In my belife...

Peoples ideas of the word 'folk music' are a romantacised myth. Its the same with the word 'traditional music'. You cant define a tradition of an art form- its simply a contrived style as is all musical and art 'styles'. Of course you can say that this contrived style is what we now call 'Folk Music' or 'Traditional Music' - but you have to ask yourseves should people really be attaching the word 'Folk' or 'Traditional' to this style of playing or singing. I find It hard to say that 'Folk Music' is in other words the 'Peoples Music' because then you seperate it to any other stylised form of music, claiming that such genres such as pop, rock and classical arent the 'peoples music'- people made this music, and therefore it belongs to them.

As for tradition, all music is traditional. All music follows patterns, cliches, contrived forms, even if the maker of that music is trying to make something completely new. Hip Hop is a traditonal form. There isnt a certain age or popularity something has to be to become traditional. It becomes traditional through continuity, which I feel all art forms have; so why link it to only one style of music?

Call me synical, but I feel many 'folkies' as they like to be known can be very snobbish on what they feel folk music is. I think they they feel 'folk music' is a more pure, true and honest form of music. - Infact i feel the contrary about what they would call 'folk music' Ironically, I belive its stagnant and has lost any continuity because of that and thus looses its status of being a Traditional form. - of course many would argue that this type of music isnt stagnant, and is ever evolving - in my honest opinion, i dont think it is evolving (not enough to call itself 'traditonal' form anyway)

Maybe on their folk festival line up next year, these so called 'folkies' should visit an illegal techno rave in thetford forest or maybe a three day german heavy metal concert because I feel these are the truest forms to a 'folk festival' today.

I have no problems with people playing/singing 'folk' music or 'traditional' music - I would just rather that it not be called folk/traditional because I belive this is a bastardisation of words which carry alot of meaning and weight. Furthermore much 'folk' music also carries alot of meaning and weight, so we must treasure this like all other forms of music and art which also carry alot of meaning and weight. - No art or music form is superior to another, because they all have meaning and a social/historical context - wether it be Harry Cox singing 'what will become of England' or Girls Aloud on MTV.

In conclusion, the way I see 'folk' music is that is that it is like a medieval re-enactment society. - We perform what we thought music was like many years ago. Often idealising it, or romantacising it. A theatrical performance of History. We treat the music like a play, as the re-enactment society does - a spectacle for others to observe. As Antonin Artaud would put it - Deadly Theatre.

I happen to be studying a Degree in Folk and Traditonal music at Newcastle University, which doesent make me superior or educated in any way. I dont want to give the impression that because I am studying 'Folk and Traditonal' music it makes me more knowledgeable than anyone else in any way because i dont feel like this - But if anything, it has made me look more critically at the 'folk' scene. Maybe not coming from a 'folky' family, its all a bit of a shock to the system.


I hope what i have said isnt too dysjunct or intelligable - ive just had too much coffee.

Please feel free to send me hate mail at otis_luxton@hotmail.com

Otis.