My daughter (violin) and I (guitar) had worked on this for years; then we got to see Jay and Molly at The Kate. They were just beautiful together. Not something you would ever forget. So, now I have to get back to peeling onions :)
Always loved this tune. Sounds amazing live. When they sound better live than they do in a studio is a true sign of a great artist. Very talented family that Jay, Molly, Mike, and Ruthy are
Ever since hearing this somewhat melancholic melody on the well known Ken Burn's Civil War documentary (loved that too) it has remained one of my favourite pieces of (American) folk music. At the time I believed it to be actually composed in the 1860's :D. The bittersweet melody never ceases to pull on the heart strings every time I listen to it. Bravo!
This is just so lovely... This looks like the most wonderful rootsy gathering.. Jay and Molly with their daughter Ruthie and husband Mike.. the tradition carries on..This amazing tune written by Jay Unger is now played worldwide and by many young people.. and sometimes in classical mode.. e.g. : The Ayoub Sister's.Thanks so much for posting this.. Xx
Agreat song that reminds me of a sad time in American history as a nation we should never forget the hardships many sacrificed to for our country today.
I heard this played at my great grandparents grave in those cemetery in Galia county in 1949. I was 10 and they had died in the 1890s. Ungar like all artist is inspired by others. He perhaps just heard a measure or 2, and it clicked. His ashokan is beautiful, poignant, and captures exactly the pain and pathos of our civil war.
For me he truly astounding part was finding out that this song was actually about the very Ashokan Lake turned Reservoir west of WoodStock & east of Peekamoose in NY State, where I'd camped for so many years - Go Figure :) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashokan_Farewell
Absolutely no, these are not tears on my face! Just when I was cutting onions that song/family happened to be playing, it's a mere coincidence, honest! What a gift to have, what a massive gift to the world (very hard to play it on the tin whistle though!). It makes me want to learn to play the violin but there are reasons why that might not be practical (severe injury to my hands and consequent slow movement of my fingers) but it cannot diminish the finest music with the most 'heart' I have ever heard. Sorry to be maudlin but I want this played at my funeral when, just to balance things out, I expect my strong nephews will try to carry my coffin with dignity, unaware beforehand that I have lined it with an extra 200 lb's of lead! Ok, I'll be gone then but if it's possible to 'look down' I will be peeing laughing and maybe even crying a bit too but the 'lads' will be buckled under the weight, I expect tears one way or another! A salute from afar, if I could play like that I'd send something back out of pure respect. Please accept these words in lieu, I know it's not much but it's from MY heart. 'oh it was a bitter day amongst many and we were happy to see the chimney as we reached the crest, no smoke. We found the bear, dead of course but hardly long, we put three bullets into him just to be sure and we found Hank in his bed, all cut up or to be exact, clawed-up with the knife still in his hands. I said 'you sure fixed that bear Hank' and he kinda half smiled with the bit of his face you could recognise, Then he spoke or tried to, I had to get close to hear and gave him some water. You know what he said? Me and that bear co-existed for five years, I taught him how to play poker, never figured he could spot a bad deal but he let it slide if he did, you know it gets mighty lonely out here, guess I shouldn't have messed with his mama, he seemed to take it personal'. Hank expired and we buried him decent, took what we could carry and that is the end. Pax vobis sirs and mesdames.
I grew up in Putnam County, not far from Jay's home (at the time) and enjoyed his shows at the Towne Crier and elsewhere. His success comes as no surprise. Not bad for a kid from The Bronx.
Judy Del Peso…..our Jay Unger concert was the favorite thing we ever did. I stIll think of you always…..and am still crazy about you…..love you…..the Mickster ❤
When all is said : i am so happy, that I can watch it all over here, and listen and enjoy plenty much, and in the end grab my fiddle and without annoying anyone --just play along .
everybody's so old, shame not to see more younger peopke out there wanting to live a simpler more wholesome life. I'm 45 and want out of this rat race again. never felt more at piece than living in the mountains.
At our local Farmer's Market there are some folks who busk for donations, usually with a violin. I was there once when the musician began playing this. It was amazing how it drew people in. Lots of folks started gathering around instead of walking on past, and the dude made some good money, lots of people threw money into his box.
Ashokan Farewell needs to be archived in the Smithsonian for all time, a piece of Americana, when times had centred around the Constitution, baseball, and jazz, when the arts were free from big business.
