E9: Ashokan Farewell solo

[Frank Freniere]

The Mammals are an indie-roots band from New York's Hudson Valley led by singer-songwriters Ruth Ungar and Mike Merenda. Ruth’s brother, Jay Ungar, also happens to be the composer of “Ashokan Farewell,” a song that blew up after appearing in Ken Burns’s award-winning PBS documentary on the Civil War.

Over the years the band has had a shifting cast of players, one of which featured Charlie Rose who plays the pedal steel solo here. I tried to capture Charlie’s phrasing but the song is loaded with possibilities to make it your own.

CORRECTION 8/12/25: I corrected page 4, bar 2, note 2. Sorry!

Here’s the YouTube – solo starts at about 2:26.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUTMTY0 ... rt_radio=1

[Dennis Belt]

Very cool! Thanks for taking the time to post this tab. Everybody knows this tune, even if they don’t know what it is. Really a great choice. I look forward to diving in.

[Bill McCloskey]

This song has had meaning throughout my life. When I was in my 20's, I was introduced to Jay and Molly at small folk festival in Pennsylvania by my music professor. In my 40's, it was played at the funeral of my cousin by members of the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra whom she was a patron. And in my 50's I dated a woman who had a house near Ashokan so I thought of this song every time I visited her. For those who don't know Jay Ungar and his wife ran the Ashokan Fiddle and Dance Camp near Woodstock and this song was composed as a farewell waltz played at the end of the camp each year. Beautiful rendition

[Frank Freniere]

Great story, Bill.

[kevin ryan]

Real nice job Frank, Thanks