Jay Ungar
Encyclopedia
Jay Ungar is an American
folk musician and composer.
), the son of immigrant Jewish parents from Eastern Europe. He frequented Greenwich Village
music venues during his formative period in the 1960s. In the late 1960s, he became a member of Cat Mother and the All Night News Boys and, later, the Putnam String County Band. Although he has often played with David Bromberg
, he is probably best known for "Ashokan Farewell
" (1982), originally composed as a lament
, which was used as the theme tune to the Ken Burns
documentary, The Civil War
(1990). Many of his other compositions are familiar to contra dancers, notably "The Wizards' Walk."
In 1991, Ungar married fellow musician Molly Mason
, whom he had first met during the 1970s, and they continue to perform together, with their band, Swingology, and occasionally Jay's daughter Ruth Ungar
(her mother is Lyn Hardy) and her band The Mammals
. Jay Ungar, Molly Mason, Ruth Ungar and Michael Merenda also perform together as the Jay Ungar and Molly Mason Family Band.
In 1992, Ungar and Mason provided the soundtrack to the acclaimed documentary film Brother's Keeper
. This music has been released on a CD entitled Waltzing with You (1998).
In 2006 they headlined the Northwest Folklife Festival in Seattle
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
folk musician and composer.
Biography
Ungar was born in the Bronx (New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
), the son of immigrant Jewish parents from Eastern Europe. He frequented Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village, , , , .in New York often simply called "the Village", is a largely residential neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan in New York City. A large majority of the district is home to upper middle class families...
music venues during his formative period in the 1960s. In the late 1960s, he became a member of Cat Mother and the All Night News Boys and, later, the Putnam String County Band. Although he has often played with David Bromberg
David Bromberg
David Bromberg is an American multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter. Bromberg has an eclectic style, playing bluegrass, blues, folk, jazz, country and western, and rock and roll equally well. He is known for his quirky, humorous lyrics, and the ability to play rhythm and lead guitar at the...
, he is probably best known for "Ashokan Farewell
Ashokan Farewell
"Ashokan Farewell" is a piece of music composed by Jay Ungar in 1982. It has served as a goodnight or farewell waltz at the annual Ashokan Fiddle & Dance Camps, run by the composer and his wife, at the lakefront campus of the State University of New York at New Paltz...
" (1982), originally composed as a lament
Lament
A lament or lamentation is a song, poem, or piece of music expressing grief, regret, or mourning.-History:Many of the oldest and most lasting poems in human history have been laments. Laments are present in both the Iliad and the Odyssey, and laments continued to be sung in elegiacs accompanied by...
, which was used as the theme tune to the Ken Burns
Ken Burns
Kenneth Lauren "Ken" Burns is an American director and producer of documentary films, known for his style of using archival footage and photographs...
documentary, The Civil War
The Civil War (documentary)
The Civil War is a documentary film created by Ken Burns about the American Civil War. It was first broadcast on PBS on five consecutive nights from Sunday, September 23 to Thursday, September 27, 1990. Forty million viewers watched it during its initial broadcast, making it the most-watched...
(1990). Many of his other compositions are familiar to contra dancers, notably "The Wizards' Walk."
In 1991, Ungar married fellow musician Molly Mason
Molly Mason
Molly Mason is an American musician and composer.Mason grew up in Washington state. She plays traditional American fiddle and acoustic bass guitar....
, whom he had first met during the 1970s, and they continue to perform together, with their band, Swingology, and occasionally Jay's daughter Ruth Ungar
Ruth Ungar
Ruth Ungar is a singer songwriter who performs with many folk bands. She also plays fiddle, ukulele and guitar. She is the daughter of Jay Ungar and Lyn Hardy and is married to Michael J. Merenda, Jr.- Bands :...
(her mother is Lyn Hardy) and her band The Mammals
The Mammals
The Mammals are a contemporary folk rock band based in the Hudson Valley, area of New York, in the United States.Current band members are Michael J. Merenda, Jr., Chris Merenda, Ruth Ungar, Jacob Silver and Tao Rodríguez-Seeger.- Band history :...
. Jay Ungar, Molly Mason, Ruth Ungar and Michael Merenda also perform together as the Jay Ungar and Molly Mason Family Band.
In 1992, Ungar and Mason provided the soundtrack to the acclaimed documentary film Brother's Keeper
Brother's Keeper (film)
Brother's Keeper is a 1992 documentary directed by Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky. The film is about an alleged 1990 murder in the village of Munnsville, New York. The film is in the "Direct Cinema" style of the Maysles brothers who had formerly employed Berlinger and Sinofsky.The film contrasts...
. This music has been released on a CD entitled Waltzing with You (1998).
In 2006 they headlined the Northwest Folklife Festival in Seattle
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
.