Hi Kirsten, and thanks for going to the effort of giving such thorough replies. I must admit that I'm not as committed to authenticity as you might hope - I want the music I choose to be accessible enough that I can get the gig and play it without learning a whole new repertoire - but I'll take what you wrote into consideration when choosing and introducing songs. You mentioned U. of T.: are you still studying there, and interested in finding people to play folksongs with? If so, I'm living in Toronto now; feel free to PM me if you decide to become a Mudcat member (which I certainly hope you do, regardless of whether or not you get in touch with me).

Peter, as for your question about Ontario hillbilly music; I've been led to believe that Ottawa Valley fiddling is a distinctive style and repertoire. Unfortunately, not much of the part of my life that I've been into music has been spent in the Ottawa Valley (which is where I'm from).

What I'd like to know is: how much of a tradition of black Canadian folk music is there? I know some of the spirituals speak of taking refuge in Canada (like Follow the Drinking Gourd); are any of the spirituals Canadian in origin?

Marion