Classical Music for Aficionados

I knew all that and was out to do nothing but the music.

The music is what I said it was, you or Ungar or not.

New York sent 450, 000 to the war 60,000 died and about

150.000 were VERY badly wounded .

All else is irrelevant .

melm, thanks for the background on "Ashoken Farewell".

When Burns' film "The Civil War" was released I was fascinated by much of the music, so bought the CD soundtrack.  But I was particularly taken by "Ashoken Farewell" so also picked up Ungar's Fiddle Fever album which introduced that song.  I still find it beautiful and haunting.  No matter if it was not written as a tribute to the Civil War and those wounded or killed then, I felt it was a perfect choice by Burns.

Beautiful tune and beautifully played by Ungar. As to whether it is “Classical” or not, while I’m not sure where exactly the genre dividing line can be drawn, it should be remembered that quite a few Classical composers have incorporated the folk music of their native lands in their works. Antonio Dvorak, Bela Bartok, Zoltan Kodaly, Manuel DeFalla, Ralph Vaughn Williams and in the USA, Aaron Copland of course, to name a few.

As to Ashokan, I know the area well. Beautiful area in upstate NY. Every time I drive by I marvel at how the water that comes out of my tap in NYC comes from a reservoir 130 miles away.

Hey frog, if that marvels you just imagine living in San Diego. Much of the water there is piped from the Colorado River but some comes from northern CA by way of LA, so that is several hundred miles. Of course everyone adds their upcharge along the way so it becomes very expensive by the time it reaches the consumer.

Sorry from the interlude from music.

@frogman 

It's Important to distinguish between folk music and the classical music inspired by folk music.

There may be examples where they are hard to distinguish, but Ashokan Farewell is not one of them.  It is so very clearly on the folk music side.  First, watch Jay Ungar play.  He never leaves first position on the fiddle.  That is typical of folk music. I've never seen that on any piece considered classical.  It's a very easy, simple tune and the reason that millions of amateur fiddlers play that it, most often by ear.   The tune's simplicity is marked by having only one accidental note, one time anywhere within its two parts.  It has a VERY easy harmony.  I'm not much of a musician but I have improvised harmony on that tune as I play it on a folk instrument.  All of these are indications of simple a folk tune.  Also that its composition was inspired by other, traditional, folk tunes.  

So for Ashokan Farewell it's  not a close call--for a tune we all love!  But, just a good tune.