I love this piece. It's always held a special place in my heart. I am a fiddle player and violinist and have played this piece for years in public settings a number of times. Most memorably in 3 different daughters weddings, once with another violin and cello accompanying me and twice with piano accompaniment. It's always been appropriate and appreciated and well received.
Mr Unger and Ms Mason, Lover’s Waltz is so beautiful that it brought tears to my eyes! The Presley Girls played it in their video recently. I was so touched that I had to ask the name of the song. She gave me the name and both your names. I can’t stop listening to it. God put two angels on earth to give us music like this!! Thank you!! 🙏🏼❣️♥️❣️🙏🏼
I know so little about making music, and it may be that when certain tunes are played on any string instrument it makes it so much more beautiful, but this piece fills my heart and sends me into tears. It could also be that my 97 & 90 yr old parents just celebrated their 67th and when I hear it I picture them dancing to it? Just beautiful!!
This melody draws me to my core; shutting out the shrillness of the hectic nature of life over which I have little control. For that, I am most grateful.
I'd love for this to be played at my son's wedding, and his fiance's friend plays fiddle so well,....maybe? She played the Ashoken Farewell at their Xmas party so perfectly. This is the most loving piece...a real gift for the soul. Thank you to Molly and Jay.
"It was the age of discovery and exploration. In the year 1609, Henry Hudson commanding the Dutch ship half moon sailed into what is now known as New York harbor. There he discovered a great river. Determined to explore it, he sailed north until he came to the mysterious Catskill Mountains. He and his crew paused there to marvel at the landscape around them. They declared it to be the most beautiful on earth, and took an oath that wherever there travels would lead them, they would return to this fair place. They journeyed on, sailing their little ship ever northward, until they disappeared near the frozen top of the world. The way history books tell the story, Henry Hudson and his men were never seen again and never returned to those magical mountains or to the river that now bears his name. But there is more than one way to tell a story." -- Angelica Houston Rip Van Winkle Rabbit Ears Productions 1993
I notice that American waltzes differ in their sound from European waltzes, but I don't quite understand how. It almost feels like American waltzes have a sort of "rugged-nature lightness" to them, while European waltzes make you think of grandeur and balls. How is this effect accomplished?
Because these were people who live very simple lives trying to live in the forest , mountain ranges and plains of North America. Their music and literature reflect the way they live. I was raised on this type of music and my grand parents were farmers who came from Europe
One reason why this might be is that the waltz originated in Europe, but music took on the form of fiddling in America as seen here. This is indeed in 3/4 time, but the beat one is not quite so accented and also, the style its played in is quite different from a European waltz, and as @Gail Milling said, they are in teh mountains.
