I've always felt that folk music was a living tradtion. Until the fiddle was introduced in Ireland, it wasn't part of "trad" music. To me, folk music has always represented time and history. It is a living tradition that needs to evolve or it will die. Music is not meant to be a museum piece.

By my comments, I am not trying to detract from anything that the collectors and musicologists have preserved. Their work is part of the process.

I'm 48 years old. My world is limited. I was very young when the folk revival was taking place. What I have been able to see is a generation of musicians with a deep respect and knowledge of where the music came from, and in turn they were able to create music that reflected that heritage and built upon it. In the 70's and 80's, I felt that songwriters began to loose touch with that background and were emulating the Bob Dylans and Phil Ochs and John Lennons of the world. In the 90s and through today, I am seeing artists that are once again reaching back to learn the styles and heritage and are creating some of the most exciting music I've ever heard.