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Your Gateway to Music and More from a Christian Perspective Slow down as you approach the gate, and have your change ready.... |
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Your Gateway to Music and More from a Christian Perspective Slow down as you approach the gate, and have your change ready.... |
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Gods and Generals soundtrack (2003) Music by John Frizzell and Randy Edelman with Paddy Maloney and Mark O'Connor Sony Classical/Sony Music Soundtrax SK87891 Running Length: 64 minutes The motion picture Gods and Generals runs almost four hours and alternates between long dialogues and battle scenes. A poignant moment is when an Irish fighting group from the South meets an Irish fighting group from the Northeast, each believing in their cause. There is nothing joyous in the strife that tore at this country's midsection, and the music reflects that mood. The Gods and Generals soundtrack is melancholy with a sense of longing for something lost, and perhaps, lost for good. Mary Fahl's contralto solo, "Going Home" begins the CD. The lyrics, "...when I go by, don't try to stop me or stand in my way, let me go home...." are poignant. This melody is heard throughout the film, and though music selections may have 19th century titles such as "You Must Not Worry For Us" or "Go To Their Graves Like Beds," sadness permeates the air. The military stance of Gods and Generals comes in track two complete with full orchestra, trumpets, and percussion. This theme is elaborated upon in "VM1 Will Be Heard From Today" which sounds like a cross between Alec North's soundtrack of Cleopatra to Howard Shore's music from Fellowship of the Ring. Despite the title, Gods and Generals, most of the soundtrack could be termed "easy listening music," with selections utilizing fiddle, piano and strings ("Lexington Is My Home," "My Home is Virginia" and "Too Much Sugar.") Three standouts are "You Must Not Worry For Us," "Loved I Not Honor More" and "To The Stone Wall" which sounds like Elmer Bernstein's music from Far From Heaven. There is a contemporary feel to it, and the music is designed for reflection with lush strings and occasional oboe solo. The CD ends with Bob Dylan's eight-minute song, "Cross The Green Mountain," with enough verses to cover the Civil War. Dylan's raspy voice lightens as he continues singing, so about the four-minute mark, you can understand the verse on Abraham Lincoln, "Close the eyes of our captain, his work is done" and verses on battles, "...blood soaked green woods, they fell where they stood." Gods and Generals is not an unpleasing CD to listen to, but, as with the film, every jot and tittle in included. Ten to 14 minutes could have been eliminated and the soundtrack would still have had the same effect. Copyright 2003 Marie Asner
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