Over Analysis

Subject: RE: Over Analysis
From: GUEST,Joe
Date: 07 May 08 - 08:47 AM

I think I mentioned this before but its worth writing again!

In the showers at the Sidmouth festival a few years ago, a man edged up to a friend of mine asking 'are you a Bampton dancer then?' to which his reply was yes. The man then stated, 'but you don't dance Bampton.' Apparently he had studied the history books, checked the dagrams etc and concluded that we were dancing our own tradition incorrectly, and maybe we should read up on how to dance properly.

Subject: RE: Over Analysis
From: Phil Edwards
Date: 07 May 08 - 08:32 AM

How about if those who want to analyse, analyse, and those who don't, don't? Bit of a radical suggestion, I know, but shall we give it a whirl?

Subject: RE: Over Analysis
From: GUEST,Fantasma
Date: 07 May 08 - 08:17 AM

Navel gazers always over analyze. It is in their very nature.

Many folk purists and their personal devotees have this tendency.

Coincidence?

Subject: RE: Over Analysis
From: The Sandman
Date: 07 May 08 - 07:55 AM

You are right.

Subject: Over Analysis
From: Sugwash
Date: 07 May 08 - 07:02 AM

Are we over-analysing our music. Perhaps I'm a simple soul, but I just like to get out there and sing or play folk music. I don't overly care how it's presented, be it an unaccompanied singer, a singer accompanying himself (or herself) with an instrument, a group of musicians/singers or any combination of the above.

It matters little to me where it's from be it an English song that's crossed the Atlantic and come back again, a French tune, an Irish/Scottish/Welsh song, it's all grist to my mill.

It doesn't bother me if it's played on an instrument that is not considered 'traditional'; my life would be poorer, for example, if the Greek bouzouki hadn't made its journey to Ireland (and then everywhere else) and into Planxty and the Bothy Band; I love the saxophone in many English dance bands.

I hope that I respect the various traditions, but I'm a musician, not an historian, so I'm happy that they are living traditions and, as such, are evolving.

I've been in love with folk music for something approaching forty years. Recently I've been reading seemingly endless threads analysing the music I so love, I found myself beginning to question why I stick with this music. So I'm resolved to stop reading these often negative threads and get out there singing and playing.