On Friday, April 25, the me&thee will feature four members of an extremely talented family who perform as the Jay Ungar and Molly Mason Family Band. The band features Jay, Molly, Jay’s daughter Ruth Ungar Merenda, and her husband Michael Merenda. In addition to these noted musicians, ten Marblehead students will be accompanying them on their signature song “Ashokan Farewell.”

Danielle Yeti, the Marblehead strings instructor for Grades 6–12, approached the me&thee earlier this season and simply requested a discount on a block of tickets so that her students could experience this Jay Ungar tune in person since they were learning it this year. Little did she know that her students would be invited to play along with Jay and Molly. “It’s very exciting to be a part of this concert with Jay Ungar and Molly Mason. When I asked about group tickets to the concert, I never expected my students would be invited to play with these wonderful musicians! To meet the composer of one of their favorite pieces and perform along with him will be an experience the students will remember for a long time.” Ten Marblehead students (seven violists, one violist, and one cellist) will be making music and making me&thee history by bridging the gap between generations and from performers and audience members.

Jay Ungar & Molly Mason are extraordinary musicians. If you didn’t know it before, you sure did after Ken Burns’ The Civil War hit the airwaves. Their performance of Jay’s haunting composition “Ashokan Farewell” — the musical hallmark of the PBS series — earned the couple international acclaim. The soundtrack won a Grammy and “Ashokan Farewell” — originally inspired by Jay & Molly’s annual fiddle and dance camps — was nominated for an Emmy. Since joining forces in the late 1970s, Jay and Molly have become one of the most celebrated duos on the American acoustic music scene. With their comfortable sense of fun and their love of music, they make each concert a musical journey — sometimes spanning two continents and two centuries. Their incomparable warmth and wit — coupled with consummate musicianship — have delighted audiences worldwide. They’ve garnered legions of fans through their appearances on Great Performances, A Prairie Home Companion, their own public radio specials, and work on film soundtracks such as Brother’s Keeper, Legends of the Fall, and a host of Ken Burns documentaries.

Ruth and Mike Merenda are from the band, The Mammals, who played at the me&thee two springs ago. Ruth Merenda cut her teeth on traditional music, and grew up to be a top-flight performer. She brings fiddle, ukulele, guitar and deeply moving vocal performances to the Family Band. Mike Merenda favored rock and ska before being drawn into the world of acoustic music. He adds old-time banjo, guitar and percussion to the mix. Their first CD as a duo, “The Honeymoon Agenda,” was actually made on their honeymoon, taking advantage of a wedding gift of free studio time. It is just a coincidence that the name rhymes with theirs. The CD is a great mix of some covers of well-known performers, some lesser know performers and their own work. Michael Simmons, writing in High Times, says “Ungar is a sensational singer. . . . Merenda is one of the best songwriters of his generation — literate, political, melodic, alternately angry and satirical and sensual.” Ruth and Michael travel with their son Will, born January 28, 2008. He’s not playing an instrument yet but is sometimes heard none the less.

Four terrific musicians. Put them together and the sum really is greater than its parts. Double fiddles, sweet vocal harmonies and rhythmic energy abound as two generations collaborate to entertain you with music from the heart and soul of America.

 

 

On stage, Mason and Ungar complement each other like a finely crafted fiddle and bow. Together they weave a rich postmodern musical magic carpet on which listeners may vicariously glide back in time and experience first-hand the sonorous riches of traditional music. David S. Rotenstein, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Jay and Molly make music that is simple and overwhelming . . . joyful and full of feeling . . . an apotheosis of American traditional music. Garrison Keillor, host and creator of "A Prairie Home Companion"