1. Reaction to the Complexities of Modernist Music: In the first decades of the 1900s, "classical" composers wrote complex experimental works that were based on extended tonality, atonality, and intricate structures. By contrast, folk and popular music offered composers more straightforward and accessible musical ideas. Composers such as Igor Stravinsky, Béla Bartók, and Aaron Copland saw the value of looking back to these genres to find inspiration and re-energize their own work.
2. Interest in National Identity: Many composers saw folk music as a means to express their cultural heritage and national identity, particularly in the context of nationalism. By borrowing folk tunes, rhythms, and idioms, they aimed to create a unique musical language that reflected their nation's distinctness.
3. Exploration of Diverse Musical Resources: Composers became increasingly open-minded about incorporating various musical styles into their work. Folk and popular music offered a rich source of melodies, rhythms, and forms from which they could draw inspiration and create innovative sound worlds.
4. Broadening the Musical Audience: Incorporating familiar and well-loved folk and popular tunes into concert music aimed to attract a broader audience who could appreciate and connect with the music. This democratic approach challenged the elitism that had often defined the classical music world.
5. Cultural Exchange: Increased global travel and cultural exchanges allowed composers to become familiar with musical traditions from around the world, broadening their musical vocabularies and inspiring new compositional approaches.
6. Experimental Fusion: Some composers saw the blending of classical structures with folk and popular music as an exciting experimental approach. They sought to bridge the gap between "high art" and "low art" by merging different genres and styles.
Overall, the incorporation of folk and popular music elements in twentieth-century compositions represents a shift towards inclusivity, diversity, and a democratization of musical expression. It led to a richer, more eclectic, and globally-minded classical music repertoire.