THCD, Not THCD

[Tobus]

I play a lot of traditional music, and I'm familiar with the usage of the term in that context. But I think the "traditional" moniker is applied more for convenience, since the original composers' names have been lost to history and widespread use. It's not an absolute requirement. A lot of tunes written by O'Carolan, for example, have become traditional Irish tunes even though we know who wrote them and when. If someone asked you to play a set of traditional Irish tunes, you wouldn't automatically exclude Si Bheag Si Mhor just because you know who wrote it, would you? The tune has been played for over 300 years, which is perhaps longer than some other "traditional" Irish tunes, and I think it's fair to say that through its long history and usage, it's a traditional tune.

I really think we're trying to split hairs beyond reason when we try to rigidly define "traditional" with rules like this. The only thing that makes something traditional is that there is a tradition of using it. A tune that's been played widely for 300 years is traditional. A style of dress that's been worn roughly the same way for several generations within a particular folk tradition is, by definition, traditional, regardless of who started it.