"I said 'traditions exist due to folks being impressed by HOW (e.g. the unaccompanied singing of verses to tell of something, or the playing of a tune for dancers) their forebears did things', Don, so we are, in fact, agreeing here."

WAV, you're reinterpreting what I said so that it reflects what you want it to reflect:   your own viewpoint.

I was talking about being attracted to the total experience, and that included the instrumental accompaniment. When I first got actively interested in folk music, some of my initial purchases were recordings of singers I liked, a couple of song books, and a guitar. And what I did was not particularly unique.

The accompanying instrument was part of that total experience. And I repeat:   my interest was sparked not by my forebears, but my contemporaries.

Don Firth