Dear Deckman,

Sorry to have caused you so much internal turmoil. Just for the record, I do regard House Carpenter as traditional, but I just wanted to make the point that the distinction between 'traditional' and 'composed' can be very blurred, and to get people thinking a little beyond the obvious. I'll give you another example - those of my era will remember the song 'Portland Town', undoubtedly composed by Derrol Adams and yet within a short time various versions of it were circulating amongst the folk community (in the 60s - showing my age). So the song passed from being a composition to one undergoing the folk process and in a way common property. Does that mean it's now a traditional song? I've been singing folksongs for 40 years and I'm buggered if I know the answer. Just enjoy the singing and the songs.

All the best

Gwilym