T, I am not referring to immitating ANYTHING! When I say "respectful to traditions" I am NOT saying "imitate the traditions shamelessly". We have new lifestytles and though we may revert to war, patriarchal sexual orientation, and non orgasmic women/prostitutes, the simple fact is that traditional songs don't respond to many of the issues facing people today. One casual glance down the list of Brittish food stuffs is enough to make one choke! The issues facing us today DO have a lot in common with the near and distant past, and I am committed to this as fact! However, the ostrich-like assertions of tradophiles; that there can be no new folk, is like bible thumping to adherents of evolved faiths like unitarians... THERE MUST BE 'NEW FOLK' BECAUSE THERE ARE NEW ISSUES BROUGHT FORTH EVERY DAY, lIKE; WOMEN'S RIGHTS, PEACETIME ECONOMY, ENVIRONMENTAL COEXISTENCE, AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST,... "May we take care of one another?"

To honor the forms of tradition, with a voice of today is no "folk sin". Unless, perhaps, a "specialist" is flirting with the insecurities inherent to a 'live' process...

Thomas