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From Estelle Klein
It was my choice not to offer opinions in the original posting. Now =
Derek's letter prompts these comments.
I agree with Derek's point about the questionable need for definitions =
in particular commercial arenas. I am, however, concerned about the =
stereotype of folk, as presented on a CBC show. What it did show was =
that at times people still have a need to define the genre and that when =
an occasion arises definitions do get used, sometimes =
flippantly,possibly off the cuff AND without substance.
I believe strongly in this kind of music in its myriad forms and have =
given most of my life to it. I want it to be given fair and respectful =
treatment as with jazz, symphonic music or ... whatever. I believe the =
speaker intended no insult. He presented a warm & fuzzy general view of =
a vast and varied field. I think we are more than that.=20
The need to define arises in particular situations where there is not =
the freedom enjoyed by Derek. I think Harbourfront has a great array of =
music and a wonderfully mixed and receptive audience for the most part. =
It is unlike that of smaller locales apart from festival -type events.
My own programming work when apart from a strictly folk event often =
requires that I educate a bit. One often has to explain why a =
particular form of music, might be different but perhaps equally =
suitable and perhaps even more interesting than the commonly heard and =
more familiar commercial pop music. Not a question of good Vs bad! I =
have to believe that many folk performers can find themselves in similar =
situations. Not everyone works in a major urban centre.
In cases like these it helps to be able to articulate what one does, and =
what makes it different. In the case of songwriters it may be easier - =
we exist in a songwriting culture. In the case of those who interpret =
traditional music (from any culture) it will not
be as easy, particularly in a place like Picton, where I live. This is =
common to most most small towns
To be able to make a good case for the less than usual requires some =
ability to define in some way. You become a salesperson with knowledge.
=20
"Folk as a word recalls the sixties for many" is all too true. I believe =
this particular nostalgia does not serve the folk community well. =20
To sum up; definitions for marketing niches are necessary/helpful. The =
terms "folk roots", "world roots", "traditional folk" all sound good to =
me. Being prepared to use an occasional sensible definition when the =
need arises might help the 'cause' - which I suspect is of interest to =
most maplefolk.
Keep those definitions or comments alive ?
Regards and thanks=20
Estelle Klein
<estelle@kos.net>
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From Estelle Klein
It was my choice not to offer opinions in the =
original=20
posting. Now Derek's letter prompts these comments.
I agree with Derek's point about the =
questionable need for definitions =
in=20
particular commercial arenas. I =
am, however,=20
concerned about the stereotype of folk, as presented on a CBC show. What =
it did=20
show was that at times people still have a need to define the genre and =
that=20
when an occasion arises definitions do get used, sometimes =
flippantly,possibly=20
off the cuff AND without substance.
I believe strongly in this =
kind of music in its myriad forms and have given most of my =
life to it. I=20
want it to be given fair and respectful treatment as with jazz, =
symphonic music=20
or ... whatever. I believe the =
speaker=20
intended no insult. He presented a warm & fuzzy general view =
of a vast=20
and varied field. I think we are more than that.
The need to define arises in =
particular=20
situations where there is not the =
freedom=20
enjoyed by Derek. I think Harbourfront has a great array of music and a=20
wonderfully mixed and receptive audience for the most part. It is unlike =
that of=20
smaller locales apart from festival -type events.
My own programming work when apart =
from a=20
strictly folk event often requires that I educate a bit. One often =
has to=20
explain why a particular form of music, might=20
be different but perhaps equally suitable and =
perhaps even=20
more interesting than the commonly heard and more familiar commercial =
pop=20
music. Not a question of good Vs bad! I have to believe that =
many=20
folk performers can find themselves in similar situations. Not everyone =
works in=20
a major urban centre.
In cases like these it helps to be able to =
articulate what one=20
does, and what makes it different. In the case of songwriters it may be =
easier -=20
we exist in a songwriting culture. In the case of those who =
interpret traditional music (from any culture) it will =
not
be as easy, particularly in a place like Picton, =
where I live.=20
This is common to most most small towns
To be able to make a good case =
for the=20
less than usual requires some ability to define in =
some way.=20
You become a salesperson with knowledge.
"Folk as a word recalls the sixties for =
many" is all=20
too true. I believe this particular nostalgia does not serve the folk =
community=20
well.
To sum up; definitions for marketing niches are=20
necessary/helpful. The terms "folk roots", "world =
roots",=20
"traditional folk" all sound good to me. Being prepared =
to=20
use an occasional sensible definition when the =
need arises=20
might help the 'cause' - which I suspect is of interest to most=20
maplefolk.
Keep those definitions or comments alive =
?
Regards and thanks
Estelle Klein
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