# List of European 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 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. Sometimes, folk songs will often be passed down.

## Europe

| Country | Elements | Dance | Instrumentation | Other topics |
| Albanian | ahengAlbanian balladepic (këngë trimash, këngë kreshnikësh)kabakantadhaKefalonitikakëputje fjalëshKorçarelamentllazorelullabymaje krahiAlbanian iso-polyphonyprcjellsirapsodisaze orchestraserenataAlbanian wedding musicwork song | ajsino oroarnaöutOsman Takapuštenosherianqeshotavalle | bousouk / buzukcifteliclarinetdajrejadeffyellgrrnetalahutallautëlodramandolinsharkiviolinzumarë | kurbetpare |
| Andalusian | See Spanish | – | – | – |
| Andorran | See Catalan | – | – | – |
| Arbereshi | See Albanian | – | – | – |
| Austrian | FaschingsbriefeSchnadahüpfl (Gstanzl, Gsetzl, Trutzgsangl)schrammelmusikstring quartetWienaliedyodeling (Jodler, Wullaza, Hullaza, Almer)Zettellandler | Volkstanz: BlasmusikBoarischerEiswalzerHiatamadlJägermarschKontratänzeKrebspolkaKreuzpolkaKuckuckspolkaländlerLunzer BoarischermazurkaNeudeutscherpolkaPoschater ZwoaschrittRediwa (Sprachinseltänze)Schnitterhüpferschuhplattler (Plattler)RheinländerSiebenschrittSteirischerStudentenpolkaZwiefacherwaltz | almpfeiferlaccordionalphornclarinetdouble bass (contrabass)dulcimerfiddleflutegrazerguimbard (jaw harp)guitarharpStyrian harmonicatamburicatrumpetviolinzither | heurigentrachtVolkssänger |
| Auvergnat | See French | – | – | – |
| Balearic Islander | See Catalan | – | – | – |
| Basque | BertsolaritzaTtakunaChoirHerrenaTrikitixa | AbaltzisketaArin-arinAurreskuAzeriBasoBasauriBeti Alai ArkuBrokelEzpataEztai-soinuFandangoaGaraiGizonIngurutxoJorraiKalejiraKarrika Soinu (biribilketa)LarrainLegazpiMakilMatelotaMiel OtxinMutilMuxiko (Mutico)PaloteadosSagarSan JuanSokaSorginTrokelUztai TxikiYantza LuzeZortziko | Alboka (double clarinet)AtabalDulzainaKirikoketaPanderoSilboteTarogatoToberaTrikitixa (concertina)Ttunttun (drum)TxalapartaTxistu (three hole pipe)Xirula (flute) | Aintzara-jokuAlardeBasque picnicMaskarada (carnival of Soule)Pastoral |
| Bavarian | See German | – | – | – |
| Belarusian | | | | |
| Bohemian | See Czech | – | – | – |
| Bosnian | gangegusleilahijeizvorna bosanska muzikaLadino songnovokomponovana narodna muzikaravne pjesmesevdalinka (sevdah) | line dancekolo | accordionbagpipeclarinetdairedouble bassfluteguitarsargija (lute)snare drumviolin | |
| Breton | bagad (bagadoù, pipe band)chant de marin (sea shanty)couples de sonneurs (sonner par couple)gwerz (gwerzioù)kan a bozkan ha diskankantik (hymn)kost ar c'hoatquêtesôn (sonioù) | an dros (an dro)balsplinnfiselgavottejabadaohanter drolaridé (ridée)pach-pirond | accordionbinou (bagpipe, kozh, braz, bihan, pib veur)binou brazbombarde (oboe)hurdy-gurdytelenn (harp)treujenn-gaol (clarinet, trognon d'chou)veuze (bagpipe)violon (violin, fiddle) | chanteurs engagés (protest singer)Dastumdiskanerfest-noz (festou noz, bal breton)kanerroots revivalsonerion |
| Bulgarian | choirKoleduvanekopanicaLaduvaneLazaruvanena trapezawedding music | Horo: acano mlada nvesto (line dance)buchimish (line dance)chetvornochopedaichovo (line dance)dunavskoelenino (line dance)eleno momeiove male momekopanicakopanitsa (line dance, gankino)nestinaripaidushkopetruninopovarnato (devetorka)pravo horo (line dance)rachenitsa (ruchenitsa, couple dance)sandanskosedenkasedi donkatrite puti (line dance)tropoli | clarinetkaba gaidakaval (flute)gadulkagaida (bagpipe)tambura (lute)tarabuka (drum)tǔpan (drum) | Koprivshtitsa |
| Burgenland Croat | See Croatian | – | – | – |
| Calabrian | See Italian | – | – | – |
