MT, comparing a folk song circle to a symphony orchestra is apples to oranges. "Classical" music is much too complex to have each musician playing it "His/her" way. Leonard Bernstien once called "classical" music "Precise" music. It must be totally controlled to sound right. Even a sloppy conductor can make the music sloppy sounding. There is no end to this debate, it all boils down to opinion; and one is no more valid than the other. (Unless you happen to be a control freak)