I guess part of the discussion centers on the concept of 'authenticity'.

Some of the music I love: blues, spirituals, work songs. But I'm pretty well white. And a woman. Uh Oh. But nobody knows the troubles I'VE seen.

Now, if I'm going to be purist about such things, I'll miss out on a lot. Because it's great to hear other folks sing stuff, but the music I love is music of the soul, of the body, of the heart. Listening to Mahalia Jackson, or Son House, or anyone else is one way to LEARN stuff, or honor their memories as artists, but I've got to make music my own.

My own personal Irish forebears didn't make a lot of their own music. But their hard-times tales were pretty much the same proud/grim/sorrowful/joyful/triumphant/ridiculous/hilarious/lifeful ones of 'trad' Irish history. How best to honor that?

I think this is why I and others might have a little hero-worship going on for Pete Seeger. He has a gift for sharing music by doing two things simultaneously: honoring and passing on the tradition, teaching what the music has to teach, but also getting you to sing the hell out of it YOURSELF! Of course, 'his' renderings, or the Weavers' or any '70's folkie you'd care to name might not sound like 'it' to you, but then go on from there - seek it out yourself and make it as authentic as you like.... As long as 'authentic' doesn't mean we all gather around the CD player.

To me, the greatest gift of the Getaway weekend is a renewed commitment to find a way to make music with the people around me - wherever we find it!

Dani