Ashokan Farewell

[LovelyFlower9898]

Extrodonary, very sad, but very good. Well played and good song, along with the rythymn

[ChrisDack56]

It was written as a waltz though, I believe

[moondancerspj]

My dad used to play this on his violin every night before my brother and I went to bed. I want it on cd but its so hard to find

[3martijns]

The writers of this tune just played it in concert in Manassas VA on July 9,2011.

[euripidesmuse]

My uncle's funeral was on Friday; he was only 58 and left a wife and three daughters. this was used as processional when his family came in; I couldn't think of a more beautiful tribute.

GlockSMG-- yes it does remind me of James Horner's Titanic theme

[tjm3]

Joe, good to meet you in Indy this past weekend. Really enjoyed your rendition. I'd seen it before, but not connected it to seeing you and Sherri at OVG in person last year. Anyway, hope you've got time to check out my harmonica version.

[NSMike87]

I love this arrangement. It feels more folksy than the original, and it seems appropriate.

[shenelle43]

Simply beautiful. Perfect acoustics for this melody. Excellent timing. flawless

[Katcrazy7]

Pay em no mind ol son! You guys do this piece great! Everyone doesn't have to play each song exactly a like! I play em the way I feel em! Thats what matters! It is a good job! :)

[Burfordfiddler1962]

I'll drink to that!!!

[fiddlesuite]

I have found that part of the real beauty of this song is that you can adjust the tempo depending on the audience you are playing for. I think it was written with a meloncholy feel, so it works wonderfully played slowly, especially for memorials where there is deep sadness.

In this video you will notice I pick up the tempo as I progress because I also love it's lilting quality and that it can be played somewhat faster for dancing as a waltz with a more joyful spirit.

Thanks for listening!

[Lisnageeragh]

Can anyone advise me as to the tempo appropriate for this tune? I have heard it from slow to medium waltz as this lady plays.

[shinawillful]

I agree with basscasey. It is lovely, but definitely derivative. Being Irish, I keep hearing "The Rose of Tralee" in there as well! but that is the nature of folk music, it spreads by word of mouth, and like the whisper game, it is changed through each person's hearing and re-rendering. Stll, lovely to hear it.

[GlockSMG]

sorta like titanic a little

[Vicky4517]

I feel crying while listening this music. It touches my heart.

[TheKelso360]

this is not by jay ugar it bye an old marry fiddler gourp he just arranged the concert piece to sound like fiddles

[estelle715]

This music is so sad!My great-grandfather fought in the CW and his only brother was killed in battle,so I feel this personally.

[hwangched]

bring out the eighth notes and hold them for what they're worth, they enrich the music.

[Zardoz215]

What I don't understand is why Burns didn't use a 19th century composition for the documentary. There are so many that would have been contemporary to the actual events.

[drivebytruckerz]

Good version!

[guentherbacon]

The tone on the violin is amazing. However, this version is a little too "waltzy" for me. I maintain that it should stay in the vein of a lament.

[NSResponder]

It *is* a waltz. Jay Ungar wrote it for the dance camp at Ashokan, New York. Ken Burns decided to slow it down for background music in his documentary.

-jcr

[ragingcat]

Not true. Jay wrote it AFTER the camp has dispersed, and he was overcome by a feeling of emptiness and sadness, started playing his violin and this tune came out. He used to cry every time he played it.

[stevesprinceofsteaks]

This version is nice. Sounds different than most because they are really emphasizing 3/4 beat. Listen when others join her and you can clearly hear.

Always a great song.

[stevesprinceofsteaks]

Very nice. A little faster than I play it , but that is just artistic license. Still always a beautiful and emotional tune.

[edboswell]

I think she's playing it a bit too fast.

[0ldb1ll]

@edboswell Its waltz time - popular at the time of the American civil war. Try dancing to it played slower.

[misskitty1992]

It makes me think of the Civil War.  What a beautiful song! Very emotional!

[cotloner]

it actually was used in the ken burns documentary

on the civil war as its main theme

[1958kcs]

Beautiful!

[dkw12002]

Beautiful violin. She plays better than the composer.

