Thursday, April 22, 2010

"a Scottish lament written by a Jewish guy from the Bronx."


The haunting melody of the Ashokan Farewell is much more modern than you might think. Although the popular tune has been associated with 19th century fiddling, the piece belongs to the 20th century. American acoustic musician Jay Ungar, whose witty words regarding the tune form the title of this post, composed the Ashokan Farewell in 1982. Since the melody was first made famous by its use in Ken Burns' The Civil War documentary, the assumption of historical authenticity remains.

An excellent summary of the music's genesis and later fame is available on Jay and Molly Ungar's website: Ashokan Farewell FAQ


Will this ripe mango from Aldi's compare to the exotic sweetness I tasted in Bénin? Perhaps not, but eating this fruit will be a change of pace from the usual bananas, apples, and oranges.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Ottoshöhe



The trail leads to Ottoshöhe, a tower in the Teutoburg Forest near Melle. At the top, the view of the the surrounding villages is spectacular.