Mick--

I picked the example of Rosenhayn, NJ because it probably is on the borders of the Pinelands, both geographically and culturally, but it's the sort of decision that needs to be made by anyone who chooses to write a dissertation.

The Pine Barrens first entered my consciousness with John McPhee's eponymous 1968 book about them (http://www.johnmcphee.com/pinebarrens.htm ), a book which did not, as I recall after almost 40 years, have anything much to say about the music of the area, although McPhee dwelt on several legends, including the Jersey Devil. The manner in which he treated the locals and milked them of their tales apparently left some of them feeling like he "ripped them off;" certainly the mention of his name brought up mixed feelings on the part of many Pineys.

--Charlie Baum