All musical traditions are sort of like icebergs.

One sees the tip only that is popular or new in the present.

Songs that are not being sung, not now popular are the vast portion below the water line and out of sight.

These songs may be stored on recordings some more fragile than others or in books some deteriorating at a fast pace some in librarys that will be destroyted.

The most important unseen portion of the iceberg is the portion stored in the heads of the keepers of songs. This is the best form of storage. It is not dependent upon popularity or quality and it is living generally passed across generations.

What is the health of that portion?

How is it influenced by what is now the domination of an entertainment entertainer tradition-which dominates venues and does not teach and to a larger degree these days only presents new pieces?

If we are to grow this tradition we must re structure venues. More people rather than fewer need to get in and take part. More teaching has to occur and there has to be a greater tolerance for less than professional quality.

Nothing wrong with entertainers but our festivals need to be less focused on entertainment dimension and more focused on smaller stages intimate gatherings and transmission.

Perhaps learning a song should be required for every festival audience member. Give them a song sheet and get to it with a few run through s then let them in the gate.

Providing lyrics and tunes to songs sung to take home is also a good step.

Smaller stages will bring listener/learner and performer closer.

Lots of things to be done. The best start is lowering the costs of participation at all points not just sometime.

Conrad