| Cantabrian | tonada montañesamarzascantares de rondapasacallesromancescoplas a lo pesaucoplas a lo ligerucantos de labortrovareyescanto a bodasvillancico | jota montañesapicayosdanza de arcosbaila de Ibiopaloteopericote lebaniegotrepeletrécuevanucoromance del conde de Laradanza de cintas | pitu montañésgaitarabelbígarutamborilchifla campurrianacaja redoblantepanderetapanderotarrañuelasvozainasilbualboguerutón sobanochiflita pasiegaalcurdióncuerno pasiego | [jisquíu]] o ijujú |
| Castilian | See Spanish | – | – | – |
| Catalan | ball de bastonsball de gitanesbesonescaramellescercavilescollacolles diablerescoblagalopsgloses (glosada, estribot)gotxoshabaneraida y vueltalullabypassosporfèdiaredobladaregateixredoblatucwork song | bolerocontrapàscopeocossiershabaneresjotamarratxamateixasa fileraSaint Anne's dancesardana (circle dance)sardana curtasardana llargasardana de lluïmentsardana revessases dotze rodadesses nou rodades | bandurriabimbau (jaw harp)castanetfiscorn (horn)flabiol (flute)gralla (oboe)guitarró (guitar)sac de gemecs (bagpipe, coixinera, caterineta, borrega, manxa borrega, bot, noia verda, mossa verda, ploranera, sac de les aspres, buna, cornamusa)tamboritambourinetarota (oboe)tenora (shawm)tiblexeremia (clarinet)ximbomba | cantada |
| Cham | See Albanian | – | – | – |
| Channel Islands | bachîn ringing | bérouissecotilliondanse des chapieaux (the hat dance)ronde (round dance)sonneur | accordionbachînchifournie (hurdy gurdy)violin | |
| Cornish | Cornish carol | cushion dancejighornpipereeltroyll | bagpipebombardecrowdy crawn (croder croghen)fiddle (crowd)hand drumharp | gorsedd |
| Corsican | See French | – | – | – |
| Croatian | bećaracdeseteracepic poetryklapatamburica bandtamburitza | drmekolo (round dance)lindjomoreška (Korčula sword dance)zvecke | accordionberdabisernicebračbugarijaclarinetcurladiplefiddlegangeguslelijerica (lirica, fiddle)roznicasamicasargija (dulcimer)sopilatambura (mandolin)tamburicaviolinzither | Istrian scalekukeri |
| Cypriot | See Greek or Turkish | – | – | – |
| Czech | Národní písni: cimbalom bandgajdošská (bagpipe band)hudecká (fiddle band)lidovka (lidovky)skřipáckáold Prague song (staropražské písničky)tramp music (trampská hudba) | polkasedláckátáhláverbunk (Slovácko verbuňk) | accordionbagpipecimbalomclarinetdouble bassfiddleviolaviolin | |
| Dalmatian | See Croatian | – | – | – |
| Danish | | fanik | accordion | |
| Dutch | | mâtelotmazurkapolkaSeven Saultwaltz | accordiondoedelzakguitarhurdy-gurdypijpzakviolin | |
| Emilian | See Italian | – | – | – |
| English | broadside balladChild balladwassailing | cloggingcountry dancehorn dancehornpipelong swordMaypole dancemorris dancerapper dance | melodeonconcertinafiddlemouth organNorthumbrian smallpipetrombonetubasnare drumbass drum | |
| Estonian | runo-songswing-song | reilenderlabajalgpolka | accordionbagpipeconcertinafiddlekanneltalharpa (hiiu kannel)trumpetwhistlezither | Kalevipoeg |
| Faroese | kingosalmarkvæðiskjaldurtættirvisur | circle danceFaroe two-step | | |
| Finnish | itkurekilaulurunolaulu | humppajenkkamazurkaminuetpelimannipolkapurpurischottischewaltz | accordionclarinetfiddleharmoniumhornjouhikkokanteletalharpawhistle | Kalevala |
| Flemish | | | | |
| Florentine | See Italian | – | – | – |
| Formentera | See Catalan | – | – | – |
| Frisian | | galoppolkaskoetsploechskotswalz | accordionfiddlemelodeonrommelpot | |
| French | bal-musetteCorsican polyphonic songpaghjellaregret | bacchu-berbourréebranlecontredansefarandolequadrillerigaudon | aboèaccordionbodegabohacabrettechabrettecornemusefifregaloubetgraillegrand cornemusehurdy-gurdypifretambourinviolin | |
| Galician | coplas verdesalaláalboradapasacallescarballesaribeirana | danza de damas e galánsjotamuiñeirapasodobrerumba | accordioncadroclarinetgaitapandeiretapandeirotamboriltarrañolas | |
