If a person sang from their repository of truly traditional songs aquired in the agreed fashion within a community that respected those songs , but was not regarded as a fitting or representative performer who stood for the community's sense of identity and aspirations, would they be able to claim to be a traditional singer?.

I agree with JC it has to be conferred, you can't just claim it.


it's much more than quality of voice and music, it has to be lived I think.


I don't think revival singers and listeners form a coherent community so I'm coming down more to place and continuity through generations than interests. It is part of an accretion and significant song and music( I'd apply the same definitions to traditional music for dance and listening too)


The function is to cement identity and meaning. if new songs are brought in and go throufgh the process they can become traditional within the adopting or selecting community.