Classical Music for Aficionados

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.

Anyone interested in superb fiddling get on to Idagio and listen to Leonidas Kavakos 's album Virtuoso for a musical delight. The playing is so easy for him and he programs flashy showpieces by 19th century virtuosos and arrangements of other so well known pieces.

Best fiddle playing I have heard for a while.

Melm, I don’t disagree with you re Ashokan Farewell at all; that was not the thrust of my comments.  Where we may disagree, in part, is over the ultimate “importance of distinguishing” between genres, particularly when the distinction is based upon things such as technical ease of playing, simplicity of harmony, number of accidentals, etc; all characteristics which in fact can be found in some Classical works.  Those things are not what necessarily define a genre.  Btw, here are some violin works clearly in a Classical style played entirely in first position that may be of interest to you:

https://www.laurelthomsen.com/Violin_Geek_Blog/Entries/2020/9/6_First_Position_Beginning_Violin_Concerto_Repertoire.html