Just wondered if anyone loves this piece of music like i do? It's a really lovely piece to play.

Yep!
I do, but from a guitarists point of view.

Yes, this is a beautiful piece of music, with an Indian name which I read came about by mistake. Maya

funny you should ask. I heard this on the radio only a couple of days ago - someone playing with the band of the royal marines, I think. I thought it was so lovely I thought I might get the music. Who is the composer?

It is lovely, although now been done to death by my string group!!!
It's by Jay Ungar I do believe, and I have a lovely arrangement for violin and piano published by Kevin Mayhew.

Yes, I think it's a wonderfull piece of music I must get the music. Charlottethemuppet where did you get the music (viloin piano version) from?

you can get it for £4.99 or £7.99 from Fullermusic.co.uk. Just search with "Ashokan".

I am convinced that this tune is a cross between at least 2 old Irish folk tunes! Does anyone else hear this in this tune or is it just me?

yes it sounds very Irish to me - is it meant to be Irish? "Ashokan" sounds a bit more exotic than that.

My orchestra's playing this at the moment and I like it so much that I did some research!

Jay Ungar wrote this piece shortly after a fiddle summer school at the New York State University's ASHOKAN campus sometime in the 80's. I think that it's looking back on the events of the summer and hoping that there will be another course.

thanks, Rainbow! That really puts the piece in context. I had associated it more with the old "I'm off to America to flee the potato famine" type of feeling. I'm sure a lot of us have fond memories of a particular orchestra or group that we had a really great time with, and then had to say goodbye and move on. It creates a very distinct emotion which this piece does evoke quite well.

We play it in folk band at school, so I just naturally assumed it was a folk tune, but obviously it's not!

We do play stuff like red river valley aswell though, as part of an american set.

Nice piece, but pretty boring to play, unless you're the solo violin, which I'm not!

My friend plays the interesting solo violin bit... I play the not so interesting viola bit

I play one of the notes of the chord on a tin whistle!

I get to choose which note though!

You can get a video by Jay Ungar teaching this and several other pieces from Amazon. The title is " A Fiddlers Guide to Waltzes, Airs and Haunting Melodies". This has six pieces including "Ashokan farewell" and my favourite "Tennesee Waltz".
The video lasts about one and a half hours. Jay plays the piece through then explains/demonstrates it note by note and shows differing ways of playing. The video is very clear and well shot and comes with sheet music for all the pieces.

Jay won a Grammy award for Ashokan farewell, which was used as the theme tune for an American TV series "The Civil War".

Jinxter
That's interesting about the video - what standard would you say this is aimed at? High grades or lowish ones? Any idea?

Some of the pieces are quite easy to get through (though I havent started playing any of them yet) The Tombigbee Waltz is probably the easiest and someone at grade three should have few problems. But to play as Jay does incorporating slides,rolls, vibrato, double stops, drones and voicing whilst keeping the dance pulse (timing) should challeng most intermediate players.

Jay plays a simple version first then gradually adds to the piece so most people should get something out of this. Above all the pieces are very enjoyable to listen to.

In my last post I said the video was from Amazon but it`s available from the Musicroom. Also on the Homespun tapes website they do it as a DVD but not sure if the DVD is obtainable in the UK.

I played that for a recital once and fell in love with it. The good thing is it's not at all technically demanding really, so you can play around with it and really enjoy playing it all the more! I'd never heard of it untill my accompanist suggested it to me as a 'crowd pleaser'! I can't stand that term, but, needless to say, she was right!

Tom

I'm intrigued by this piece!

What kind of standard is it?

Where can the sheet music be ordered from?

Is it expensive??! or available in a book?

You can get it for violin and piano from fullermusic.co.uk for (I think) £4.99.
I've just ordered it after playing the viola part in a concert with my string orchestra and really enjoying it. It's just a nice nostalgic sounding simple melody with no hard bits, which was written to mark sadness at the end of a music summer school, but worked equally well as a theme tune for a film about the American Civil War.

Thanks Zoda. What kind of standard is it? I'm a VERY rusty grade 6... I will definitely have to look this out. Wondering if the music library in town will have a copy... though £4.99's not awfully bad.

QUOTE

What kind of standard is it?

Hmmm.... the first violin orchestral part which is basically the tune would maybe be about grade 4 standard. It's a great piece, hope you find a copy!

Cool... well once upon a long ago I did manage grade 6, so I should manage that! Will definitely look out for it - nice piece that's not too hard, sounds like a good thing!

Hope you find a copy. We nearly played it at orchestra this morning but my conductor changed her mind!

