All of this talk of traditional English, and not one mention of Richard Thompson. My ancestors came to England in 1066, and left in the late 1600's. Just passing through like that, I suppose that I have no right to speak to what is traditionally English, but I do participate in the Morris as a dancer and musician (electric guitar).

I'm reminded of a story of a fellow researching the ancient dance known as the "Abbots Bromley". He was troubled that the "original" tune for the dance existed in both major and minor forms. Having exhausted his resources, he dedicated his efforts to a journey to England to locate the source of the tune. He located the village where the dance had been done for the last eight centuries (at least). He stumbled in at the one time of the year when the dance was being performed. Much to his chagrin, he found that the tune that the current troupe of dancers used was one "Yellow Submarine" by the Beatles. So much for tradition.