'If that then falls within the parameters of the 'accepted' definition of the form - a variation of that form is, by definition, incorrect and frequently, in my experience, is disregarded by the folk intelligentsia.'

Well yes, but surely the more ingenuous the reinvention - the further we are getting away from what is a fundamental of folk music. Namely that relationship of the broad mass of people, and the artist who is one of them, expressing something of their society.

And the ingenuity of the present revival far out-sophisticates Vaughan Williams (Mantovani style orchestral arrangement), Britten. (plum inserted in the cakehole variations) et al.

For example the rhythmic complexity of of the famous Carthy/Swarbrick Byker Hill always reminds me of something from Bartok. Its a very clever piece of music, but its one hell of a long way from the folksong as I first heard it. And when you start applying those rules of folksong - to songs people aren't familiar with, in the first place. Who apart from the slavish follower is following?

I know you lot always think I'm grinding an axe - its not that - its the distance between ordinary people and folk music which genuinely troubles my thoughts.