"I would hope that that "true folklorist" you refer to can keep in HIS head some perspective on what the origins were, even as he "examines such trends and sees that (sic) connections." "

Or "her" head! :)   Just teasing! What I was saying is exactly that - a true folklorist would keep perspective on what the origins were.   The question is- there are many different cultures and communities, and many different origins.   I could be off base, but it seems what you are describing is a "folk" music that you are familiar with.


"Here in the DC area, our own Mary Cliff has made essentially the same point to me for years....yet she understands precisely what I am saying and tries hard to keep a 'reasonable' amount of.......whatever it is I am looking for - the 'older' sorts of folk.... alive and relevant. Sometimes, her program is excellent (in my view)...and sometimes it is full of newly written stuff, or older stuff 'speeded up and loudified' (to coin a phrase) by 'modern' young folks with LOTS of talent but not much perspective...and I end up turing it off."

I love Mary and I think we have similar perspectives. I try to do the same in terms of keeping the "older" sort of folk alive, but I do see a connection in contemporary music that tends to be overlooked. The idea of "speeded up and loudified" is an indication that the traditions you look at are based on musical styles that probably came out of the folk revival. If you look at how those styles were developed in the first place, you might see why the "speed up and loudified" contemporary style is simply a reflection of the culture that created it.