Do you like a song? Play it, listen to it. Do you dislike a song? Don't play it or listen to it. What possible difference does it make where or when the song is from, or who played it, or why? You all are heaping a tremendous amount of baggage onto songs and tunes, none of which are made better or worse -- or more proper or authentic -- thereby.

This sort of relativism is attractive; but has its limits. I am reminded of the time I met Ken Woollard, many years ago now when he was founder-organiser of the Cambridge Folk Festival, in the refreshment room at Cambridge Station. He took me up on something I had recently written in my monthly Folk Review column about the lack of real folk music at that festival. "People don't mind what music they listen to," he pompously asserted, "so long as it's good." So I asked him if we could please have a session next time where he would hire the London Bach Players to play all six Brandenburg Concertos. He looked at his watch, said he had a train to catch, and went away.

~Michael~