I'm sorry to fire an opinion - about the pointlessness of arguing about song 
types when I am concerned about the survival of singing as an activity 
followed by ordinary people and not in imitation of professionals - and then 
go away so that the flak doesn't come near me. This is, of course, not to say 
that there are not differences between songs and song types and that they are 
not worth arguing about - but singing is more important..

In his contribution, J L Speranza suggests that it is "community singing" 
that I am talking about. Not necessarily - singing within a community takes 
many forms - it may be group singing as at scout camps or among families - it 
may be singing by individuals. The songs sung in these circumstances are not 
prescribed. Ballads can be sung by groups and sometimes are. However, a song 
like "There's a hole in the bucket" lends itself naturally to group singing 
because its structure makes it possible for anyone unfamiliar with it to 
immediately join in and probably to learn it instantly.  To a lesser extent a 
chorus does the same. Ballads are less amenable to group treatment. 
"Tradition" only represents an observed consensus - the community may support 
many other styles of song and of performance at varying removes from the 
consensus. What people know or will join in with is an aspect of that 
consensus.

He uses the term "proper" at one stage - I reject the applicability of such a 
term - prescription and consensus are incompatible.

He is curious as to my whereabouts - Northern Ireland. For more details see 
www.ulstersongs.com (due for revision).

John Moulden


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