I just wonder whether Bob Copper was as dismissively purist as Richard suggests. Obviously I cannot speak for him, but I can vividly remember John Copper coming over to tell me how much he had enjoyed my accompaniment to Canadee-I-O, during a singaround some years ago.

Of course, Canadee-I-O isn't a Coppersong, and in addition he may well have been familiar with Nic Jones version ( my accompaniment was pretty much a note-for-note duplication ), but nonetheless ...

On the other side of the coin, I once made the mistake of singing Adieu Sweet Lovely Nancy in a singaround in Sussex, with what I thought was a pretty nifty (and original) guitar accompaniment, and was immediately drowned out by the assembled company who weren't having any of it, and proceeded to sing the rest of the song as it should be sung.

I still like my version, however, although I would never dare to sing it in Sussex again.

btw, the programme tonight was absolutely wonderful, one of the best and most enjoyable productions I have ever seen.