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Jay Ungar and Molly Mason

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photoHusband and wife duo Jay Ungar and Molly Mason perform some of the greatest songs of '60s... 1860s that is. They share a mission of unearthing traditional American fiddle and dance gems from Civil war songs to New England contra songs to country swing tunes and bringing them to a new generation of listeners in search of a simpler time.

Husband and wife duo Jay Ungar and Molly Mason met 25 years ago and shared a love for traditional dance music. They started playing in coffeehouses, churches, and contra dances and eventually set up a music and dance camp in New York state. At the end of one season, feeling emotional by the experience, Jay Ungar composed a song that moved him so much he cried as he wrote it. That song, Ashokan Farewell, was eventually heard by legendary documentary filmmaker Ken Burns who used it as the musical backbone for his Civil War Series. It put Jay Ungar and Molly Mason on the musical map earning them a Grammy. Today Ungar and Mason share a mission of unearthing traditional American fiddle and dance gems from Civil war songs to country swing tunes and bringing them to a new generation of listeners in search of a simpler time. Tonight we wander the trail of traditional American Dance music with Jay Ungar and Molly Mason.

Guests:

Jay Ungar and Molly Mason, Their latest CD is called "Relax Your Mind"

This program aired on June 20, 2003.

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