Dear Mr Carroll, I am not trying to compromise traditional music out of existence. I feel that I do my bit for the cause of traditional music. The following are ballads which I have sung and will no doubt continue to sing in public.
The Twa Sisters, The Cruel Brother, The Cruel Mother, Lizie Wan, Young Beichan, The Unquiet Grave, Little Musgrave and Lady Barnard, Lamkin , The Great Silkie of Sule Skerry, Mary Hamilton , The Bonny Earl of Murray, Hughie Grame, The Bonnie House o Airlie, Geordie, Bonnie James Campbell , Eppie Morrie , Lizie Lindsay, Andrew Lammie, The New-Slain Knight, John of Hazelgreen, Bonny Barbara Allen
I confess that I usually adopt some form of accompaniment when singing but I usually try to be sensitive to the song; e.g.
bonny george /james campbell
However, the audience for this sort of material is, given the changes in music culture, very small. There are some encouraging signs such as the recent start up of The Sheffield Ballads club.
sheffield ballads club
I don't believe anyone is wanting to deny the traditional heritage, and as you have said the recorded oral/written records will always be with us. It is the live music scene which has changed and unlike amateurs like me some people are trying to make a living from their music and must therefore be sensitive to their audiences.
John platt