Gods & Generals [SOUNDTRACK]

Various Artists (Composer), Randy Edelman (Composer)

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 4, 2003)
• Original Release Date: February 21, 2003
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00007MB7Q
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (57 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #34,623 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
This prequel to director Ronald Maxwell's 1993 epic Gettysburg is no less sweeping in its scope, covering the early years of the American Civil War from Manassas to Fredericksburg. But while its musical score (a collaboration between vets John Frizzell and Randy Edelman) offers up a comparable range of music styles, it's a soundtrack that crucially revolves around emotional concerns of a more intimate, human scale. Its folk-rooted historical connections are given voice by Mary Fahl's Celtic-tinged "Going Home" and Bob Dylan's brooding "Cross the Green Mountain," while a sweeping, yet infinitely melancholy orchestral main title suggests the true, tragic costs of the conflict. Spare, haunting tracks like "Loved I Not Honor More," "My Home Is Virginia," and "The Soldiers Return" predominate to an unusual degree in a war epic, pastoral suggestions of tranquility defiled. Conversely, the battle cue "VMI Will Be Heard from Today" seems to pulse with a dark, medieval energy that's anything but heroic. --Jerry McCulley

Product Description
Limited Edition bonus dvd contains the video for Boy Dylan's "Cross The Green Mountain, the video for Mary Fahl's "Going Home" and bonus scenes from the film not seen in the theatrical release.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This Is Academy Award Material!, February 11, 2003

By	Andrew (Cullman, AL) - See all my reviews

Personally, this soundtrack is the first Academy Award-winning nominee of 2003 (and others agree). 'Cross the Green Mountain and Going Home are haunting ballads that not only reflect upon the Civil War, but also upon each other. One is the Celtic song, Going Home, beautifully performed by Mary Fahl. The second, Bob Dylan's country song 'Cross the Green Mountains, is eight minutes long but still adds greatly to the soundtrack. From what I know about the movie, the Irish Brigade was given some deal of screen time, so naturally, I think more about the Union during Going Home, and the Confederates during 'Cross the Green Mountain.

John Frizzell and Randy Edelman do a superb job in this soundtrack. Although Frizzell composed the majority of the music, you can still hear a little of the original Gettysburg theme from time to time. One improvement I think they made was the addition of vocals to the music. Gods and Generals and VMI Will Be Heard From Today are good examples of these vocals. I'm listening to the music now, and WOW, it has EVERYTHING! Even if you don't like the Civil War, and you don't want to see the movie, you have to hear this music!!

The DVD was great addition to the soundtrack. It has the theatrical trailer on it, as well as two music videos and six or so deleted scenes. Face it, if you're a Civil War fanatic, the DVD alone is worth the overall cost!

This soundtrack does a superb job of including the many feelings of the war while still packing the epic punch of Gettysburg. It displays everything from the tragedy and the horror to the hopeful and the inspirational, no matter what side they were on, and in the end, it offers us something that is truly American.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best Soundtracks ever, February 13, 2003

By	Andrew C. Tate "actate" (Ridge Farm, IL United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This soundtrack is one of the best soundtracks I have ever heard. Very different from the great soundtrack of Gettysburg, it is still as moving and as powerful. From the playfulness of "No Photographs" to the bouncy "The School of the Soldier" to the powerful "VMI Will be Heard From Today", there is not a single track that is not of the highest quality on the CD.

Usually I am not a big fan of artists making a song for the movie, instead preferring entirely orchestrated soundtracks. However, Mary Fahl's "Going Home" and Bob Dylan's "Cross the Green Mountain" are two very big exceptions to that rule. "Going Home" is hauntingly beautiful, with a touch of Celtic influence that does good things for it.

If it ended there, the package would have been wonderful. However, the bonus DVD made it even better. The music videos of Fahl and Dylan's songs are great, and the 6 deleted scenes whet your appetite for February 21.

If you haven't bought this soundtrack yet, I would recommend you do it ASAP.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WOW!!!, February 26, 2003

By	Joseph (Biddeford, ME USA) - See all my reviews

This soundtrack is increadible!! The theme song alone justifies the cost of this CD!. Most of it is much slower then "Gettysburg" 1993, yet very well written and fitting. After having seen the Movie, I thought "To the Stone Wall" needed to be less happy and more dramatic and sad to show the bravery of the 20th Maine as they charged the hill at Fredericksburg and failed. When I heard the Gods and Generals Theme (track 2) for the first time, I was moved to tears! I can't count how many times I have listened to this track. It has to be one of the most emotional and powerful Movie themes ever written!! All I can say is WOW!!!