Hmmm...forgive my digression, but I may have some insight into why this is so difficult to settle. In the library business we have the same problem deciding what is truly a "classic." Finally, our director, since retired, told us to use this definition: "A work which has withstood the test of time."

Oh, swell, how much time? 20 years? 50 years? 100 years? And, just because it has survived that long, is it a "Classic" or simply a curiosity? Can you sometimes "feel" that something will become a classic? It has been 10 years now since the grand pronouncement. Those of us who enjoy splitting academic hairs are still chewing on this one!

Could it be the same with the definition of Folk Music? (Don't shoot me if this is way off base - I'm fairly new to this forum) :-)