"in short, a kind of "purism" is not ultimately a potent form of communication."
You mean classical music programmes should include Bert Kamfert?
Sorry - it's not what's worked here, nor was it what I suggested, and IMO 'Purism' , 'finger-in-ear', et al is little more than a substitute for argument I'm afraid.
The turnaround in the fortunes of Irish music has happened because those involved have gone back to the roots - have specialised.
Over this week I will be able to watch a programme on veteran Irish piper Tom McCarthy, three, hour-long programmes on sea songs and the old ususl wall-to-wall television and radio programmes of tradititional music virtually every night of the week - Come West Along The Road, Geantrai.....all that old stuff (all on national stations).
This will continue week after week, throughout the year and will include the annual award for Traditional Musician of the Year sponsored by one of the three national television stations (two recipients from this town). I will be able to turn on the TV or radio any day of the week and listen to traditional music - and as much of the other stuff (singer-songwriter, experimental... whatever, as I care to put up with.
The really important result of all this - youngsters are flocking to the music in droves - next St Pat's Day will see a turnout from this town of upward of a hundred youngsters from school age to teens, playing unwatered-down Irish music from a reasonable standard to superb.
I suggest that perhaps the proof of the pudding is in the eating - 'I've shown you mine, now you show me yours'.
Perhaps - just perhaps the solution to the problem has something to do with passing off the presentation of folk music as 'binding rigidity' - "the answer lies out there", I'm sure.
In the long run, putting water in the whiskey only leads to people developing a taste for watered down whiskey.
Jim Carroll