"Ashokan Farewell"

[Zomby Woof]

Like the author says, it moves me to tears. Played it for Veterans Day, and it was more resonant than ever.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sx6dxrhqPZY

[amerikat]

1. saddest song ever. The instrumental brings me to tears.

it gets even sadder when the music is background for a letter from
a soldier to his wife while the music plays in the background.
from the Civil War soundtrack of Ken Burns Civil War Series.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sa2hv8U8cWU

[Lars39]

2. I had this played at my father's funeral.

He loved bluegrass. Not a dry eye in the place by the time it was finished.

[amerikat]

3. kick for veterans day

[Zomby Woof]

7. Not that I have planned such a thing

But if I were to choose a song for my memorial, this piece would be a prime contender.

[charlie and algernon]

4. I played it while driving through the Antietam Battlefield that had over 20,000 candles lit

every year in December, Antietam lights a candle for everyone who died during the battle, so there are thousands of candles lining the battlefield. We played that song on a loop while driving through, it was a very moving experience.

[Wraith20878]

5. Great Song

First time I heard it was on the Ken Burns Civil War Documentary, with the Sullivan Baloo letter. I'm moved every time I hear it now. K&R.

[Wraith20878]

6. sry dupe

[Zomby Woof]

8. I would love to see that

My 3x-great-grandfather survived Antietam with a wound, but surely lost many comrades in arms there. That sounds incredible.

[charlie and algernon]

9. It's on Saturday, December 5th this year

http://www.nps.gov/anti/planyourvisit/luminary.htm

It's called The Memorial Illumination.


If you go, plan to get there at least 2 hours early and spending around 5 or 6 hours in your car.

[LynzM]

10. Wonderful song...

The woman I'm taking fiddle classes with has been to music groups with the guy who wrote it for a long time... and now I'm learning it from her. Wonderful, wonderful tune.

From the sheet music:

"At the end of the third summer of Ashokan in '82, I was particularly feeling the post-camp syndrome of finding it hard to return to what we mistakenly call the 'real world.' I really missed the people and the joy of having music and dance so much a part of my daily life. Kind of like 'Brigadoon,' it's a world of its own, separate from the rest of life. And each summer when these things end, you don't really know if it'll happen again. So one morning I picked up my fiddle and started playing the saddest lament I could come up with -- as a way of saying goodbye to that summer." -Jay Ungar

[Arugula Latte]

11. I always assumed that was a Civil War era song.

I thought Ashokan was some battlefield I'd never heard of.
I had no idea it is relatively new.
Beautiful song.

[LynzM]

12. It got really strongly associated with the Civil War documentaries.

A lot of people have the same thought... I know I did until I learned about it!

[GreenPartyVoter]

13. It's a lovely piece and a favorite of mine.