Not to sidetrack this discussion, but I notice the Child Ballads have been mentioned a number of times.

While I don't claim to be a Child scholar by any stretch of the imagination, it is my understanding that Child was only interested in collecting the words and variations of the ballads. The tunes were not published in the original books, except I believe as a footnote in the final volume. (I could very well be wrong about this, I do not own nor have I read all 5 volumes.) Child was interested in the poetry and variations of the ballads. The tunes that have become attached to the ballads are in some cases the folk tradition at work - a tune blends well with the words and becomes accepted as the defacto "folk song".

Perhaps someone more familiar with the work of Francis Child could either verify or disclaim my thoughts. I think it is fitting for this discussion because it shows that "modernizing the tradition" is actually what the "tradition" has ALWAYS been about!

Ron

P.S. - I recently receive a copy of the new edition of Volume 1 of Child's Ballads. I am trying to find some time to really sit down without distraction and delve into this work. It is certainly a beautiful edition.