The Ashokan Farewell
The Ashokan Farewell was used in the TV documentary "The Civil War" in 1982. Written by Jay Unger, Ken Burns, who was setting the stage for the documentary, heard the song and decided to use it in the documentary. The song is named for a small town in New York, which is now covered by the Ashokan Reservoir, which provides drinking water for New York City.
The song is plaintive, but not sad, and was written in the style of a Scottish Lament. For more information about the song, please read HERE .
I had this played at my mother's funeral last week, and found it to be very comforting. It was a song that mother liked. I hope that you enjoy it as well!
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I hope you find this enjoyable! I think it's peaceful...
Here is one that's not quite so peaceful, but I really love it! Emily's Reel, played (in part), by Yo Yo Ma.
You're right Dowser . That song is remarkably soothing [without the agonies of the Civil War in the background ] ...
I watched Ken Burn's The Civil War,and I remembered thinking that it sounded like a lovely Scottish lament, so we must be two peas in a pod. What a lovely choice of music for the moment. I am sure your mom was smiling.
Dowser that is a very peaceful song and I know your mother was smiling through the entire piece. Beautiful!
When my Uncle Herman died from ALS/Lou Gehrigs Disease, I helped my aunt prepare for his funeral, since I was his caretaker along with my aunt. I chose this song. I know that it is more melancholy than your choice, but he didn't live the fullness of his years. He was my dad's baby brother, the second youngest of 5 boys and one girl. He was was a kind man and well liked by almost anyone who ever got to know him. The day before he died I saw him and he smiled and wrote down on a piece of paper how much he loved me, that god was good and not to worry about him. He died 5 years ago tomorrow.
Yeah, I was looking for recording sounds, not pictures... Although the horrors of the civil war were pretty much like I was feeling last week...
Very beautiful song.
Thanks, dear Perrie and John. I hope that she liked it. We had some fun songs played during visitation-- Moonglow by Benny Goodman, Fly Me to the Moon by Frank Sinatra-- songs that she loved. They had a party for one of the Gemini orbits, years and years ago, and Daddy made a lit globe of the earth with a moon spinning around it, and a little capsule. They had such fun!
Let me tell you, it is hard being the only one left to greet everyone. I never heard the music. I was standing up by the photo/video thingy, (it was a closed coffin), and did the best I could for 4 hours, standing there. My son and husband 'circulated', but ugh.
I'm glad you all like it. I love it!
Larry, I'm so glad you liked it!!! I hope it would have pleased her! I did the best I could to both honor her and make it tasteful and special.
A beautiful song!!! I've always loved that!
I'm so sorry about your poor uncle-- I know you miss him!
Taking Mama up to the family plot was hard. There was my cousin Jane and Bill, Grandpa, Grandma, Uncle Louie, Aunt Lois, my great-grandparents, and my great-great grandparents. I decorated all of them with some of her flowers. The Scherer family monument is leaning, and I've got to get that fixed. Some of the graves have sunken in, and I need to fill in the dirt. I'm the only one left. And Peep. All my hopes and dreams are sort of pinned on him, for sure.
Too much to do!!!
Thanks for contributing this lovely song!!!
A beautiful song and most appropriate for saying goodbye Dowser. Very soothing.
The one I've always found to be most difficult is Taps and the firing squad at the funeral of a veteran. I've been there far too frequently lately, as my relatives from WWII die.
We went through that the week before, when an old, dear, family friend passed away. Bill McDonough. He looked like Anthony Quinn, as a young man. A beautiful ceremony and prayer, and absolutely heart-rending.
Much love to you, TTGA!