Ashokan and Sheebeg and Sheemore
In 1990, Ken Burns released his documentary film The Civil War on PBS. It showcased Burn’s signature style of using historical, still photography with narration, often from historical sources, and accompanied by music. While watching The Civil War, I first heard the song “Ashokan Farewell,” the film’s theme song. I had not heard it in decades, but it recently popped into my mind.
The song was written and performed by violinist Jay Unger and his wife Molly Mason. The song’s structure is based on Scottish lament and, according to Unger, written to convey “a sense of loss and longing,” fitting for a documentary about The Civil War.
As I listened to “Ashokan Farewell,” I was reminded of another song that I was also listening to in the early 1990's, enjoying just as much, and trying unsuccessfully to play on my guitar: “Sheebeg and Sheemore.” This is a much older song, written by the blind Irish harper Turlough O’Carolan (1670 - 1738.)
Both songs are slow and a bit melancholy. “Ashokan Farewell” is a waltz and “Sheebeg and Sheemore” is sometimes played as a waltz.
Listen to Unger and Mason plus their children play “Ashokan Farewell.”
I couldn’t find many versions of “Sheebeg and Sheemore.” The best took me further down memory lane since it’s done by a guitarist that I’ve not heard in decades.