| Gascon | See French | – | – | – |
| Genoese | See Italian | – | – | – |
| German | anacrusisGerman balladvolksmusikvolksliedyodeling | perchtentanzschuhplatteltanzwaltz | alphornzupfgeige | KriegspieleStadtfeste |
| Gheg | See Albanian | – | – | – |
| Greek | amanédhimotika tragoudhiakalandakantadheskleftikoKlephtic songmiroloyianisiotikarebetikoskarostaximtis tavlas | çiftetellihasaposervikokalamatianokarsilamakhasapikosyrtotsamikozeibekiko | askomandurabaglamasbouzoukidaoulidefigaidakavalikitharaklarinolaouto / laoutokithara (lute guitar)lyraoutisantouritoumberlekitsambounaviolizournas | dhimotikidromoimangespaniyiriarebetestekes |
| Gypsy | See Romani (Gypsy) | – | – | – |
| Hungarian | hajnaliparlando-rubatotempo-giustoverbunkos | csárdáslegényesszólóverbunkos | bagpipecimbalomcowbellfiddlegardonhurdy-gurdyviolinzither | táncház |
| Ibiza | See Catalan | – | – | – |
| Icelandic | organumrimur | Icelandic ballad dancing | fidlalangspil | saga |
| Irish | aislingamhrainballadbardcaoineadhdiddlingdrinking songFonn Mallharp musickeening (lament, caoning)macaronic songOssian ballad (Fenian ballad)rebel songreverdiesean nós | carolcéilidhclogginghighlandhornpipejigpolkaquadrillereelslideslip jigstep dancestrathspey | accordionbanjobodhránbouzoukiconcertinafiddlefluteguitarharpuilleann pipeswhistle | American wake conyachcrackfeisfleadhsession |
| Istrian | See Croatian | – | – | – |
| Italian | barideendecasillabogozomaggioSardinian polyphonytammorriatatrallalerovillanella | ciocioraforlanaruggerasaltarellosicilianasu ballutarantellatrescona | accordionclapperclarinetfluteguitarjaw harplauneddaliramandolinmelodeonocarinaorganettopanpipepifferorattletamburellotamorratamuraviolinzampogna | tarantolati |
| Karelian | See Finnish | – | – | – |
| Kvarnerian | See Croatian | – | – | – |
| Lab | See Albanian | – | – | – |
| Latvian | balssdainadziesmalīgotnesruno-songsadzīvesziņģe | polkaquadrillerotaļadancisžeperslīkumdejasudmaliņasdvieļudejaskaludancis | accordionbirch trumpetcitaradūdasfiddleganuragsģīgakoklesmandolinstabuletrideksnisieviņasbubins | LāčplēsisDainu skapis |
| Lithuanian | dainadvejinesketurinessutartinestrejines | polkaquadrillerateliaiwaltz | accordionbalalaikabandoneónbasetlebirbynesclarinetconcertinadaudytesfiddleguitarharmonicakanklelamzdeliaimandolinpuslineragaisekminiu ragelisskuduciaisvilpastabala | |
| Lombard | See Italian | – | – | – |
| Majorca | See Catalan | – | – | – |
| Manx | Carvalyn GailckaghlamentManx carol | | | |
| Macedonian | calgianarodni orkestri | | accordioncemaneclarinetdefdzumbusgajdakanunkavalsupelkatamburatarabukatupanutzurla | narodna muzikanove narodne pesme novokomponirana |
| Menorca | See Catalan | – | – | – |
| Moldovan | See Romanian | – | – | – |
| Montenegrin | Montenegrin epic poetry | | gusle | |
| Moravian | See Czech | – | – | – |
| Neapolitan | See Italian | – | – | – |
| Norwegian | bånsullerkvedinghallinglalinglokkingNorwegian balladslåttarstevtralling | bruremarsjbygdedansgammeldansgangarhallingpolsrullspringarspringdansspringleik | bukkehornfiddleHardanger fiddleharplangeleiklurMeråker clarinetseljefløytetrekkspeltungehorn | kappleikar |
| Occitan | See French | – | – | – |
| Piedmontese | See Italian | – | – | – |
| Pityusan Islander | See Catalan | – | – | – |
| Polish | | chodzonycimbaŀykrakowiakkrzesanymazurkaobertasozwodnapolkapolonaisezbojnicki | cellodiable skrzypcefiddlegenslekoziołmarynamazankasukaviolin | dozynki |
| Pontic Greek | folkacriticcall and responseparakathi | Pontic Greek folk danceserradipatatsiapatomal | lyradaoulitouloumzournakemaneoud | {{{Other}}} |
