Lyr Req: Ashokan Farewell

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ashokan Farewell
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 11 Jul 10 - 08:50 PM

According to Sing Out! magazine, Vol. 42 #2, page 48, Fall 1997 (bathroom reading recently), in an article about Jay and Molly, in a box entitled "The life of 'Ashokan Farewell'":

...lyrics pour in from people who have been so moved by the tune that they feel inspired to put words to their feelings. Over the years, Jay has approved only two sets of lyrics -- by Ashokan camper Grian MacGregor (recorded by Priscilla Herdman) and by British jazz singer Cleo Laine (recorded as "A Time for Farewell") -- and says he is unlikely to OK others.

~ Becky in Long Beach

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ashokan Farewell
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 11 Jul 10 - 08:58 PM

"I tend to get irritated about folks thinking that ALL tunes need words"

... but then again, not all words need tunes either... :-P

:-)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ashokan Farewell
From: Tannywheeler
Date: 13 Jul 10 - 12:00 PM

It's just that the lovelier a tune is the more a singer wants to sing it. It's frustrating that so many heartthrillingly beautiful tunes have no words.   Tw

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ashokan Farewell
From: Jack Campin
Date: 13 Jul 10 - 02:09 PM

The words of "The Star-Spangled Banner" fit reasonably well.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ashokan Farewell
From: Leadfingers
Date: 13 Jul 10 - 06:28 PM

Tanny - The problem is that SO Often the words DONT have any thing like the same quality as the tune

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ashokan Farewell
From: ollaimh
Date: 14 Jul 10 - 03:39 PM

yes ode to joy was intentionally used by beethoven with permission of schiller--who was of like politics to B.

there are several english translations , some of which carry the spirit of the origional

so where is ashokan?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ashokan Farewell
From: Artful Codger
Date: 14 Jul 10 - 09:02 PM

Leadfingers wrote: The problem is that SO Often the words DONT have any thing like the same quality as the tune

That is a risk any songwriter takes, whether with his own tunes or with the tunes of others. And similarly when setting poetry to music.

Tons of texts have been set to tunes which were originally instrumental, and produced terrific songs. Tons of poems have been set to tunes after the fact, and produced terrific songs. We would be greatly impoverished if this practice did not occur. Granted, mountains of mediocre or abysmal songs have been produced by the same process, but the songs which don't measure up tend to die away when others give them a tepid reception. Numerous such efforts are necessary if people are to produce the occasional gems.

The only real errors occur when performers are so in love with everything they produce (or are so pushed by recording contracts) that they lose their ability to discern the potentially good from the merely derivative, and mostly sing the latter. On the other hand, think of how many best-loved songs were issued as B-sides, the A-sides now forgotten.

In any case, "authorized" is a useful distinction, since you may run into legal woes with a version that isn't. So don't be dissuaded by knee-jerk purists (misconstruing the term) from asking this cogent question.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ashokan Farewell
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 15 Jul 10 - 12:12 AM

ollaimh, Ashokan is in the eastern Catskill Mountains of New York state (between New York City and Albany).

~ Becky in Tucson
(originally with Catskill connections...)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ashokan Farewell
From: GUEST,Jay Ungar
Date: 18 Oct 10 - 11:16 AM

Grian (not Brian) MacGregor wrote the "original" set of lyrics for Ashokan Farewell that were subsequently recorded by Priscilla Herdman.

Cleo Laine wrote and recorded a second set of lyrics for this same melody, which she recorded with her husband John Dankworth, under the title, "A Time For Farewell." These lyrics were also recorded by Thomas Hampson.

Both of these lyrics are easily available at http://www.jayandmolly.com/ashokanlyrics.shtml

I've since received more than 200 unsolicited sets of lyrics by mail and email, but have not given permission for any to be recorded or otherwise officially coupled with the tune.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ashokan Farewell
From: Jack Campin
Date: 18 Oct 10 - 11:58 AM

It just occurred to me that "The Mayor of Bayswater's Daughter" goes perfectly to this tune.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ashokan Farewell
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 18 Oct 10 - 01:04 PM

Jay Ungar has just confirmed what I posted on 11 Jul 10 (above)

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