Yesterday on the Oz classical station, as I was driving home, I heard Alison Krauss singing Simple Gifts with just a cello accompaniment, played by Yo Yo Ma. Perfect bell-like voice, perfect accompaniment! What an experience to hear that!

Just before that was Alice Giles playing My Old Kentucky Home on the concert harp.

ABC-FM plays a wide variety of music, including folk, jazz & world music, which would not come under the "classical" label, but which fits in completely with much of the classical music they play. They play crossover music as well: music which is a fusion of different styles.

And, about Joplin's Treemonisha. I have an idea - you talented people in the US - why don't you stage it yourselves? (Serious question - not a joke.)

In Oz a folkie called Chris Kempster (now deceased), back in the early 60's, was the driving force behind a musical stage play called Reedy River based on Oz (colonial - not Aboriginal) folk songs. Out of that he then was involved in the national children's radio music broadcasts for schools. My sister & I were in primary school at that stage and we had singing sessions based on those broadcasts. I still have a couple of the books with the songs in them.

Out of those broadcasts I am sure that a love of folk music was inspired in many people and that it heavily influenced the folk scene across Australia.

So, my question is a serious one: why don't you talented people stage Treemonisha? (And make a DVD to sell so I don't miss out. :-)   )

Helen