
Instrumentation =
Peoples =
Geography =
Other = Ngan Wat

User:TUF-KAT/folkcountry
Tradition = Vietnamese [Manuel, "Popular Musics", pg. 200; Blackburn, Philip, "Ancient Rock Music", in the "Rough Guide to World Music", pgs. 262 - 269 ]
Styles = ca tru - hat - hat chau van - hat cheo - hat noi - hat tuong - gui thu - nhac dan toc cai bien - nhac tai tu - quan ho - roi nuoc [Blackburn notes that "nhac dan toc cai bien" is a form of "modernised folk music (that) has only been traditional since 1956, when the Hanoi Conservatory of Music was founded and the teaching of folk music was deliberately "improved" (quotes in original).]
Dance =
Instrumentation = bao - da - day - ken - k'longput - luc huyen cam - nguyệt - nhị -
sinh tien - song lang - tranh - trong com - t'rung - tỳ bà
Other =

Central and Northern Asia

User:TUF-KAT/folkcountry
Tradition = Armenian [Hagopian, Harold, "The Sorrowful Sound" in the "Rough Guide to World Music", pgs. 332 - 337]
Styles = ashoug
Dance = kochare - shalako
Instrumentation = davul - dhol - duduk - kamancha - kanon - oud - tar - zurna
Other =

User:TUF-KAT/folkcountry
Tradition = Azeri [Sultanova, Razia and Simon Broughton, "Bards of the Golden Road", in the "Rough Guide to World Music", pgs. 24 - 32]
Styles = Ashiq - tanbur
Dance =
Instrumentation = balaban - daf - kemanche - tar - tulumzurna
Other = toi

User:TUF-KAT/folkcountry
Tradition = Kazakh [Sultanova, Razia and Simon Broughton, "Bards of the Golden Road", in the "Rough Guide to World Music", pgs. 24 - 32]
Styles = akyn
Dance =
Instrumentation = kui - dombra - qobuz - rubab - tanbur
Other = toi

User:TUF-KAT/folkcountry
Tradition = Kyrgyz [Sultanova, Razia and Simon Broughton, "Bards of the Golden Road", in the "Rough Guide to World Music", pgs. 24 - 32]
Styles = kui - manaschi
Dance =
Instrumentation = kyl kyyak - komuz - tanbur
Other = toi

User:TUF-KAT/folkcountry
Tradition = Mongolian [Includes the music of Tuva; Rees, Helen, with Zhang Xingrong and Li Wei, "Sounds of the Frontiers", in the "Rough Guide to World Musics", pg. 44 - 48; Pegg, Carole, "Sixty Horses in My Herd", in the "Rough Guide to World Music", pgs. 189 - 197]
Styles = bangnadyr - bogino-duu - borbannadir - chylandyk - duulah - epic song - ezengileer - ger - häälah - holboo - höömi - aman huur - kargiraa - long song - magtel - sigit - throat-singing - türleg - üliger - xöömi
Dance = garuda
Instrumentation = dörvon chihtei huur - flute - huuchir - igil - ikil - Jew's harp - limbe - morin huur - pyzanchy - shanz - shöör - toshpulur
Other =

User:TUF-KAT/folkcountry
Tradition = Tajik [Sultanova, Razia and Simon Broughton, "Bards of the Golden Road", in the "Rough Guide to World Music", pgs. 24 - 32]
Styles = falak
Dance =
Instrumentation = dutar - gidjak - setar - tanbur
Other = toi

User:TUF-KAT/folkcountry
Tradition = Tibetan [Rees, Helen, with Zhang Xingrong and Li Wei, "Sounds of the Frontiers", in the "Rough Guide to World Musics", pgs. 44 - 48; Trewin, Mark, "Raising the Roof", in the "Rough Guide to World Musics", pgs. 254 - 261; Karolyi, pgs. 176, 179]
Styles = hua'er - lhamo - lu
Dance = sword dance
Instrumentation = dramnyen - dung chen - gyümang - lingbu - piwang - rag-dung - rgya-gling
Other = Ge-sar - Gelgpa

User:TUF-KAT/folkcountry
Tradition = Turkmen [Sultanova, Razia and Simon Broughton, "Bards of the Golden Road", in the "Rough Guide to World Music", pgs. 24 - 32]
Styles = bakshy
Dance =
Instrumentation = dutar - tanbur
Other = toi

User:TUF-KAT/folkcountrysee
Tradition = Tuvan
See = Mongolian

User:TUF-KAT/folkcountry
Tradition = Uighur
Styles =
Dance =
Instrumentation =
Other =

User:TUF-KAT/folkcountry
Tradition = Uzbek [Sultanova, Razia and Simon Broughton, "Bards of the Golden Road", in the "Rough Guide to World Music", pgs. 24 - 32]
Styles =
Dance =
Instrumentation = doira - dombra - dutar - gidjak - rubab - tanbur
Other = toi

User:TUF-KAT/folkcountry
Tradition = Yakut [Broughton, Simon and Tatiana Didenko, "Music of the People" in the "Rough Guide to World Music", pgs. 248 - 254]
Styles = olonkho
Dance =
Instrumentation = khomus
Other =

References

*cite book
author = Broughton, Simon and Mark Ellingham (eds.)
edition = First edition
id = ISBN 1-85828-636-0
location = London
publisher = Rough Guides
title = Rough Guide to World Music
year = 2000
* cite book
author = Karolyi, Otto
id = ISBN 0140231072
publisher = Penguin Books
title = Traditional African & Oriental Music
year = 1998
* cite book
author = Killius, Rolf
id = ISBN 81-88827-07-X
publisher = B.R. Rhythms
title = Ritual Music and Hindu Rituals of Kerala
year = 2006
*cite book
author = Kinney, Troy and Margaret West
publisher = Tudor Publishing
title = The Dance: Its Place in Art and Life
year = 1935
*cite book
author = Manuel, Peter
id = 0195053427
location = New York
publisher = Oxford University Press
title = Popular Musics of the Non-Western World
year = 1988
*cite book
author = Philip V. Bohlman
coauthors = Bruno Nettl, Charles Capwell, Thomas Turino and Isabel K. F. Wong
edition = Second edition
id = ISBN 0-13-230632-8
publisher = Prentice Hall
title = Excursions in World Music
year = 1997
*cite book
author = Fujie, Linda, James T. Koetting, David P. McAllester, David B. Reck, John M. Schechter, Mark Slobin and R. Anderson Sutton
edition = Second Edition
editor = Jeff Todd Titan (Ed.)
id = ISBN 0-02-872602-2
location = New York
publisher = Schirmer Books
title = Worlds of Music: An Introduction to the Music of the World's Peoples
year = 1992
*cite web
accessdate= April 3
accessyear= 2006
title = International Dance Glossary
url = http://www.worldmusiccentral.org/staticpages/index.php/glossary
work = World Music Central

Notes