I don't know if anyone is left who is interested in conversing about the subject of this thread: how all music is forged out of an awareness and appreciation for tradition. Before the old songs were freeze-dried and stuck into the Traditional Music locker, musicians were naturally creating new music that grew out of the "traditional" music of the day. I picture some poor bugger who created a new song only to be told, "Sorry, the deadline for traditional music was last Thursday. You just missed it."

If it looks like we can actually have a concersation, I'd also like to talk about the process by which recently written songs become folkized. I've seen that with some of my songs, and I heartily approve. I can give some examples, as well as changes I've made in recently written songs by others. The folk process is anything but dead.

Jerry