Jay Ungar, Mandolin Picker?
The title of this thread is rather vague, more or less intentionally so.
I've been watching Ken Burns' 2001 documentary, "Mark Twain," and enjoying it immensely, of course. The story of one of my favorite writers and characters, told by one of my favorite filmmakers and his team of brilliant storytellers - what's not to like?
I've been transfixed by more than the story, but also the music, which weaves in and out, presenting a dazzling array of Americana in due course, setting the story in its time period with extraordinary examples of the history of American popular songs. I am baffled, though, by the short shrift given the musicians. Indeed, there is nearly no credit given whatsoever. All that appears in the credits is:
Instrumentalist and Studio Arrangements
Bobby Horton
Traditional Music
Jacqueline Schwab, piano
Additional Traditional Music
Jay Ungar (Part I)
Molly Mason (Part I)
Teese Gohl (Part II)
I know Jay Ungar is known mostly for fiddle, and Molly Mason for guitar, but does he also play mandolin? And who is Bobby Horton?
I'm asking because mandolin is all over the soundtrack; it is indeed perhaps the most prominent instrument. It is expertly played and finely recorded. Yet I can't tell if there was a band playing the music or if it were recorded by multi-tracking. It sounds very natural, unforced, organic and fluid. I'm curious to know who was playing, if anyone knows, or can point me in the right direction to learn such information.
The music credits concentrate on the writers thereof, with some performers listed - though there seems to be no discernible group of performers mentioned - and is far from complete. Certainly not for the incidental music, which weaves in and out throughout the production. And is sublime.
The movie is available on Amazon Prime until the end of the month. I don't know how I missed it when it was first-run, though that was a transitional year, and must have slipped past me somehow. I just reached the halfway point, and look forward to the rest of the story.
Last edited by journeybear; Apr-04-2021 at 9:44pm.
Reason: Thought of something else
But that's just my opinion. I could be wrong. - Dennis Miller
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