[brian4t7]

Well, to each his own. I much prefer the original by Jay Unger.

[oldedrum]

Melancholic but beautiful,

...Thanks Jay! :o)

[southcanada]

yeah, stunning and subtly

[notAbba]

Sad and warm fiddle. My favorite version.

[Demifan1689]

This song almost sounds like the one in Titanic!

Great job!

[ScottishgirlAnnlorie]

This song is so beautiful!!! It reminds me of the Civil war heritage on my hometiwn, and of my mentor theat I lost this year. I cry everytime I gear this song

[Deathwysh]

I cry every time I try to read one of your sentences.

[fobfan1991]

i cry everytime i hear this song.

[razzie33]

Hauntlingly beautiful

[KairiChan0417]

we're playing this in my orchestra class and my concert master is playing the solo, it was so beautiful as is this, good job!

[marcellinasfigaro]

well done...

[dayfornight176]

Tears

[CharitableView]

Also crying buckets!

[xxxsweetoothxxx]

This is the most beautiful song I've ever heard, I'm learning the acoustic part of it ^^

[gotoenterprises]

And just about any type of ensemble can make it work. I mean, even timpani and bassoon would work -- of course the timpani would be silent most of the piece (as usual), but it could be made to sound good. Great piece. Thank you, Mr. Ungar.

[jbfiddler]

This song is so beautiful and has a haunting sound to it. I never get tired of hearing it.

[ursidae03]

i needa pic my violin back up after hearing this.

[brokenspears]

I love hearing this played around the campfire at civil war re-enactments, as the soldiers linger on thoughts, as we prepare for the next days fight. Can't wait for the next event, so I can once again hear this tune fill the air.

[felix2542]

did you know that this song was actually made in a summer camp, just before it closed forever? then the director of the Civil War films thought it was perfect and added it.

[meltawayy]

[: i might play this solo at my orchestra concert.. but without all the fancy trills the lady plays in the video.

[thekrazygirl567]

im doing this song for band class and im only in 7th grade!!!

[guadaphobiax3SP]

i played this with my string orchestra when i was in year 7 :)

[thekrazygirl567]

we're not a string bandbut we still sound really good

[stktrd]

I saw Jay and Molly at the Earlville Opera House. Do you ever play there? If so, advise when and I'll be there for sure.

Thanks for sharing for free...absolutely beautiful rendition.

[jlamay]

We've never played the Earlville Opera House - but thanx for your encouragement.

[Queynt]

As a Scottish folk muaician with wide experience I can say this was NOT stolen from our repertoire...... But DAMN, I wish i'd written it!

Tapadh leibh, Jay Ungar.

[uniontar]

The song wasn't stolen from nobody.

[indianigerian1]

Wow! Great job.

[turkamine]

Jay Ungar is a composing genious. This is one of my favs of all time and brings to mind the Ken Burns documentery. FANTASTIC job covering, it retained Ungar's quality yet shared tastes and hints of the fiddlist's own personality as well.

[basscasey]

I do this on fretless bass. Song was stolen from Scotland!!!!!!!!!!!1

[jlamay]

Please tell us what tune it was stolen from.

[bipolarbear911]

I'm learning this piece in choir, we get to sing it :)

[jackwhiskey]

Song was written in about 1982?

[DIAMONDBIRD4]

yes.

[benjaminp4]

I love playing this with my orchestra.

[arvydas0069]

Good show....great tune...

[jlamay]

RE: Those who have posted that perhaps this version is played too fast. I have gone back to the original 1981 Fiddle Fever recording and timed the A & B parts. Fiddle Fever completed A & B in exactly 1:00 minute. I timed this peformance - part A & B at 1:03 minutes.

[sprocket5495]

@jlamay The first time thru it was 1:06, after the guitar joins in it's only 50 seconds, so I also thought the accompanying section was a bit hurried. But that's the prerogative of the musicians. It was still a beautiful piece. Just different.

[0ldb1ll]

@jlamay Is this not based on a waltz rhythm, the waltz being very popular at the time of the American civil war?

[AdmiralCSN]

It also sounds better when you don't play it so fast.

