DESCRIPTION:
Here is a gorgeous American fiddle tune called, Ashokan Farewell, written by Jay Ungar in 1982. This tune has a very sad emotional feel to it, similar to a Scottish lament, and is often played as a final tune at a fiddle camp in Upstate New York. It was also used in the documentary, "The Civil War," by filmmaker Ken Burns (Ken Burns also invented the "Ken Burns" cinematography pan-and-zoom effect). This tune is named after the town of Ashokan and it's beautiful reservoir, Ashokan Reservoir, in New York . He has sheet music available for purchase on his website:
http://jayandmolly.com/store/sheet-music/

I'm learning a new instrument, the cello!!! I'm very nervous to post a video playing an instrument that I really don't know how to play yet, but I felt the same way when I first started posting my own music backing tracks. I've been playing it a few months now, and this is the first time I've tried to play a duet with myself.

The cello is similar to the violin in many ways, but it's like I'm playing the violin backwards. It has really taught me what it's like to be a beginner again. I had forgotten what it was like to be frustrated at what seemed to be like the basic concepts of playing an instrument.

I've also started to get a much better handle on reading bass clef! I'm super excited about that because I've always struggled with bass clef... I've always thought of the clef as a translation of treble clef, rather than fluently understanding the notes of the clef. The cello makes learning the clef so much easier. The instrument itself is somewhat familiar because of its similarities to the violin, yet the bass clef seems to fit it perfectly.

The bass clef is read as a third lower than treble clef, but the larger spacing on the cello seems to "make up for that," with your fingers. With the exception of open strings, the notes "space
or "line" that I would normally play as a 4th finger on the violin, I play as a 4th finger on the cello -- only it's a completely different note. It's like it uses the same fingers, but produces different notes...it's hard to explain, but it makes learning bass clef so much easier! =)

I guess that is all for now. Mostly just a cello update. ^_^ I'm hoping that by learning a bass instrument that can also be a solo instrument that I will develop a better understanding of bass instruments. Up until now, I've only had bass instruments play chords or rhythm, so I'm excited to start learning how to add in a more melodic bass part to my music. =) Learning bass clef will also help a lot with my very rough, self-taught piano playing and MIDI composition. ^_^

Thank you for watching and reading this long description, and I hope you have a great week!

ASHOKAN FAREWELL by Jay Ungar
©1983 by Swinging Door Music