Accompanied or Unaccompanied?

[Eastgoscote]

Hello again! What is your opinion of the 'purists' who contend that folk songs should be entirely monophonic (with no harmony whatsoever) and unaccompanied? I am no purist, by the way.

I am familiar with the A. L. Lloyd book that you mentioned, by the way. Thank you for your previous comments. These were helpful and 'to the point'.

Very best wishes,
Andrew Greenhill

[Jim]

IMHO all folk songs should be backed by Gibson and Fender electric guitars and drums,  with fiddles and boxes if necessary, its the only way to listen to them without falling asleep

[Swarb]

There is no hard and fast rule, some songs are obviously intended to be unaccompanied,  and the copper family stuff springs to mind.However like I say there are no rules.