I'd like to ask, what posters think of Virginia Tams suggestion that we may still need to be gathering 'traditional' songs from those who know them.

Supposing I met some elderly lady who sang me a couple of songs she's known from childhood, which had not already been collected to anyone elses's knowledge. And suppose she could tell me the name of the Great Uncle who sang them to her, and who she believes composed them.

Would they not count as 'folk songs' because the cut-off date for that term's applicability has been established at year X?

So does the folk process necessarily have to be dead, or has it been laid to rest prematurely and is there a case for the folk community keeping it alive?

I'm just following on from some of the thoughts that VTam has made on the 'records archive' thread, and thought here was the place to ask.