David, some sort of response to my question about the negative effects of making music from lands other than one's own would be appreciated. You assert, by implication, that this is a bad thing and not a "good way forward for humanity" - but I see no factual evidence to back this up.

I don't think, given the modern age we live in - surrounded, as we are by books, documents, recordings on audio and video, and live folk sessions everywhere, that English traditional music is in any danger whatsoever of being marginalised or forgotten. My own experience in my own part of Sussex, and elsewhere, is that there's more music around than you can shake a stick at. So - where's the evidence for your assertions?

And, to return to the original points in this thread, nothing could be more English - in the sublimest sense of the word - than the UOGB. They combine musicianship, humour, irony and entertainment to a superb degree. If you can't understand that, there's no hope for you.

End of thread as faras I'm concerned.