I think that it is important to remember that "the tradition" does not exist. There are lots of traditions, some vital and growing, some dying or dead. Traditions tend to be the provenance of subgroups, be they ethnic, cultural, or trade-Cowboy songs, Miner Songs, Lumberman songs, Wedding songs, Slavic Songs, Slave songs, Mountain Ballads, Sea Chanteys--you get the idea--

Some of this material has been collected and presented in such a way that it can be appreciated by a mostly middle class audience, but that audience experiences in a way that is different from the culture of origin--