Amos,

Apologies, I wouldn't for a moment wish to detract from the ability of seasoned traditional performers to switch the key for a song as appropriate. Neither would I wish to indicate that this is undesirable. There seemed to be an inference from earlier threads (maybe my misunderstanding) that traditional performers think that key is unimportant. From my experience I do not believe this to be the case. However, I do believe it maybe used as some sort of affectation by people who maybe are not as 'traditional' as they would like us to believe they are, and who should probably know better.   


I also have more than a sneaking suspicion that unaccompanied singers naturally adjust key according to the acoustic of the room they are singing in. Nothing wrong with that. Having sat on a sound desk and set levels at checks in empty rooms and halls I know very well that all good musicians unconsciously adjust their own 'levels' at performance time to what they hear coming back to them from the room. Full or Empty.


As regards the dots I'm with the Countess on this one:- aide memoire, also vital in my case for learning tunes on guitar, I'm a slow learner, even for tunes I think I know already. If nothing else it makes me aware of just how many versions are skulling about, and how to avoid mixing them up. I've even found the dots useful in getting at what some performers are doing on their recordings!


God forbid I should get anal about key or 'the right version' I'm getting too long in the tooth for all that now. What I do though care about, and care passionately, is that a performance should be as good as a singer or player can make it. Also when it is a traditional piece that they do show some respect for the tradition it comes from, and for those singers who have gone before them who have nurtured or treasured the song because it was a part of their heritage.

Ultimately I think the 'right' way to sing a song is the one that gets through to the audience. This could well prove to be different on consecutive evenings, I'm pretty sure this is why some performers just can't give up, they're still trying to crack it every night!

SM