Medieval Folk Rock

A musical subgenre that combines elements of early music with rock music. It grew out of the British folk rock and progressive folk movements of the late 1960s. Despite the name, the term was used indiscriminately to categorize performers who incorporated elements of medieval, renaissance, and baroque music into their work and sometimes to describe groups who used few electric instruments.

Medieval folk rock is characterized by three major elements used in various combinations: the playing of extant early music involving rock instrumentation; the creation of original music that incorporates compositional features of early music, such as musical modes; the incorporation of the sounds of early music into rock songs, through vocal techniques, the use of additional instruments that characterize early music, or the simulation of early music sounds on rock instruments (the use of a drone sound on an electric guitar); and the adoption of perceived elements of medievalism in lyrics, actions, dress, or artwork. 1968–    .