'Folk' - by an occasional non-folkie

Subject: RE: 'Folk' - by an occasional non-folkie
From: Folkiedave
Date: 13 Dec 08 - 05:08 AM

The memory is fading but at one early visit to a folk club there was someone singing a chorus song and someone joined in from behind me.
I was so shocked. How dare he I thought to myself - that bloke at the front is doing his best and that bloke behind is joining in!!!

Then the rest started joining is as well. I was gobsmacked. Then I joined in - and got a buzz. Since I wasn't an talented singer the choruses covered my inadequacy. (It's the same with carols). I loved it and still do.

As for singing the same songs - many song-carriers sing the same song on the same occasion. Let me quote an obvious example. Will Noble sings each Sunday at the carols at Dungworth. He sings "Misteltoe Bough" and a version of the "Butcher and the Chambermaid". He has other appropriate songs but he sings those two. Every Sunday and you can set your watch.

There is always someone there who has never heard these before or heard a top quality traditional singer before. And they marvel at the quality. And so they should.

Subject: RE: 'Folk' - by an occasional non-folkie
From: GUEST,Mr Red
Date: 13 Dec 08 - 05:52 AM

I promote the concept of folk music and go to information providers to give them information. Once we have got past their "I am the information source, we tell you" and accepted "well actually you know more than us" we inevitably get into the "well there's line dancing in ***** on Tues" !!
I doubt there are many who would call line dancing folk in either camps. Then there is the "well they have music in XYZ pub" which is obviously loud hit parade stuff and the "information provider" is confusing the 60's progression from Bob Dylan to "anything that comes out of a juke box is folk (if you like that kind of thing)" scenario.

The general public don't know what folk is but they know it when they see it dancing in bells and baldricks.

And when they hear a session, it is all Irish music. Even with the myriad English sessions around the country - (and a few Welsh ones I list).

Is it any wonder that folkies get annoyed. They get labelled incorrectly, by people who laugh at them. We have a right to fight back. Even in this broad church where we worship.

Subject: RE: 'Folk' - by an occasional non-folkie
From: Aeola
Date: 13 Dec 08 - 11:37 AM

You know JC, your post was quite erudite and fervent, a bit like your maths teacher seemed about his subject! I suspect he made quite an impact on your life. In the same way the music teacher at my school said I would have to do science because I couldn't span an octave!! C'est la vie!!