Hi Bill,

The furthest thing from my has been to "get picky." As I'm sure you can perceive, my intention is to open up areas for consideration, not to shrink 'em down.

And also, even though I may have allowed myself to be understood otherwise, I certainly understand that meaningful category-names or "labels" are necessary, just so we can understand each other, each knowing what the other is talking about.

I believe that "traditional" is the clearest label and most fitting name for the kind of music that some would like to be the only music graced with the honored name of "Folk." In fact "traditional" alone is probably inadequate; for more meaningfull identification, "traditional English," "traditional Appalachian," "traditional Bulgarian," etc., are probably more helpful.

When it comes to the meaning of "Folk" beyond, or deeper than, a simple category name to be used in music stores, the meaning that resonates with meaning as "of the people," etc., that's where I have to differ. The traditional folk music that many people embrace is NOT the primary "soundtrack" of anyone's lives in the present day, it's an historical curiosity and a hobby for those who so choose, not unlike interest in classical "early music" as performed on valveless horns and other obsolete intruments. Not that there's anything wrong with that; I'm simply arguing that such music is very much less central to our community life than it was when it was current, that is, when it was folk music.

Quoting you, in regard to the wide spectrum of popular contemporary music:
"After it has been filtered and mellowed for a number of years, it may BECOME traditional and get absorbed into the realm of trad/folk."

You're right, insofar as not all the songs widely known and enjoyed today will withstand the test of time. Thing is, we don't yet know which will survive and which won't. For now, we simply share a huge and motley assortment of music; ALL of it is the communal property of us 21st-century internationally connected folk.

Now, compare our shared contemporary musical heritiage with the then-current folk music of some 17th century fishing village. The best of their songs may remain known to this day, but certainly not all of them. I'm sure they had a number of other songs that did not, in the long run, prove resilient enough to gain immortality. Still, back then when they were current, they were part of that culture's "folk music." I feel the same status should be conceded to all the songs that all or most of us recognize today; some will live forever and some won't, and we have no idea which are which.

Do I think CDs of "Louie Louie" or "Over the Rainbow" should be labelled as "folk" in the record stores (insofar as record stores still exist)? Of course not. I am simply arguing the position that, labels aside, the best and/or beast-loved music of many different categories functions as the "folk music" of our new, unprecedented, communal, global world.