Requesting MC Forum Input on a New Sub Forum

[brunello97]

As a Texan, I agree with Al. Tex-Mex is a whole other thing than what is being discussed here and a term bandied about often indiscriminately. Just ask Texas musicians from San Antonio, Corpus or the Valley about their very real (and imagined) differences.... Very much a range of Northern Mexican / South-Central Texas hybrids.

That said, much can be done around the MC by a more careful phrasing of the names we give to new threads. So many threads are started indiscriminately without searching if there is an existing discussion under way..... "Latin American Music of Note" for instance, allows for folks to collect discussions under a common theme, without a dedicated sub-section.

The thread "Bowlbacks of Note" has been successful at collecting what is probably the deepest collection of information about bowlback mandolins available anywhere.

I'm not seeking to derail Al's initiative, but a more concise use of discussion threads (and their simple coherent--and searchable--naming) around here would go a long way to consolidating our mutual experience, knowledge and resources.

Mick

[foldedpath]

I think it's a good idea. I only play one piece of music in this area (a Venezuelan waltz) and would like to learn a few more.

The big challenge is finding a title for the subforum, if we're actually talking about the entire arc of music and culture from South America, up through Central America and Mexico, then across southern Texas, dipping down through the Spanish-culture Caribbean, and finally ending up over in Portugal and Spain. If you include "Caribbean" in the title at all, it brings in things that don't quite fit like Reggae and Calypso music.

You could call it "Music of Spanish and Portuguese Culture" but maybe that's not descriptive enough of the various geographies and styles? At least it's short enough.

[Al Trujillo]

Spanish, Portuguese, Latin American, Tex-Mex ??? Does this capture it all?

Other genre's have 4-7 names in their title.

[foldedpath]

Spanish, Portuguese, Latin American, Tex-Mex ??? Does this capture it all?

Other genre's have 4-7 names in their title.

Might have to throw Caribbean in there (my previous comment aside). I don't know if a Cuban or Puerto Rican musician would consider themselves "Latin American." Or maybe they would, I dunno. If you include it, then it's:

Spanish, Portuguese, Latin American, Tex-Mex, Caribbean

That seems manageable. The title won't be perfect at any rate, you just have to throw a wide enough net. I'm not crazy about the word "Celtic" in that subforum, but it isn't possible to break out all the various styles in one title.

[Al Trujillo]

Keeping it regional rather than cultural casts a wide net.

[billhay4]

+1
Bill

[DavidKOS]

Add my vote.

[LadysSolo]

Oh, man Robert, you are going to make me practice up on my Spanish if we have non-English posts......

[Sweetpea44]

I think it's a great idea

[Petrus]

I assume we all know that Portuguese is not hispanic.

Though using the term "Lusophone" in a sub-forum would be sure to cause much head-scratching and use of the confused smiley.

[Pasha Alden]

Like the idea. bring it on.