Ron: Interesting point about how we respond to music depending on the music we make. I do indeed enjoy both instrumental and vocal music, although there are times when I hear fiddlers jamming on familiar tunes at a Festival, I wish that they came with on off-on switch. One of the things that I've always responded to in both vocal and instrumental music is rhythm. It's probably why I need to hear either a great story or a naturally rhythmic presentation of a long ballad in otder to enjoy it. There are ballads that I still sing, and love, like The Jam On Gerry's Rock, and I have always enjoyed singing unaccompanied (and listening to unaccompanied singing.) I just don't do drones well.

I suppose that I gravitate toward South African music so much because of the rhythms. I love the harmonies of Ladysmith Black Mombazo, but even there, they have a wonderful, swining way of singing together.

An image: A good friend of mine who sings unaccompanied ballads and songs of the sea graciously filled in for our tenor a few times at a festival. We shoulda had a video. There were Frankie, Joe and I rocking back and forth in rhythm to the music, and my dear friend standing stiff as a rod with his eyes closed, his hands jammed down into his pants pockets and his head tilted back, singing his heart out. He sounded fine, but it was a snapshot of completely different approaches to singing.

Jerry