The Sean Nos tradition in Ireland, is by definition unaccompanied. I often am asked to sing unaccompanied ballads in Quaker meeting houses I visit, (and my own meeting) and from that I have put together a show of unaccompanied civil rights ballads. I find that the words are sometimes secondary when done with the whole band. There is an active listening which goes into the ballad in that form, not unlike listening to a great story teller or a radio play... for a description of the new ballad show, look at the reclaiming American patriotism through ballads thread.
By the way, sorry I was a bit short with you on the other thread, forgot what about, but things are hectic here in New York.
Ah yes, it was about IRA terrorism... if you are interested Richard Bridge, a British solisitor and I had a conversation about the same on Mudcat many years ago refferenceing the Doherty case. We became great friends through that conversation, though we dissagree on one thing or another. So if you use Joe Doherty as a search term you can see where we went with this before.
As I told Richard at the time... the first pint is on me when we meet on your side of the puddle or mine
Cheers
Lorcan "Larry" Otway