Key signature: Dmajor
Submitted on September 24th 2005 by Mr Squeeze.
This tune has been added to 361 tunebooks.
Also known as The Ashokan Farewell, Ashokan's Farewell.
Recordings of a tune by this name:
X: 1
T: Ashokan Farewell
M: 3/4
L: 1/8
R: waltz
K: Dmaj
Ac|d3 cBA|F4 EF|G3 FED|B,2D2B,2|
A,2D2F2|A2d2f2|f3gf2|e4:|
FG|A3FD2|d4A2|B3cd2|AF F2D2|
A3ED2|B,3G,G,2|G,6|A4 FE|
D2F2A2|=c4d2|B3cd2|AF F2D2|
A,2D2F2|A2d2F2|E3DC2|D4:|
As requested
slow waltz, liked at our session......someone requested it.
# Posted on September 24th 2005 by Mr Squeeze
Composed by Jay Ungar
This waltz was composed by Jay Ungar. His website is http://www.jayandmolly.com/ashokanfarewell.shtml
The copyright for Ashokan Farewell belongs to Jay Ungar. ©1983 by Swinging Door Music-BMI.
The tune has been allowed to appear on this site with the proviso that it is accompanied by this attribution of authorship and copyright.
# Posted on September 25th 2005 by Jeremy
About 10 years ago a student of mine, an older gentleman taught this song to me. He was rather hard of hearing, and mis-heard how the song came to be, hearing "supper club" instead of "summer camp"....for years I thought Jay Unger had written a song for a New York supper club, though for the life of me I couldn't figure out why.
# Posted on September 25th 2005 by dmarie
This is tune is featured on Ken Burn's Civil War documentary. Very powerful.
# Posted on September 25th 2005 by Dan Carollo
2nd Ending to A Part?
Every time I've heard this tune played, the A part definitely has a bit of a 2nd ending to it that differs slightly from what is posted here. As I've seen it written (have had the sheet music for years) and played, the last two measures of the A part go:
A C e | d3
Definitely one of those tunes that I cringe when it's played at a session as it usually turns into a bunch of people trying to play their own unique overly dramaticized version.
However, as a tune itself, I love it.
# Posted on September 25th 2005 by Jason G
Ashokan Fiddle & Dance Camp
http://www.ashokan.org/ashokan/index.shtml
# Posted on September 30th 2005 by ceolachan
The first part is a bit constricted here, as it should be about twice as long repeating itself with a slightly different ending. This is a version off the net that is a lot closer to what I would play.
T:Ashokan Farewell
M:3/4
L:1/8
K:D
Ac|:d3 c BA|F4 EF|G3 F ED|B,2 D3 B,|A,2 D2 F2|A2 d2 f2|
|1 f3 g f2|e4 Ac :|2 A2 c2 e2|d4 FG ||A3 F D2|d4 A2|B3 c d2|
A F3 E2|F3 E D2|B,4 G,2|A,6|A4 FE|D2 F2 A2|=c6|
B3 c d2|A2 F3 D|A,2 D2 F2|A2 d2 F2|E2 D C2|D4 Ac :|
# Posted on October 1st 2005 by Donough
Just a short note. This tune first came on to site here on May 5th, 2002. That entry has gone kaput! I suspect it may have been because of the 'copyright' attached to this number by Jay Ungar ~ and that may catch up with us again in the future...
# Posted on October 7th 2005 by ceolachan
Hallehlujah! Bless TheSesh sprite, Jeremy has listed the 'Copyright' above and with respect has contacted Jay and recieved his OK on having it here on site ~ "he's okay with the tune being listed as long as correct attribution is given." ~ nice work and a lovely melody...
Just to remind us all, if we know the composer to give credit where credit is due, and if at all possible, seek permission before you contribute someone else's inspiration...our of courtesy...
# Posted on October 7th 2005 by ceolachan
Inspiration for Ashokan Farewell
Someone I met at a session said that A F is like an Irish tune she had heard. Didn't know its name or how it actually went!! I don't know it either. Anyone got any ideas?
# Posted on December 9th 2005 by stevekeene
About copyrights
There have been a good few discussions in here regarding copyrights, and this particular case is the best example to illustrate the purpose of having one.
What happened here is very much in keeping with my experience regarding copyrights. Everyone I've ever had to contact to get permission to use their tunes was only interested in getting credit for authorship and had no interest in monetary compensation. I am neither a big-name recording artist or a big-name recording producer or filmmaker, so I didn’t have much, if any, compensation to offer.
In a case like the session.org where the tune is written out for a tune database, no one is making enough money on it to concern the copyright holder. (Even though Jeremy receives a small amount of money through donations to this site -- it's for site maintenance and probably represents little or no profit) On the other hand, if Jay Ungar hadn't secured a copyright he might have been vulnerable to huge losses after Ken Burns picked up the tune as a theme for his groundbreaking documentary. In the same way, anyone would benefit from having a copyright, but it wouldn't be aimed at websites such as this, or ITM musicians who are hobbyists or eking out a living playing music, but rather at any major recording or film company that might be interested.
# Posted on December 9th 2005 by Phantom Button
Huge Losses?
Phantom said "...if Jay Ungar hadn't secured a copyright he might have been vulnerable to huge losses after Ken Burns picked up the tune..."
"Huge losses" is not the same as "profits not realized." I too have heard that the main melody in AF comes from an older Scottish air.
Whatever the case, I am all in favor of Jay Ungar making some money.
# Posted on March 8th 2006 by cocus
It's a pity that you can't play it on a tin whistle in D..
# Posted on March 10th 2007 by Myalin
"Ashokan Farewell" ~ lots of folks do play it on a D flute or whistle
One of several possibilities:
K: D Major
|: AB/c/ |
d3 c BA | F4 EF | G2 GF ED | B2 d3 B | A2 d3 F | A2 d2 e2 | f3 g f2 | e4 fe |
d2 dc BA | F/G/F E2 F2 | G3 F ED | B4 dB | A2 d3 F | A2 d2 f2 | A2 c3 e | d4 :|
|: FG |
A3 F D2 | d4 A2 | B3 c dB |A2 F/G/F E2 | F3 E D2 | B4 G2 | A6- | A4 FE |
D2 F3 A | =c4 d^c | B2 Bc dB | A2 F3 D | A2 d3 f | A2 d/e/d F2 | E2 D3 D | D4 :|
# Posted on March 10th 2007 by ceolachan
I once had a whistler at a session try to accompany me on this, but she had a problem with the low part (and the high part). I'll get her a copy of this variation.
It works the same way with viola, except the only thing changed from the original is the second arpeggio in each line (and the high notes following) are dropped.
# Posted on June 22nd 2007 by Criostoir
AF on a D flute
I've been playing AF on a D flute for years. No problem. It's a lot easier to play on a flute than, say, Greenfields of Glentown- which I also play and which also sounds great on a flute.
# Posted on September 6th 2007 by cocus
One way to kill a friendly 'exchanging of tunes' atmosphere is to be forced to slap a copyright on the tune. Where would we be if people like O'Keefe, Denis Murphy, or John Ryan copyrighted all their pieces? You'd think they'd want to release the tune to be recorded so it would enter the tradition.
# Posted on November 26th 2007 by dubhghaill
ahh, but this is american... we yanks want every pence we can squeeze outa somethin'.
Just you wait - we'll copyright Coyote one day
# Posted on November 26th 2007 by Pádraig
I think you can also play it on an A or G whistle with no problem.
# Posted on April 20th 2009 by The Whistle Collector