The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #162666   Message #3943825
Posted By: GUEST,jag
14-Aug-18 - 07:11 AM
Thread Name: New Book: Folk Song in England
Subject: RE: New Book: Folk Song in England
My view is that 'personal' and 'commercial' uses of music probably interacted.

I think that in the past, as now, music for local dancing (not just traditional) was often provided by people with days jobs who also played recreationally and may have done a bit of busking at the markets.

Somewhere on the web (I though it was Village Music Project but I can't find it now - can anyone point to it?) is a transcript of the diary of an early 19th century jobbing hand-loom weaver and fiddle player which includes how much he earned from different sources.

Paying a singer for performance was presumanly less common and probably more commercially promoted. But I thought we were talking about the creators of songs sung non-commercially by 'the folk'.

I my experience sour words about people 'making money' (including from some of my friends) come from left of centre people who have secure jobs or pensions rather than those getting by on short term work or 'the gig economy'.