"The problem is that some here would seem to want to worship their contribution like a religion, "
No one I know Steve
I have reservations on their work and sometimes opinions - I would have ben happier if Child had actually heard the ballads he wrote about sung
What is being done now by the New Agers is replacing their work bu undermining it
I find that distasteful and destructive
I would have the same reservations about some of the desk-jockeys as I have about Child - but at least the old lot appeared to respect the folk as creators
All good research is carried out on the basis of what has gone before, rather than replacing it like a fashion item gone out of date.
I think I have said before that I found the greatest flaw in Roud's book was it's virtual total lack of songs - our song tradition has become as paper-bound as you have us believe their creation was
Jim