great folk music site...

[Ranger]

listening to radio show "e-Town" (check for play in your area) and Roger McGuinn was on and talking about his folk music site on the net "Folk Den". has lots of tunes and free downloads, worth checking out...

http://www.ibiblio.org/jimmy/folkden/php/search/list.php?sort=title

keeping the tradition alive.
Ranger

[mrbook]

A few months ago, there was an article in our local paper about how McGuinn was on a crusade to single-handedly "save" folk music. Until I read it, I thought that I - and probably most of the people reading or posting on this site - were doing that. I was also unaware that the music needed to be saved. I seem to find a lot of people listening and playing, even if it's not on the radio.

[Bruce Evans]

A few months ago, there was an article in our local paper about how McGuinn was on a crusade to single-handedly "save" folk music. Until I read it, I thought that I - and probably most of the people reading or posting on this site - were doing that. I was also unaware that the music needed to be saved. I seem to find a lot of people listening and playing, even if it's not on the radio.
Maybe "'save' folk music" to him means more CD sales. I don't blame him. I'm trying to make a living too (but not in music).

As far as "saving" the music goes, I think by definition the only way to get rid of folk music would be to get rid of music completely. To me, anything I sit down and play is folk music whether it's Four Strong Winds on my twelve string or When I'm Sixty-Four on my uke. To my granddaughters, it's all folk music.

[Martin Jonas]

Maybe "'save' folk music" to him means more CD sales. I don't blame him. I'm trying to make a living too (but not in music).
I think that's a bit unfair, although I agree that there's plenty of folk music around even without Roger McGuinn. However, it should be said that the stated aim of the Folk Den is to raise awareness of some of the more obscure traditional songs -- there's no singer/songwriter or other contemporary material on his site. McGuinn started the Folk Den in 1995 and has since then made a new recording of a traditional song available for free download with lovingly written notes and full lyrics every single month without fail. It has had the side effect of raising his profile somewhat, but on the whole it's been an impressively non-commercial endeavour about as far away from a CD sales pitch as it is possible to be. I've been following the Folk Den every month from Day One in 1995 and have now over 100 songs as mp3. Although some of the arrangements have been a bit hit-and-miss, erring on occassion towards the twee, on the whole it has been a pure pleasure and joy. And it's free! No mandolins on any of the tracks, though, as far as I remember...

Martin

[Bruce Evans]

Did you mean to chastize me, Martin? #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif Read what I wrote again and think about it.

I do indeed hope he sells many, many CDs, whether the material is traditional or his own. I think you were so primed to defend McGuinn and his site that you don't realize I'm on his side too. A good rule for cyberspace is "Think twice and use the delete key often".

Bruce Evans