| Portugal | castiçofadomodinhaRomanceirotamborileirozés-pereiras | dança dos homensfofalundum | adufebandolimbexigoncelobombobrinquinhocaixacântaro com abanhocastanholascavaquinhoconcertinaconchaferrinhosflauta pastorilgaita-de-folesgenebresguitarrapandeiretapandeiropifaroreco-recosanfonasarronçatamboriltranscanholasviolazaclitracs | fadistaranchos folclóricossaudade |
| Provenç | See French | – | – | – |
| Puglian | See Italian | – | – | – |
| Romani (Gypsy) | buleríascalgiacantescimbalomfandangofasilflamencojaleokoumpaneialoki djilioral-bassingsiguiriyassolearestaksimtientostangos | alegriasbelly dancebuleríasfarrucagarrotinmarianasmoritaskhelimaske djili | accordionbuzuqcimbalomclarinetcümbüşdarbukadavuldjumbusdombakkamankanunneyrebabtablaudviolinzurna | braceoscuadrojuergaKaragöz shadow theatretaraf |
| Romanian | balladcolindedoinalamenttarafTransylvanian wedding music | briufluiergeamparalehorasirba | ceteracimbalomcobzadobadouble bassfiddlenaitaragotviolaviolinzongora | capra |
| Roussillon | See Catalan | – | – | – |
| Russian | bylinachastushkaplachprotiazhnaia pesniawedding music | | garmonbayanbalalaikadomraRussian guitartsimbl | |
| Sami | joiklavlu | | gievrikobdas | noaite |
| Sardinian | See Italian | – | – | – |
| Scottish | balladBorder balladbothy balladbrosnachadhcauld wind pipeceol begceol morflytingliltmuckle sangpibrochpiobaireachdpsalmpuirt-a-beul (mouth music)Scottish work songShetland fiddlingtrowieurlarwaulking song | battementHighland flinghornpipejigminuetquickstepreelshean treusestrathspeysword dance | accordionBorder pipeclarsachconcertinafiddleflutegueharpHighland pipesLowland pipepastoral pipepibrochsmallpipetin whistle | Cape Breton fiddlingScottish Baroque musicconyachFeiseanmodtryst |
| Serbian | izvorna | cocekkolosa-sa | frulagaidaguslesargijatamburitzatupanviolin | |
| Sicilian | See Italian | – | – | – |
| Slavonian | See Croatian | – | – | – |
| Slovak | | čardáščuchomdupakkarickado kolesaodzemokpolkaverbunkwaltz | accordioncellocimbaldvojačka (double whistle)fujaragajdykoncovka(overtone flute)píšťalka (6 hole whistle)violin | |
| Slovenian | velike goslarijeSlovenian harmony singing | | mehpanpipesopilezither | |
| Spanish | coplajaleojotaRomanceiro | aragonesasbolerobolerio viejo o paradocachuchachaconnedanza Antigua de HermiguaDanza del Paloteo y el Cordón a La Virgen de La PiedadDanza del Cordón, de la Carrera y del Paloteo al Cristo de la VigaDanza de las ánimasDanza de los Diablosdanzantes y pecadosS'a llarga y S'a curtaS'escandalarifandangogallegaGitanajotajota de vendimiamalagueñasmanchegasmelonerasmilongamollarasmurcianopanaderosquipuzcoanasseguidillasevillanasolearestorrásvalldemosavallencianaverdialeszambrazarabanda | castanetchacara (large castanet)bandurriadulzainaguitarramandolintambourine | café cantatesduendejuerga |
| Swedish | balladhallingkulninglalinglockrop | cobbler's dancedaldansgammaldansgangarkadriljpolspolska (polskor)rudlrunddansskrålåtspringarspringdansspringleikvafva vadnavingåkersdans | ackordcittra (chord zither)accordionfiddlehackbrädehummeljaw harpnyckelharpasäckpipasälgpipaskalmejaspelpipastråkharpavevlira | spelmanslagZorn Badge |
| Swiss | yodeling | | alphorn | |
| Tosk | See Albanian | – | – | – |
| Transylvanian | See Hungarian and Romanian | – | – | – |
| Ukrainian | dumytroista muzyka | arkanholubkahutsulkahopakkolomyjkakozachokmetelytsjapolkawaltz | bandurafiddlefloyarafrilkakobzalirasopilkatrembitatsymbalytylynka | kobzarilirnykypryspivzaspiv |
| Valencian | See Catalan | – | – | – |
| Venetian | See Italian | – | – | – |
| Vlach | | | bagpipefiddle | Pomana |
| Walloon | | | fiddle | |
| Welsh | penillionWelsh choral music | clogging (Welsh step dance)hornpipetwmpath | crwthpibacwdpibcornWelsh harp (triple harp) | dategeiniadeisteddfodgweringwyl werin |