Lewis & Clark - Original Soundtrack Recording

Various (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 18, 2011)
• Original Release Date: November 4, 1997
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Columbia/Legacy
• ASIN: B0000CF2ZQ
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #82,660 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A surprising great soundtrack, January 22, 2004

By 

Loose Wheel "Up In New England" (United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Lewis & Clark - Original Soundtrack Recording (Audio CD)

Unlike the Civil War Soundtrack, there are new compositions here, in addition to traditionals recorded and arranged just for "Lewis & Clark". Also unlike the Civil War soundtrack, the songs here are mostly folk, some of which have a distinct Irish or Scottish flavor to them. Artists collaborating on this album include Silly Wizard, Bobby Horton, Jay Ungar, Skip Gorman, and a host of other well known and not so well known (but equally talented) people, so you know the music will be good. Phil Cunningham's "When Summer Ends" easily stands alongside "Ashokan Farewell" as a standout piece of music associated with a Ken Burns series, and you will find yourself humming (or whistling) it to yourself well after you've listened to this album (Phil is one of the members of Silly Wizard). The traditional "Beech Spring" is another standout piece of music. While the songs are well matched to the events they're associated with in the film, the album easily stands on its own without benefit of words or pictures. Unlike many soundtracks, this is a collection you can listen to at work, in your car, or anywhere.

I recommend it for any fans of folk music, the artists listed, the Cape Breton sound, and fiddle or other traditonal instruments. Fans of New Age artists such as George Winston would also like some of this album.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Big WOW (for someone who craves American folk music), July 18, 2005

By 

A. Holmes "US History nut" (Fairfield, N. California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lewis & Clark - Original Soundtrack Recording (Audio CD)

This CD is SWEET! Sweet sweet sweet.
I saw the documentary on PBS and found the theme selection, "Beech Spring," playing over and over in my head. Very cool arrangement of a traditional melody.

(I know this is a rather large review, but keep reading....it gets better.)

My other favorites:
Heart of the Heartland (Lewis' theme) - For those of you not familiar with his story, Meriwether Lewis led a noble yet tragic life. A great heart, an incredible leader, yet often self-critical and depressed. His theme starts out with a mandolin solo and guitar accompaniment, later joined by a beautiful cello counterpart. I was playing it on the piano one day when my mom walked in and said simply, "That music sounds sad." I just stopped and went "Whoa - whoever wrote this really said what he meant to say: it's played major key, yet deeply expressive of a melancholy longing." (Gotta admit - I even tear up sometimes when I listen to it, heh heh.)
Shenandoah - (Jefferson's theme) An American classic; I assume one of Ken Burn's favorite folk songs, cuz he has it played a thousand different ways on almost all of his documentaries. This particular arrangement is AWESOME - I could never get tired of it. It's played with a light bluegrass feel, very fresh and happy. But it's simple, too - just a fiddle and guitar, not doin' anything too fancy. I think there's a penny-whistle interspersed as well. When this track comes on, I turn up the bass and set the track on 'repeat.' ;>)

OK, well, I think this review is long enough already. I could go on and on about this CD, but for your sake, I won't. If you're still reading, let me just say this: I leave it to you to get out there, buy it for yourself, and treat your ears to the best feeling they've had in a long time.
Have fun!

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it, March 15, 2006

By 

J. Mason - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Lewis & Clark - Original Soundtrack Recording (Audio CD)

I love this CD! Not only is the music lovely, but there are a few spoken excerpts from the film that are beautiful as well. It carries you along on the journey -- wonderful!