[ginnybales]

I don't think they have ever performed it with a full orchestra. Have YOU ever heard them perform this with a full orchestra?

[axeholme]

What a truely magnificent piece of music. Sad but very compelling.

[slappy1234567]

Dearest Beth,

As I write these words, I cannot help but think of that distant Sunday morn' when I bid thee farewell. Tomorrow we're to saddle up and ride to a little town in southern Pennsylvania... =)

[jjseckjoe684]

Great video my GreatGrandfather was at Antietam with the 4th New York Infantry. It brought back memories

[bleached26]

i think it's just a bit to fast, for the theme of the music

[jlamay]

What do you consider the "theme" of the music?

[MarktheMusicMan]

very nice... i have the piano arrangement

this give it a much more dramatic feel

[fiddlesuite]

This video really does not do the guitar, mandolin and bass justice... which really sounded so nice live, thanks guys... there is a certain quality to their playing that really helped to inspire me to work collectively with them to bring out this beautiful tunes potential... a big thanks to Jay and Molly too for their many awesome contributions to the music world, we feel the love...laurie

[ThaddeusMarcum]

Dear God, what a beautiful and haunting song. This tune encompasses the depths of Americana, with every face, story and ghost standing by, chilling us all with warmth and loss and something like hope.

[JesusMarphy]

Just so heartfelt

[cyranodb]

This is a great piece of music. It's easy to see why Ken Burns loved to use it. Must have even been more moving to see it live.

[VanessaBabcock]

In a way, I like this song but it upsets me a little bit. This song was played at a close friend's funeral. He was like a little brother to me and my brothers.

[livvy1801]

I love this song its fanastic...now i needa find some sheet music for this

[kataboy]

hi, it is a wonderfully of music. you can find the sheet music here : wikipedia Ashokan_Farewell

[buddmar]

An exceptionally beautiful tune ... true Americana, reminiscent of the folk music with it's Scotch, Irish, and English roots ....

[LizzyDearest]

I get chills every time I hear this song, but during this video I had them the whole time! Great stuff!

[randomflyingchipmunk]

I play this in my wind band, and it a lot slower, but the melody on the sax, my instrument!! YAY!! Hell of a tune tho keep it up!

[beakybug]

Wow, this is really beautiful. Much better than when my class did it...

[mickeyh12310]

i love this..we played it as one of our songs for school.thanks

[sherrie8168]

Oh my God...so beautiful!!! I just finished watching the Ken Burns Civil War documentary.

thank you...

[destinymann]

Hey Laurie you are one skadidleybop chick.

[moonbounce1013]

We all need to move to KY with J&S!  The ratings are terrific - it shows the quality of music & talent!

[anthonyT01]

wow I like the way you played it even though it was different form the original recording it still sounded great!

[fiddlesuite]

wow... glad to see that people are enjoying this recording... it is a beautiful tune, I always love playing... thanks for your support!

fiddlerlal at aol  Laurie

[jlamay]

Hey Laurie - Sherri and I are tickled pink that this video is getting so much attention. We loved the 5 years we played with you in the band. Please move down here to KY :)

J&S

[smotheredflame]

I played this one in 7th grade. I was a second, though. But this year, all the eitgh graders are playing it for the graduation, and I'm a first! yay!

[swordofmia]

omg!! l love this song!!

[Barrasuavian]

Absolutely beautiful! A powerful expression of feeling!!

[warwickle]

The orchestra I'm in now is playing that song now and the way you guys played that was fantastic. The audio wasn't so good but that was only the fault of the camera. What I usually do is imagine it about 10 times better and that's how it really probably sounded. Great job!

[KanzlerM]

It's a shame it wasn't recorded better... the performance was awesome (and I don't say that often)

[daretodream1988]

omg! I played that song with my orchestra in high school! frikin love that song!

[BruceWeeks]

I really enjoyed that Joe and looking forward to seeing you folks in Hazard, Ky in May. Bruce Weeks

[aoifedeclan]

just a brilliant piece of music

[TM2SS]

thanks... reverently played...

[Kusiami]

My favourite song!

[eenequist]

simply beautiful.