Civil War 1: The Confederacy

Civil War (Series), Richard Bales/National Gallery Orchestra | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 1, 1991)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B0000027I2
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #142,261 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. General Lee's Grand March

2. All Quiet Along the Potomac

3. The Bonnie Blue Flag

4. Lorena

5. The Yellow Rose of Texas

6. Sombody's Darling

7. We All Went Down to Ne Worleans for Bales

8. Gen. Robert E Lee's Farewell Order to the Army of Northern ...

Editorial Reviews

CD has 10 songs. Conducted by Richard Bales

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Music As It Was Written., November 14, 2005

By 

Jack Nesbitt "War Horse" (Austin, TX United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Civil War 1: The Confederacy (Audio CD)

First of all, this is not a collection of campfire songs and nowhere does it claim to be. This CD is a collection of pieces that express the emotion of the times and the feelings of a people. From the near-operatic "Somebody's Darling" to the stirring and orchestral "General Lee's Grand March" this was the music of the times. The rendition of "Dixie's Land" is one of the few times I've heard it played as it was written by Ohioan Daniel Emmett. Written for stage produced minstrel shows (Bryan's Minstrels) this full chorus version is lively and intermixed betweeen stanzas with "Kingdom Coming (Year of Jubilo)" in quickstep. The piece ends with an authentic Rebel Yell that still raises the hair on my neck. It is hard for modern Americans to understand this type of music, some of which tends toward the maudlin. But it accurately expresses the feelings of the only Americans ever to be conquered. The beautifully haunting "Furl that Banner," with its muted horns and muffled drums, portrays the deeply felt emotion of an army that would have continued to fight had it been asked to do so. But that is why the last song on the album is the defiant "Dixie's Land." If you're looking for a few guys sitting around plunking a banjo, this isn't it. There are plenty of those CDs and many of them are excellent. But "Confederacy - The Music Of the South" is a tonal documentary that is well worth the money.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pure Nostalgia For Me, June 25, 2002

By 

Helen Lightfoot "morgansky" (Austin, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Civil War 1: The Confederacy (Audio CD)

The orginial Union and Confederacy records were a gift to my parents from my uncle in the 60's. Although my tastes (then and now) run to rock and roll, All Quiet Along the Potomac and Lorena still give me goose bumps. Whenever my uncle makes tapes for me, he still includes gems from the two records. I suppose that memories of my youth and warm fuzzy feelings will always enhance my appreciation of this music, but nevertheless I consider these recordings to be far superior to the more modern Ken Burns collection.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Groundbreaking recording, January 25, 2001

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Civil War 1: The Confederacy (Audio CD)

This recording first came out around 40 years ago on LP, and I just had to have it. When I got it, I was thrilled, and had to have the companion recording (The Union) when it was issued shortly thereafter. Nevetheless, from the standpoint of 2001, I am forced to acknowledge that these are not so much collections of songs from the Civil War (the only thing available when they were first issued) as they are just what they claim to be - cantatas by Richard Bales. The presentation is consequently a long way from anything that might have been heard in the 1860s. It follows the formula of Bach or Berlioz (instrumental followed by soprano followed by chorus, etc., all with full symohony orchestra) rather than some regimental band or soliders around a campfire or a minstrel armed with a banjo. Nevertheless, the tunes are the same, and except for what I regard as overly boisterous cacophony on one or two numbers from both recordings (a stylistic peculiarity of many large choral performances of the time), these recordings are quite enjoyable and well done. My only other complaints are petty: the booklet came across much better in the larger format that came with the LP, and the Union album is half again as long as the Confederate. The damyankees win again!