The Anthology of American Folk Music was an 84-song narrative

Evidence

Not simply a compendium or even a taxonomy, the Anthology was an epic, intricately cross-referenced narrative played out over eighty-four songs, beginning with an Appalachian murder ballad and ending with a cheerful slide-whistle ragtime blues. — J. Hoberman, Everything Is Now, 673

Categorization

• DEFINE: Characterizes what the Anthology actually is — a structured narrative, not a compendium.