Ashokan Farewell (unaccompanied cello)

One of the most beautiful Celtic laments. This was written by Jay Ungar. I first heard it first on the PBS mini-series The Civil War, and was immediately captivated by its beauty.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Ashokan
• Farewell
• cello
• unaccompanied

[MademoiselleSwann]

Just beautiful, nielsdaj. I have been rewatching "The Civil War" lately and I've been seeking precisely this. By any chance do you have sheet music of your arrangement for solo cello that I could purchase from you? I am an adult beginner, playing for just 14 months, and this would certainly be beyond my abilities at the moment but I would enjoy attempting to begin working on it nevertheless. Or just to have it for "when I will be ready." Thanks again.

[nielsdaj]

@MademoiselleSwann Although I played this by ear in its original key of D, I see someone has a version in G that would probably be a bit easier to play and would still sound beautiful. You can do a search for it at Internet cello society forum. Of course the music is copyrighted so I can't really provide you with it.

Thank you for your kind comments, and I wish you success and enjoyment learning the cello and Ungar's beautiful piece.

[Rhonda900]

This almost brings tears...so beautiful. The setting; was it a civil war battle ground?

[nielsdaj]

@Rhonda900 I'm afraid the setting is far north of the civil war battle zones—it was done in New Brunswick, Canada. That would have been perfect though. You may have noticed the symbolism in the choice of setting, what with a new young tree growing up almost within the arms of the old dying tree. Thank you for your kind comments.

[hintzmatt64]

Wow! Me and my tiny strings class at school are going to be playing this song soon, and I have the solo part! Thank you very much, this has helped me very much in learning how it's supposed to sound!

[nielsdaj]

@hintzmatt64 I wish you all the best with your performance of this wonderful piece of music. I am sure you will do a beautiful job.

[1000Chriselliott]

Beautiful :)

[PuzzlingEvidenceTV]

Wonderful. Thank you.



[ixchelkali]

Simply lovely. That's what it should sound like. I could feel it in my solar plexis as I listened. Thank you for sharing this.

[garymichael1950]

Absolutely Wonderful. Thank you for sharing your talent with us.

[skiprydell1]

Beautiful. A challenge beyond the talent of average musicians...

[feanor93834]

beautiful..this music is so powerful, like a wave of feeling send by the good side of humanity...

ceux qui vibrent sur cette musique ne peuvent pas etre de mauvais hommes !!!

[chrisfirehandatW101]

Lol i really like this song, but with cello its is awesome!!!!

Others must have felt the same way no dislikes!!!!!!

[xoruhtra]

This is so beautiful... the cello in itself is a beautiful instrument, and I love this song. You played it so perfectly, and the slow tempo really added to the mournful and plaintive tone. Fantastic job.

[MademoiselleSwann]

@nielsdaj Thank you! Joining the Internet Cello Society was kind of a pain - it's not Mac-friendly, I think - but I did ask for, and I did receive, a sort of "E-Z Play" version in the key of G, just as you said. It is very easy, even for me, which gives me opportunities to make it beautiful rather than merely recognizable. Thanks again! ;-)