The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #2224   Message #9234
Posted By: Elsie
22-Jul-97 - 12:08 PM
Thread Name: What is a Folk Song?
Subject: RE: What is a Folk Song?
Was going to retire to the background for awhile....but I have to reply to the last two....If what we have said has helped even Joe Offer to reconsider his viewpoint, then it has been worth it......and Joe, what you have gone thru with the 'folk' clubs, I have gone thru several times...I tried to be part of the Philadelphia Folk Song Society once upon a time, but it soon became clear that 95% of their interest was that festival, and as long as it drew a crowd, they didn't much give a hang for the notion of 'trad' or of singing much among themselves..(perhaps this has changed in recent years, but I doubt it..). I have also found performers that used to do a lot of traditional stuff have been changing because they simply could not get a large enough audience to make it pay to go on the road. I guess I can't blame them, but since I do NOT have to make a living singing what the masses want, I do a lot of searching for the few festivals, radio programs, records, clubs, (and yes, discussion groups) where I can immerse myself in my favorite music---and if some of the other stuff gets on me, I can brush it off---I just don't want too work too hard to sift out what I want from the waves of new styles, etc.(lazy, I suppose)

And Barry....while the rest of them 'squab'le, lets you and I eat duck! Quack!