This is the main problem in music ~ I learn the words and they are the most important aspect in folk song as they tell the STORY, if you can't hear the words how can the story fit together?

Folk artists are moving gradually into musical arrangements based on the folk song tune and discarding the folk story ~ this is just awful ~ the reason is more to do with big stage production and giving "voice" to the instrumentalists ~ a self enhancement with little thought for the audience who are being deprived in many cases of the sentiments and story line and understanding of the song purpose

We must be careful I think, and the gradual move towards popular music is an inevitable conclusion ~ folk song is folk song and should be audible and understandable without much amplification and accompaniment (if any)

Ray