There's nice description of his approach given by his biographer, A H Fox Strangways:

    Sharp has often said that the peasant mind is as good as anyone else's, but it moves more slowly, and he knew well how to adapt his pace to theirs. Though naturally of quick action and of conversational disposition, he would be content to sit in silence for long stretches of time puffing at his pipe and waiting for the clearing of the throat which indicates that the song is about to begin. [15. Fox Strangways, Cecil Sharp, p.40.] 15

This image of a patient, considerate man is something new, suggesting that song-collecting brought out a different aspect of Sharp's personality. There is a clear contrast between Sharp's frequent arguments with his superiors and colleagues, and the delicacy and tact he used when talking to rural singers/