Customer Reviews

Dulcem Melodies: Favorite Campfire Songs of the Civil War Era

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What an awesome contribution to the memory and sacrifices of those who made a Southern American's heritage glorious! The Palmetto boys have done it again.

I bought this album at the band's own canvas tent at Sutler's Row during the weekend battle reenactment of the 145th Annivesery of 1st Manassas in July 2006. The night before I and hudreds of others in sweaty dusty gray stomped and danced, swirled, and marched to the 2nd's "Dulcem," melodies. When they peformed songs from previous albums including Dixie and Southern Soldier, the Virginia stars trimbled from an explosion of rebel yells.

The 2nd South Carolina Band is as worthy a monument to the preserving and delivery of Southern ballads and war songs as Bobby Horton.

Their latest includes master pieces you won't find anywhere else including a melody of Listen to the Mocking Bird/Siege of Vicksburg, the complete versions of the Southern Battle Cry of Freedom and the Yellow Rose of Texas and my personal favorite, the Southern version of Tramp, Tramp, Tramp.

I encourage EVERYONE who is at least as half passionate about history as I to order this cd. And even if history is not your thing you will find yourself humming to the waltzes and tapping to the melodies.

The band and their families are a friendly and spirited bunch. They never fail to lift your spirits whether you wear the blue or gray. They are anything but blue .

I extend my warmest wishes to the band and their families and do so hope to see them again soon.

Until then, I shall play their Dulcem Melodies with pride.

this band is awesome !!! the only civil war music you need !!! be sure to purchase all 4 c.d.'s of theirs, there all equally great !!!

Very tuneful CD. Up to band's usual standards

One of the 4 or so releases featuring songs from the Civil War era. Done with style and a lot of fun. Good musicians capture the real spirit of that sad time in our history. Recommended to everyone who enjoys this sort of music.

A nice selection of songs of the Civil War era very well performed. This was the music the troops played and sang to lift their spirits while they were in a very difficult situation. It can do the same for us now.

The boys from the second south have done it again! They have once again captured the feel

and the mood of a bygone era, these are highly talented musicians who are quite simply the best

at what they do, and that is make the best civil war era music available today. Dulcem Melodies

proves it again.This, like all of the second south's music is one of those rare cd's that you will listen

to for hours. congradulations gentlemen, job well done!

While some die-hard fans of The Second South may wonder about whether this album marks a departure from their old, tried-and-true formula of foot-stompin' music,...fear not! You will not be disappointed!!

This latest collection entitled, "Dulcem Melodies" (while boasting a few worthy examples of the aforementioned raucous genre such as, "Hawks and Eagles"), generally tends more toward the Victorian parlor than the Civil War campfire. But the results are highly entertaining.

Not surprisingly, in the process this album clearly demonstrates the musicianship and stylistic versatility of the lads of the Second South. "Dulcem Melodies" lives up to its name by serving up many selections of the sweetest melodies of the Civil War era including a hauntingly beautiful version of "The Minstrel Boy", the sentimental waltz, "Evalina" and the Stephen Foster classic, "My Old Kentucky Home". The band's instrumentation and arrangements are strongly derived from the original 19th century sheet music, but with enough original creativity to make each selection a truly artful and fresh interpretation. In a sense "Dulcem Melodies" completes a musical transition that began with the "In High Cotton" album of a few years back. Once again, I believe this evolving group of talented musicians have another hit on their hands. Bravissimo!

Listening to even the first few measures of the first song, "Nelly Bly," it's easy to tell listeners are in for a musical treat. The 2nd South Carolina String Band is the best group of Civil War musicians in the business, and "Dulcem Melodies" cements their premiere place. The album is a light-hearted romp of a good time, filled with toe-tappers and infectious melodies that quickly evoke camp-fire evenings on warm summer nights.

But beyond the solid musicianship, the true genius of the album comes in the inspired arrangements of the songs, particularly their medleys. Civil War-era standards like "Stonewall Jackson's Way" and "Gary Owen" may not seem, at first blush, to be a natural fit--but listening to the 2nd So. Carolina play them and it sounds like the songs were written specifically for each other. "Kelton's Reel and "Waiting for the Federals," even at seven-plus minutes, is such a surprising delight that the song ends too song.

As a bonus, the liner notes provide ample background and context for the songs. These guys aren't just in it for the music--they're living historians who are preserving and recreating an important part of America's cultural heritage, and they make it a point to educate listeners about what they're doing and why.

"Dulcem Melodies" is a high-spirited fling and a whole lot more.