what would we have done without the olde harpers being documented by edward bunting in ireland... so much may have been lost. and what remains? though its documented and not just learned through an "aural" or "oral" tradition.... the history, society, religion, values, inspiration... in fact the entire culture is held in the music. this i believe. kind of like the metaphysical "thread"... the true history is brought to us through the songs.

so much we have lost about our celtic culture ... the olde songs are the only containers or vessels that some of us have. and some of those vessels were preserved better here, in parts of the u.s., some say, than they were preserved back where they were composed.

i love to find a song.... here someone sing it... find it in the child ballads with numerous versions... all being "right" -- finding it in other books... from other singers... and finding my own way through it so i can be a vehicle for it to come alive again and teach the same teachings it was designed for.

folk music is so timeless. that is one of the things i love about it!

... lorraine