This discussion really strikes home for me. I think the tradition in in the material and the technique, and that this is incredibly important to some of us. To me, it is about a respect for the people that generated the music, the history of those people, the connection between all of us through the music. I am a singer in the Irish traditional style, and I constantly strive for a smoother roll, for a cleaner tone, and I cringe internally, when I hear an american singer present a traditional Irish song as if they were a 1070's folk singer, or a fiddler play really fast with no lift. ok I am a Trad at heart...

That said, to my mind, it is not music unless it is sung with heart, played with feeling, and this is something that is only generated by being in the moment, in the music, ie your own modern person playing the music. I also, play bodhran, and so obviously have no problem with introduced instruments. I really like Eileen Ivers, but her traditional work sends my spirits flying, and the modern things don't.... I am sure there are many out there that are on the other side of that coin.

I suppose what made me speak up here is the idea that preserving the tradition is necessarily opposed to jumping off into self expression. There is incredible opportunity for self expression within the demands of traditional technique and music.

Claire