Yay! My copy of "Ashokan Farewell" arrived in the post today from Fullermusic.co.uk. The piano part looks pretty easy too. Pretty rare when you're me to find something you might actually want to play and also can play as well!

In bar 26 there's a C natural dotted minim on the A string with a diagonal line in front of it which looks like it might indicate a glissando. However the previous note is an open A string. Also in bar 38 there's the same glissando type marking between a 3rd finger D on the A string and a first finger F sharp a third above. Is the line some sort of glissando from an open string? It sounds pretty bad if I play it like that. In fact looking again, these diagonal lines appear all over the place. what are they!

That's great Zoda. Do you know if there's an edition for viola?

I have to start saving for this piece...

QUOTE (Rainbow @ May 6 2005, 03:55 PM)

That's great Zoda. Do you know if there's an edition for viola?

not at Fullermusic I'm afraid. I'm not sure how well it would work on viola - might have a go tomorrow but I've finished for today as my neck's a bit sore from the violin varnish from playing too much (I found out the acoustics in the bathroom are absolutely amazing.)

Don't save too quickly Sarah - I need a head start - I think my Grade VI is a good 10 years rustier than your Grade VI!

I realize this thread is largely abandoned, but here is a bit of information on the piece which might be of interest. Since folks wondered, it was written in the style of a Scottish lament or Irish air.
Go straight to the horse's mouth—Check this link on the composer's page:
Ashokan Farewell FAQ

thanks John PW. It's currently showing "the page cannot be displayed" but I'll definitely come back and check it out!

There is also a pretty nice duet version of this piece of music in a book of duets by a couple of young violinists called 'Duel'. I have the music and can give you the details if you're interested.

Regards
Jon

Hi Jon,

Thanks for your post - yes please, have you got a phone number or website address for the publishers?

I've got that book. It's really good, got some nice pieces in it and nice arrangements. I've also got their cd - well worth buying.

Hi people

The details of the book:

DEUL - eleven violin duets.
Publ. Bosworth

BOE005194

www.musicsales.com

It has: Ashokan farewell, Barcarolle (Offenbach), Bridal March (Wagner), Canon (Pachelbel), Cavatina (MYers), Chi Mai, Hungarian dance No. 5, In the Bleak Midwinter (Holst
), Boccherinis' minuet, Borodin's Nocturne, Theme from Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence.

Regards
Jon

Thanks Jon! It looks really good, although at fifteen squid I think I'll delay ordering it until I've got someone to play the duets with.

I did have Ashokan Farewell for violin and piano but I think the pianist I lent the piano part to has taken it back to Korea with her.

I only just noticed this... my grade 6 is officially 10 years 3 months and 6 days rusty (random, but I have the mark sheet on my desk for an unknown reason) so it is pretty rusty, but yours may well be rustier, I pass no comment... hehe.

I ordered some viola music from fullermusic the other day, and found out that they are in my part of the world (hooray! a decent music shop that isn't in London!) so one day when I'm feeling really rich (hah!) I shall go and pay them a visit in person and spend a happy few hours (days?) browsing through sheet music!

oo! just under 8 years rustier then I feel two years younger already! Better phone up and put that Moller Skycar deposit on hold - I'm much too young for a mid-life crisis now!

*laughs* goodo!

friend of mine wants one of those too, lol...

i learnt this song when i was doing grade 3 exams, so a think it's level is about 3-4. the main tune was quite easy but all the ornamentations were a bit harder.

Hi Jez
I notice it's your 1st post, so to the forums - especially the string one cos we're the best one

a bit 'biased' INNIT???

but I agree!!!

from me too

Welcome from me too - I love Ashokan Farewell, and played it earlier this year as a solo on violin with the regimental band and pipers - it was very cool!

I play it as a solo. OH and teacher recently played it as a piano/violin duet at a wedding.

Lovely song. The first piece I learned that was longer than 16 bars.

I don't like it

I can't remember what it sounds like, going off to listen to it now.....very intrigued now...

yeah...I see....'not' my style either I have to say yes yes, pretty but not what I listen to or play (basically what Miffy said )

I expect you'll like it on purpose so I feel like the outcast..
I think it's just one of those that I've heard too often in various states of half practise, to be fair, and just need a break from it. I'm sure it'll be nice again then


Better than Meditation though
hahaha aaarrrggghhhh

see? I didn't like it!!!

it's a 'fiddle' tune that's why, no offence to 'fiddle style tunes' but they are not 'my cup of tea', I just cannot get into them that's all, not my past time to listen to them or play them, just does not 'ring my bell' that's all.....

they 'do' sound nice but I just want to 'change the channel' when I hear them, sorry