Agreed Will, I find this unidentified 'GUEST' business a bit trying, especially from someone who finds him/herself mingling so much with all those "top people".

However, I think we can learn quite a lot about our anonymous GUEST from the fact that his/her idea of "getting out of the ivy-covered towers [aren't they usually 'ivory'?] and into the real world" involves Radio 3 and a roomful of classical composition students from Uxbridge.

As for the rest of the thread I rather agree with Matt Milton about the folk revival having been the 'fluke' result of a unique set of circumstances involving profound social changes and powerful movers and shakers.