Yes, MtheGM, I agree with you - thank you GSS. Although I would describe myself as a bit of a lefty I have long felt that Left Wing ideology has tended to obscure our understanding of trad. music, rather than illuminate it.

The more I read of Bearman's work, the more I sympathise with it and him. I particularly sympathise with his brave attempts to rescue Cecil Sharp's reputation from the unjustified smears of the likes of Harker. I note the involvement of Vic Gammon's name in this controversy. Nevertheless, VG has written a very interesting essay on Sharp in his introduction to the EFDSS publication, 'Still Growing: English Traditional Songs from the Cecil Sharp Collection'(2003). I would suggest that this is another essential read if you're in any way interested in Cecil Sharp and the Victorian/Edwardian folk song collectors.