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“This is a well crafted tribute to one of America's
darkest, yet, in some ways, noblest chapters. ”
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Before Gettysburg
Review by Christopher
Coleman
The score for GODS AND
GENERALS seemingly
came out of nowhere.
Being very interested
in both history and
film, I'd been looking
forward to director
Ronald Maxwell's
(Gettysburg) newest
Civil War epic.
However, upon hearing
Frizzell and Edelman
were doing the music,
I found myself
slightly deflated and
skeptical at whether
or not the combination would work.
Upon hearing Sony
Classical's release, I
can say the skepticism
was clearly misplaced.
John Frizzell (who
composed most of the
score) delivers an
engaging effort with
the help of Edelman.
GODS AND GENERALS
brims with nearly
everything we come to
expect from a period
epic: A strong main
title, old world
instruments (notably
Irish, denoting the
many Irish immigrants
who fought for both
sides), and motifs
that capture the sound
of traditional
American folk tunes.
There is even a choir
mixed in, which
creates a gorgeously
operatic and lyrical
set of cues. Some may
recognize a slight
Hans-Zimmer-like
quality to some of the
themes, but the
majority remains quite
original. Don't look
for action music
here--the score is
primarily on the soft,
thematic side.
Some of the best
tracks include the
choral "Gods and
Generals" (2), "To the
Stone Wall" (10), the
momentem-laden "The
School of the Soldier"
(6), and the closest
the album comes to
action, "VMI Will Be
Heard from Today"
(15). There are many
more above average
cues that help
comprise the 62
minutes of music. The
songs by Bob Dylan and
Mary Fahl are somewhat
intrusive marketing
tools--the score is
where the attention
should be. Also, the
CD comes packed with a
limited edition DVD
with just under a half
hour of material,
including a theatrical
trailer, bonus footage
from the film
(featuring music, in
5.1 Dolby Digital),
and two music
videos--a great bonus.
This is a well crafted
tribute to one of
America's darkest,
yet, in some ways,
noblest chapters.
Rating:
8/10
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Track |
Track Title |
Track Time |
Rating |
|
1 |
Going Home (Mary
Fahl) |
4:56 |
*** |
|
2 |
Gods &
Generals |
3:42 |
**** |
|
3 |
You Must
Not
Worry
for Us |
2:09 |
**** |
|
4 |
Loved
I
Not
Honor
More |
3:13 |
*** |
|
5 |
Lexington
is
My
Home |
1:23 |
**** |
| 6 |
The School of the Soldier |
3:58 |
**** |
| 7 |
Go to Their Graves Like Beds |
2:24 |
**** |
| 8 |
My Heart Shall Not Fear |
1:46 |
**** |
| 9 |
These Brave Irishmen |
2:51 |
**** |
| 10 |
To the Stone Wall |
3:41 |
***** |
| 11 |
You'll Thank Me in the Morning |
3:20 |
***** |
| 12 |
The First Crop of Corn |
3:26 |
**** |
| 13 |
My Home is Virginia |
4:24 |
**** |
| 14 |
No Photographs |
2:53 |
**** |
| 15 |
VMI Will be Heard from Today |
2:42 |
**** |
| 16 |
Too Much Sugar |
1:56 |
*** |
| 17 |
Let Us Cross the River |
2:48 |
**** |
| 18 |
The Soldier's Return |
2:02 |
**** |
| 19 |
Cross the Green Mountain (Bob Dylan) |
8:14 |
* |
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Total Running Time (approx) |
62 minutes |
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