Shimrod, I hope you are a "good enough scientist" to provide evidence for your theory that "there seems to be a vociferous group of people out there who don't want to know what folk music is because such knowledge might prevent them from 'shoe-horning' their own particular favourite type of music into the category 'Folk Music' ".

I can categorically assure you I have no such motive or intention. I happen to believe that there is no satisfactory dictionary definition of Folk Music, and even if there were, it would only be temporary (just as the 1954 one was, with its reference to oral transmission).

Frankly, it doesn't particularly bother me - so, unlike some, I'm not going to obsess about it.

A fundamental characteristic of folk music is that it evolves. Some of our traditional songs retain echoes of ritualistic chants, possibly, according to Bert Lloyd, going back to the Bronze Age. Time and circumstance have altered their original meaning and significance - and will do so again.

I am content with that.