Howard Jones said, But folk music always was entertainment. The role of the traditional musician was to provide songs and tunes to entertain his community. Why do you dismiss it as "mere" entertainment? If its not entertaining then it becomes a sterile academic exercise.

It's why it's called FOLK music and NOT Academae Music. From the folks to be performed by the folks

Index of The English Hymnal, 1906, 1933

Index of The New English Hymnal, 1986