in this months Living Tradition. Jim Bainbridge said
quote:we developed a much wider view of folk music its place in the community and essentially it was and still is a style rather than a repertoire.
I strongly disagree:
IMO This musical philsophy has certain flaws
1 If i sing god save the queen, or lily the pink or the birdies song acoustic with my concertina in the vocal style of joseph taylor they do not become suddenly folk songs.
Rpertoire is the important factor for me. when i sing in an irish pub my repertoire would change slightly from my perfomance in a folk club.
3. dependent on the folk club my repertoire would change and be adapted slightly, to some extent this is picked up from the material of other performers floor singers residents etc.
when i put together a 40 minute spot it is again repertoire, contrasting subject matters and style is not ruled out entirely because different tempos and different music keys are considered to provide balance and change of sound.
What i find intersting about jim bainbridges statement is that imo it is applicable to Jazz not folk.
Jazz is about improvisation lily the pink or god save the queen or lovely joan as melodies can all be jazzed up or imporovised