Hi Jim,

Big Al has hit upon the answer. A folk tradition can't just be an audience and a performer. There has to be an active involvement in it to justify its importance.
By this I mean that people have to be educated to appreciate traditional music and
that kind of education has to contain the ability of young people to participate not just in listening but active performance of this music. There must be classes or instruction that teach people to sing and play this music for it to survive. I am involved in a Folk School that does just that. There are many folk song and music schools throughout the world. Some examples come to mind such as the Scoil Eigse in Drogheda county Louth put on by the CCE. Folk Festivals will sometimes offer classes.

In short, if people can own the music by participation in the performance, it will survive

The danger lies in academic elitism that weeds out participation..

Frank