Folk music of the Punjab is the traditional music of Punjab produced using traditional musical instruments like Tumbi, Algoze, Dhadd, Sarangi, Chimta, Harmonium and more. There is a wide range of folk songs for every occasion from birth to death including marriage, festivals, fairs and religious ceremonies.
During the past century, Punjabi folk musicians used 87 instruments, 55 of which are still used today.
It is notable that the instruments used today serve a function that exceeds musical necessity in that they are closely tied to Punjabi culture and heritage. The dhol, for example, continues to be popular because it is important to special proceedings such as weddings and sporting events.
Additionally, the popularity of certain instruments encourages people to continue learning to play them; therefore, maintaining their relevance in Punjabi events.
Terrorist events in during the late 1980s threatened the existence of Punjabi folk music and the instruments that accompanied this genre. With several notable artists being killed and major festivals being cancelled there was not a space for folk music to exist.
The boom of technology also threatened folk music by creating a new genre of music known as Punjabi Pop, which mixed electronic and folk music.
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