A song or poem that tells a story, often about love, adventure, or tragedy. Ballads usually have simple language and repeated lines to make them easy to remember and sing.
It comes from Old French “balade,” meaning a dancing song or poem. That word traces back to the Late Latin “ballare,” meaning to dance.
Ballads began as songs for dancing, not just for sad listening. The catchy repeats and simple structure were like the pop music of their time, built so anyone could join in.
Ballads in European traditions often carried gendered narratives, frequently casting women as passive love interests, tragic figures, or moral warnings, while men were more often active heroes or narrators. Collection and publication of ballads in the 18th–19th centuries also prioritized male collectors and composers, under‑crediting women as performers, transmitters, and creators.
When discussing ballads, avoid assuming that typical perspectives are male or that emotional expression is gender‑specific. Acknowledge diverse authors and performers across genders when giving historical or contemporary examples.
Women have been key creators, singers, and preservers of ballad traditions in many cultures, especially in domestic and community spaces that were long dismissed by formal music histories.
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