The cogs in my brain have started whirring again, and have come up with, what to me, is an interesting question:

Are traditional or other songs still part of the 'tradition', or have they become largely ephemeral?

To clarify, I see a tradition as something that is:

(a) Continuing in their original environment
(b) Established over a period of time

Examples of what I see as traditions are:

The ceromony of the keys
Social singing and playing
'Folk Dance'.

On the other hand, I see 'Maritime Traditional' as a misnoma, except maybe the continuity from forbitters to mess-hall songs. Shanties can only be ephemeral, as are music hall songs - both are still performed but not in their original environment.

However, how much of what we call tradititional is still performed/enjoyed as part of a tradition. Is the folk-revival sufficiently established t be seen as a tradition?

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