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Gods & Generals | 
 enlarge | Creators: Various Artists, Randy Edelman
Label: Sony
Category: Music
Buy New: $13.98
New (31) Used (21) Collectible (6) from $3.47
Rating:  58 reviews
Sales Rank: 19084
Format: Soundtrack
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 2
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 4.5 x 0.5
UPC: 696998789128
EAN: 0696998789128
ASIN: B00007MB7Q
Release Date: February 4, 2003
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Tracks:
| • | Going Home - Mary Fahl | | • | Gods & Generals | | • | You Must Not Worry For Us | | • | Loved I Not Honor More | | • | Lexington Is My Home | | • | The School Of The Soldier | | • | Go To Their Graves Like Beds | | • | My Heart Shall Not Fear | | • | These Brave Irishmen | | • | To The Stone Wall | | • | You'll Thank Me In The Morning | | • | The First Crop Of Corn | | • | My Home Is Virginia | | • | No Photographs | | • | VMI Will Be Heard From Today | | • | Too Much Sugar | | • | Let Us Cross The River | | • | The Soldier's Return | | • | Cross The Green Mountain - Bob Dylan |
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| 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
Album 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.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 53 more reviews...
 Excellent Music to a Melodramatic War Movie July 23, 2008
Sometimes I feel compelled to write about a product or a piece of art that is exceptional, and this CD is one of those exceptional pieces of art.
If you have not seen the movie GaGs (God's and Generals) then you would have missed a motion picture that should of been rated a "C+". That is because the acting, dialog and some other similar issues were very melodramatic and "over-the-top". If you've ever seen a small theater company act and the audiences "boo-and-hiss" for the villain, and cheer for the hero, then you'll understand this style of acting (and a major part of GaGs).
The cinematography, lighting, costumes, certain scenes, landscapes, special effect and especially the MUSIC is what stands out. If your a history buff you should watch it, and for that, GaGs is well received and entertaining. There was many scenes where actors were trying to flex their Shakespearian acting muscles which made many scenes much too long.
Jeff Daniel's and his partner and brother (in the film), stole the show in my opinion.
But before this turns into a movie review, let's focus on the music because that is what really stands out. I don't really remember the music when I first watched the movie, and often that is a good sign of a well written sound track (that supports the pictures scenes).
The opening song was written and played for the opening credits where the units flags flapped in front of the screen. It is haunting and beautiful, and the singers low voice is fitting.
You'll find a reoccurring theme intertwined throughout this CD, like most sound tracks. From time to time a Irish flute or Irish fiddle will play a solo in memory of the thousands of Irish troops who gave their lives in America's civil war. It creates excellent bridges of sound to the rest of the measures of written music.
I am ignorant of the two composers who created this musical score, however they did a very good job of crafting sweeping melodies and large tracks of sound and music that make One think of the grand canyon and the vast nature of large American fields and planes. There are nice undulating melodies that slowly immerse you into thinking of those vast amount of Americans who participated in the struggle of war and those who gave their lives to a cause of their state and nation.
The music surely gives a lot of extra drama and intensity when needed. Track #15 "VMI Will Be Heard From Today" is especially dramatic and intense, following the camera of the Virginia troops through the forest on a surprise attack on the union troops. The choir also sings with much intensity adding to the drama of the scenes. This is my favorite part of the movie and music because it is so hard hitting and exciting.
The fiddle, piano and guitars are so excellent when their solos are presented. They give you a real feeling of old fashioned 1800 American spirit, and extremely entertaining, yet they fit into the huge symphonic sounds like "hand and glove".
There is a track and song from Bob Dylan also. I am not a big fan of his music and especially his voice. I believe they placed him on the CD to draw attention to, and sell more CD's. His voice and style is very inappropriate for the genre and subject.
I am surprised I have not heard this music in a museum or patriotic 4th of July firework display. The music lends itself well to the grandeur of Americana and history in a complimentary way.
For those of you who are interested in a real patriotic, historic and an entertaining sound track, you might want to at least borrow this CD from a library or a friend. It's wonderful music for those who we should be remembering, for they gave us their lives for freedom and to unite our great country.
 God's & generals sound track January 7, 2008
The Mary Fahl and Bob Dylan songs make it worth the purchase. I was disappointed that Bonny Blue Flag did not make it on the sound track.
A nice blend May 16, 2007
I'm a big fan of soundtracks; especially the ones with dramatic music. Gods and Generals is one of the better soundtracks of the last few years. It has a nice blend of choral and instrumental arrangements with certain themes that flow through the soundtrack.
 A Truly Beautiful, Musical Masterpiece for Everyone to Enjoy! April 20, 2007
The overtures and songs on this album are just awesome and so easy to listen to. I often play this CD while I'm at my computer because it is so soothing but also has an air of peaceful triumph with such songs as Mary Fahl's "Going Home" which is lovely through and through! A touching masterpiece!
No Gettysburg... February 11, 2007
I think the soundtrack for Gettysburg was much better. For one, it had more simpler, heroic themes and the song titles told you exactly what the song was and where it took place (such as "The First Battle" "Battle of Little Round Top" "General Lee's Solitude" "Over the Fence" etc, with a few mild deviations like "Fife and Gun") whereas with this soundtrack, all the songs are given vague names like "Go to their Graves like Beds" and "You Must Not Worry For Us" and "The First Crop of Corn"
Song titles aside, Gods and Generals has a much more grandiose, and overall very somber tone to it. The main theme and its two variations ("You'll Thank Me In the Morning" and "Loved I Not Honor More") are extravagant and so absolutely lush and grandiose to the ears that it brings tears to the eyes at its strong points.
Aside from these songs, and the main theme (which has an uncharacteristic Celtic sound to it) most of the other songs sound much like filler tracks without much purpose other than to add a background sound to it
All in all, the music isn't much better than Gettysburg, but the main theme is so powerful as to carry the album through. Perhaps with time you can grow to like much of the others, but they are not very powerful in themselves like "Gods and Generals" the main theme.
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