Howard, hey, I really appreciate you taking the time to reply. I think I understand what you're saying. And I've played the Shetland Folk Festival and the Shetland Blues Festival, and spent a lot of time mixing in the Lerwick Lounge, playing Shetland tunes, Scottish and Irish tunes, blues, folk, skiffle, even some old-time and bluegrass, even weirder stuff. What you're saying makes sense to me, a lot of sense. There's a piano there, ready to go. And there are various instruments hanging on the wall for people to pick up and play at any time. It's a real fun place, a sacred room, an amazing space!

I was lucky to meet "Peerie" Willie Johnson at the Lerwick Lounge in 2005 or 2006, just before he died, with American Tim O'Brien doing an interview, and he demonstrated his style. It was swing chords, sock rhythm stuff, akin to Texas Swing, and "changes" to back fiddle tunes. He could still play. Lovely man, very humble, and he took a drink, as I recall. (I was in charge of drinks for him and Tim, which gave me a seat at the table.) Tim was very respectful and in awe of him, and we all were. It was beautiful.

The fiddling tradition in Shetland is alive and well, and I noticed on several occasions that the local female fiddlers hanging out, all pierced and punked out, not looking like folkies of any description -- barely out of their teens (if that) -- had much better intonation and more stamina than their male counterparts, who seemed to be less able to handle drink. Maybe this isn't always the case, but cherish the ladies who outshone the lads in the wee hours. And move over Aly Bain!

Okay, personally, I have no problem with the use of the term "British Isles"; however, in Ireland, where I live as an American ex-pat, well, don't call Irish trad that at sessions (i.e., music from the "British Isles"). This isn't obvious to many bluegrass musicians, for example. Enough said about that. Let's see, oh yeah, I have loads of examples of piano in Irish traditional music, and I've done studio work with pianist Brendan Dolan in NYC, son of Felix Dolan, and played sessions with Donna Long from Cherish the Ladies, so I know the piano works well in trad, in the right hands, of course.

It's common knowledge that folk artists, especially female singers, and traditional singers who have crossed over to Celtic, New Age and Pop make good use of the piano, and haven't turned their backs on it. Loreena McKennitt, who plays at Carnegie Hall tomorrow night (30 November 2012), immediately comes to mind.

Finally, for use of the oft-maligned piano in "folk/trad music" -- whatever that could mean (e.g., "everything is everything") -- I found this link, a sweet recording from the Irish tradition with some delicate piano backing by Charlie Lennon, a legend and prolific composer of traditional music.

See video: Joe Burke (box) and Charlie Lennon (piano)

Best ~ Tom Hanway