The Misty Dawn Medley: Misty Molly/Foxy Mary/My Darling Asleep - Jay Ungar, Ungar, Jay
The Mountain House - Jay Ungar, Ungar, Jay
The Contradance: The Road We Traveled/The Wizard's Walk - Jay Ungar, Ungar, Jay
Legends of the Fall - Jay Ungar, Horner
The Lover's Lament - Jay Ungar, Traditional
Prairie Love Song - Jay Ungar, Mason, Molly
Louisianna Wedding Bells - Jay Ungar, Mason, Molly
The Montague Processional - Jay Ungar, Kaynor, David
Give Me Your Hand - Jay Ungar, O'Cathain, Rory Dal
There's Honey on the Moon Tonight - Jay Ungar, Coots, J. Fred
Metsakukkia - Jay Ungar, Traditional
Chosen Challe Mazeltov - Jay Ungar, Traditional
Tiptoe Alley - Jay Ungar, Ungar, Jay
It's All in Your Mind - Jay Ungar, LaVere, Charlie
The Lover's Waltz - Jay Ungar, Mason, Molly
There are faster and flashier fiddlers than Jay Ungar, but he is almost without peer as a composer of fiddle tunes. Blessed with that rare knack for making his melodies move in ways that stir the listener's longings, he is... more » best known for penning and performing "Ashokan Farewell," the evocative theme from "The Civil War" TV series. Ungar's 1997 album with his wife Molly Mason, The Lover's Waltz, takes its name from another striking fiddle theme, a slow-moving melody that seems to trace the rise of romantic desire and its satisfaction in each 32-bar section. Mason accompanies her husband on piano, guitar, and bass, and she sings on four of the album's 16 tracks in an ingratiating alto. For the most part, though, the lead voice is Ungar's violin, which seems to sing in a note-bending, heart-tugging tenor. His melodies can be elegiac ("The Mountain House"), picturesque ("Prairie Love Song"), or spirited ("Tiptoe Alley"), but they are always memorable. The duo is joined by Balfa Toujours for a lively Cajun song, by John Sebastian for a cowboy tune, and by Swingology for several jazz and klezmer tunes. The liner notes try to give the compositions the narrative shape of a badly-written romance novel, but these tunes don't need any help. They can enchant the listener with the sheer power of melody. --Geoffrey Himes« less
There are faster and flashier fiddlers than Jay Ungar, but he is almost without peer as a composer of fiddle tunes. Blessed with that rare knack for making his melodies move in ways that stir the listener's longings, he is best known for penning and performing "Ashokan Farewell," the evocative theme from "The Civil War" TV series. Ungar's 1997 album with his wife Molly Mason, The Lover's Waltz, takes its name from another striking fiddle theme, a slow-moving melody that seems to trace the rise of romantic desire and its satisfaction in each 32-bar section. Mason accompanies her husband on piano, guitar, and bass, and she sings on four of the album's 16 tracks in an ingratiating alto. For the most part, though, the lead voice is Ungar's violin, which seems to sing in a note-bending, heart-tugging tenor. His melodies can be elegiac ("The Mountain House"), picturesque ("Prairie Love Song"), or spirited ("Tiptoe Alley"), but they are always memorable. The duo is joined by Balfa Toujours for a lively Cajun song, by John Sebastian for a cowboy tune, and by Swingology for several jazz and klezmer tunes. The liner notes try to give the compositions the narrative shape of a badly-written romance novel, but these tunes don't need any help. They can enchant the listener with the sheer power of melody. --Geoffrey Himes
"I learned of Jay Ungar and Molly Mason when I did a radio show on a public radio station. I played "The Lover's Waltz" as often as I could get away with it. I love this music and it never gets old. The whole CD is great. I also had "The Lover's Waltz" played at my wedding. I am a ballroom dancer, and I have used several of the tunes for performances. If you love beautiful music, you can't go wrong with Jay!"
One of the most influential and emotionally effective CDs
J. Moss | New York | 08/06/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Sometimes instrumental CDs can get very boring and repetitive, and I am speaking from a musician's point of view, but The Lover's Waltz is brilliant. Unger continues to exhibit his amazing talent for composing compelling, eclectic, and beautiful fiddle tunes, along with his wife Molly Mason and other musicians who helped support some of the songs. The tracks on this album range from the heart breaking to the jovial in the styles of American Folk, Klezmer, and Southwestern. I want to play this CD at my wedding. For all those who enjoyed Ashokan Farewell and the Catskill Collection as well as people just looking for beautiful and beautifully performed music."
Superbly done.
Rodney D. Reynolds | Plano, TX USA | 07/19/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Heard an interview with Jay & Molly on National Public Radio regarding The Lover's Waltz -- was so impressed had to go out that day and find the recording. It's a good thing CDs don't wear out -- I play it so often. If I could only have one music CD, this would be it... Who would have thought you could get so many different emotions and sounds out of a fiddle? Zydeco, appalachian, baltic, Southwest -- whew! How do they do it?"
Evocative, haunting, and beautiful
Rodney D. Reynolds | 11/29/1998
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The music is exquisitely beautiful. From the haunting melodies like Ashokan Farewell to the big band feel, Mason and Unger have captured a sense of Americana that is woven in all Americans' experiences and in our history. The music makes one reflect on the threads that make up all of our lives--our joys and sorrows, our dreams and the way things are. With the wonderful fiddle playing, the sweet piano accompaniment, and the wonderful voices of Mason and Unger, this album is a masterpiece, enjoyed by all who hear it."
Used this for our First Dance at our Wedding
M. Golias | 06/12/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"We found this album online while looking for music for our first dance. We chose Mountain House because it was just the perfect little waltz to dance to. We took some waltz dance lessons and choreographed dance moves to it. It was lovely. And, best of all, we shocked all our guests beacuse they didn't know we were taking dance lessons!"