Guardian calls Ani DiFranco folk singer

Subject: RE: Guardian calls Ani DiFranco folk singer
From: Beer
Date: 18 Oct 07 - 12:44 PM

Ron,
Must say I really like your last two observations/stanza/paragraph whatever of your post before the one of good luck Nigel.
Very well said and a lot to think about.
Beer (adrien)

Subject: RE: Guardian calls Ani DiFranco folk singer
From: GUEST,Shimrod
Date: 18 Oct 07 - 05:35 PM

Ron,

Are the words 'Jazz' or 'Rock' or 'Classical' well-defined?

Perhaps I should try the experiment of singing 'Lord Bateman' in a Jazz club and see what reaction I get ...

On second thoughts, perhaps 'Cap'n Birdseye' could try it and report back ... ?

Oh! Hi, Cap'n ... more tea?

Subject: RE: Guardian calls Ani DiFranco folk singer
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 18 Oct 07 - 10:17 PM

They are as well defined and as open as folk.

Perhaps you should try singing "Lord Bateman" in a jazz club. Be sure to bring your dictionary.

Subject: RE: Guardian calls Ani DiFranco folk singer
From: GUEST,Ian cookieless
Date: 19 Oct 07 - 03:47 PM

Tom, just to say I appreciate all the time and effort that's gone into responding to these posts in such a measured way, for taking my points, sincerely meant, and for responding in a likewise sincere manner. And Declan, I too wish that folks whose only intention is to inflame, well, just wouldn't.

I see what you mean about origins, Tom. I am always fascinated to read of - and investigate myself (i.e. seek out what others have variously written and compare - I am no folk scholar) - the origins of a song or tune. In that respect I can completely see your point about locality and song evolution. But I just don't think that, as you seem to suggest, local origins were ever hermetically sealed, but highly porous - just as they are today, in fact. And I also don't think that we can easily - or at all - make an altogether clear distinction between broadsides and the oral tradition. They merge and mix, just like all of life does. I won't go into reasons why I think this, as others have already made those points above. But just to cite one example, the most ubiquitous traditional song of all, Barbara Allen: scholars still cannot decide if its origins are Scottish or English, for all its hundreds of local variants.

My reference to Ewan MacColl was from his radio series, The Song Carriers, which I have on CD. And yes, I am positive he said words to the effect that I mentioned (criticising traditional gypsy singers for not being, in his eyes, traditional enough). If you like, I could dig it out and make a direct quote.

Again, that's for taking the time.

Subject: RE: Guardian calls Ani DiFranco folk singer
From: GUEST,Tom
Date: 19 Oct 07 - 06:03 PM

Thanks for that - and as you'll see above I've always conceded the points about niche leakage and broadsheets/broadsides.. it's a very inexact science, but based on some basic principles of presumed isolation and reasonably identifiable and tracable migrations and cross-contaminations (again, not perjorative).

The point is it is not what it was like, but that there's a clear distinction between the 'g'olden days and the post collection period.

Some scots mix single malt with iron-bru. Nice drink I'm sure, but harder to identify which whisky you're drinking.

Oh, and radio killed the tradio star.

Subject: RE: Guardian calls Ani DiFranco folk singer
From: michaelr
Date: 19 Oct 07 - 07:19 PM

Tom, as a single-malt lover I'm curious: What's iron-bru?

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: Guardian calls Ani DiFranco folk singer
From: Peace
Date: 19 Oct 07 - 07:22 PM

Iron Bru

Subject: RE: Guardian calls Ani DiFranco folk singer
From: GUEST,Bob Ryszkiewicz
Date: 19 Oct 07 - 08:16 PM

This here thread is edjukational...