Customer Reviews

The Civil War: Its Music and Its Sounds

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is not a just mere collection of music and songs from the Civil War era, but an actual attempt to teach the listener about the Civil War and its music.

As the other reviewers have noted, this double CD package reproduces the band music of the Civil War with authentic instruments and actual arrangements from the period. The viewer is treated to as close a fascimile of a Civil War regimental band as can be possible. However, there is a whole lot more to this collection than just brass band music. It also features fife and drum music, the bugle and drum calls used by the troops (including the actual "charge" which is very different from what we hear today in football stadiums), songs of the period sung by a male chorus accompanied by a lone banjo, and a narration which introduces several segments by giving background on the music and a brief history of the war. (I personally think the brief history of the war narration is the weakest part of the CD. The CD should have concentrated solely on the music and sounds of the war, and left the military history to writers and documentary makers.) Along with the music, the CD comes with other sounds of the war including the sounds of cannons, rifles, and carbines. Yes, the CD actually features the sounds of these weapons actually being fired on the firing range at West Point. If you ever wanted to hear what cannister being fired from a 12lb Napoleon really sounds like then this the CD for you!

Finally, this collection comes with a very thick little booklet which gives the listener tons of background on the making of the CDs and descriptions and historical information for everything on the CD's. It's particularly helpful in identifying the various bugle calls. This is a great collection for the serious Civil War buff.

I have been a Civil War buff for over 40 years. This CD ( taken from a 4 album set recorded in the 1960s) was and still is the best I ever heard. No effort was spared in making this recording. All the instuments and arrangments are 1860s authentitic. Recording techniques used were state of the art in the 1960s and hold up well on the CD.You ain't gonna believe it !

I found that the music on this selection really grows on you--it gets better each time I listen to it. The Civil War has always interested me and Frederick Fennell does an excellent job by telling the story of Gettysburg to Appomattox through music, narration, and actual recorded sounds of weaponry used throughout the campaigns. I really like the fact that Fennell used the actual brass instruments of a band that was "there", on the battlefields, and even the selections played were taken from an original songbook from that band. I enjoyed listening to all the bugle calls and a neat booklet comes with the CD which details all of the selections. I think my favorite piece is at the end where the Star-spangled Banner is played, it is so powerful the way the brass band of that era played it. This CD-set is one of my favorites, I give it high marks all around!

This recording is not only fascinating to listen to, but also should be a part of every musician's collection. It is the most complete and accurate recording of its kind; and paints a masterwork picture of what it was like to experience the Civil War through sound and narration. Moravian History buffs will also be glad to know that many, if not most of the Confederate band tunes were taken from the original band books of the 26th regiment from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. More on this group of musicians and the life they lived in the civil war, can be found in Harry Hall's book: A Johnny Reb Band from Salem.

There is some misinformation in the reviews about the sound effects. The cannons, muskets, carbines and revolvers were fired on Excelsior Field, the battle field at Gettysburg, not at West Point. All firearms were original weapons. Likewise the mounted troop sounds were also recorded on horseback there.
I'm somewhat biased since the picture on the cover shows my personal rear end, firing the 12 pound Napoleon gun.

I live in Holland and just recieved this cd,
when I play online games, driving my car or any occasion this cd is really great to hear.

The narration is also nice to hear, clear and loud. The best songs are the marching songs with drums. The only reason why I have not given 5 stars is that I missed more songs. Most of the cd is instrumental. Bonnie Blue Flag for example is instrumental, to bad the cd doesnt have a vocal version of it.

If you like civil war music you must this cd!

Greetings from Holland :)

HAVING ANCESTOR'S FROM THIS PERIOD I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH, MY GREAT-GRANFATHER I KNEW TILL AGE 11 WHEN HE DIED AT 88. HIS FATHER SERVED IN THE 56TH NC INFANTRY, CSA, 1861 TILL END OF THE WAR SURRENDERING AT APPOMATTOX, VA. 1865. MY GRANDFATHER TOLD ME OF WHAT HIS FATHER TOLD HIM AS TO EVENTS OF THE CONFLICT. THE STORIES OF GETTYSBURG AND THE SOUNDS OF THE CANNONS AND RIFLE FIRE. THUNDEROUS, EAR SPLITTING, WHISTLING OF THE BULETTS, THE SHARP THUDS.
FROM HIS ACCOUNTS, THIS RECORDING, IF YOU TURN IT UP OR IMAGINE MUTIPLIED 300 TO 900 TIMES, IS AS CLOSE AS WE WILL EVER EXPERIENCE SUCH FURY. RECOMMEND THIS TOP DRAWER, HAVE GIVEN 3 AS GIFTS,---- THIS IS IT!! MUSIC AND SOUNDS OF THAT WAR FROM A 2ND HAND SOURCE. SUPER CD!!!

For "Civil War Buffs" and for musicians, this recording if one of the finest I have come across. Not only the "popular" styles of music for the time period, but also fife & drum music as well as music played during the battles.
I was amazed at the sounds produced by the period instruments, and the wonderful musicians who performed on them.
If you want great music - this is one of the best.

Authentic American Civil War era music and sounds of the conflict with excellent narration using the words of the participants. The finest example of music of that period played with the excellence of the Eastman Wind Ensemble. You will treasure the music and listen often.

I was 11 years old when this Album was made. It inspired me to become an Historical re-enactor, which I have done for the past 32 years.(Though I re-enact the RevWar era).
I spent many days with the Fine recording truck,and my grandfather (William Decker...listed in the small booklet in the album), and also have an original transparency foto taken by him of one REVIEWER NAMED " A MUSIC FAN" , him firing the cannon on the album cover.
I am immeasurably Happy to get this album in CD, the original I have is an old worn out LP record.If A MUSIC FAN has a way to write another review of this...I can contact him??? and share a few stories.