Stew ... As always, I find that anything you put your name too is very well written and researched. I find this article interesting.

Of course, what you're really talking about is CHANGE. And no one I know, especially me, likes change. Why, I even discarded some wimmen because they wanted CHANGE, but that's another story.

Your main points about tradition, and the need to value and respect it, are well taken. Obviously, without our forebearers, where would we be today?

In my own case, I remain somewhat frustrated that my own three children (my brother used to call them my SPAWN) have not followed my intrest in traditional folk music. At the same time my youngest son ( I have several) does love music and is quite profient on several instruments. However his chosen type of music hurts my ears and gives me a big headache.

But, to his credit, he once sent me a recording Bruce Springsteen perfoming songs that were supposed to present his respect for the traditional folk music. As I recall, he also gave much credit to Pete Seeger as one of his root influences. But, truth be told from my side of the table, I couldn't much identify with any of his choices.

Of course, he is he and I am I ... aren't we all!

So perhaps the questions goes back to CHANGE. Change is inevitable. But just how much change can we tolerate? Ahhhhhhhh ... there's the rub.

I'm of a generation, and of an age, where I know what I am willing to accept in music. PERIOD! Of course my children, grandchildren think I'm an old 'stick in the mud'! And I certainly don't dissagree with them.

But as I think of where my world of music might, or might NOT be, fifty of a hundred years from now, I still stick to my values.

Again, thank you for your well thought out article. bob(deckman)nelson