Poppa - the reason we play poker isn't so much for the love of the game, but for the social aspect of getting together and having a few beers and laughs. THAT is where is SIMILAR in respect to group singing - a spirit that brings people together.   Of course the actual function differs dramatically.

Mary, those were lovely videos. IF someone had been reading from a book or a cue card, would that change your feeling about the video? If the soundtrack did not change one note, would you have felt differently if you saw someone reading a sheet of music?

I still feel that there is confusion or failure to understand what many of us are saying. NO ONE is recommending that books be used in this thread. NO ONE. Read all 300 or so notes to confirm.

People are throwing about terms like "folk process", which in itself is nothing more than a theory created by a brilliant individual and adopted by the folk community. It is also a misunderstood theory.

A group sing has absolutely NOTHING to do with a folk process. The events that have been described here are manufactured gatherings developed in the later half of the 20th century. To the dismay of some, they continue to evolve and they continue to be diverse.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with having different types of group sings. Water finds its own level.