Search - Mormon Tabernacle Choir :: Songs of Civil War

More than just a collection of Civil War songs!

James C. Darling | Burbank, CA | 10/28/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ever since I can remember, I have been fascinated by The American Civil War. Many a day as a child, I would "re-create" famous Civil War battles with my plastic blue and gray soldiers. To further augment these moments, I would run upstairs and take a particular record album from my dad's collection and play it on my sister's portable record player. For a few hours, I'd be immersed in my very own world where columns of blue and gray troops marched and charged along to songs like "The Battle Cry of Freedom", "The Bonnie Blue Flag" and "Tramp, Tramp, Tramp". That album was "Songs of the Civil War" (the original album was entitled "Songs of the North and South" and contained only the first 13 tracks)...Today - 25 or some-odd-years later - the arrangements on this record are forever etched into my mind as the standard for songs from that era. I'm no big fan of choir music - and I certainly wasn't way back when I was 7 or 8 years old(!). But these recordings manage, somehow, to strike a nerve in those who are given to romantic ideals and dreams - like the young men and boys who answered the call back in the Spring of 1861... and just like me when I first heard them.When I was a child first listening to this album, my favorites were the heady anthems and marching songs. I wasn't yet capable, at such a young age, to appreciate the ballads. But still, they made sense to be played along to my little war games. As an adult, I grew to appreciate the ballads on this record such as the beautiful folk song, "Kathleen Mavourneen", and "He's Gone Away" - a song with as modern a message as any song recorded in recent years: the longing of two young lovers - seperated by circumstances beyond their control - for the return to the life they once had together. The way in which the Choir's male and female sections trade verses, to impart the meassage which both the boy and the girl in the song have for eachother, is very effective. I can see now that they made sense because they were/are songs about human experience... songs of loss, jubilation, yearning for loved ones, longing for peace. Songs which underscore the tragedy that was the Civil War, beautifully arranged and performed.What the Mormon Tabernacle Choir achieve/d with these recordings is a strange paradox: The most violent episode in our nation's history approached with beauty and serenity. Something anyone can appreciate - apparently, even an 8 year-old boy."

A Nice Cd

C. Ward | Chicago, IL | 02/17/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"When one buys a CD made by the MTC, be it Handel's Messiah or Civil War Songs, one should have a pretty good idea of what the songs will sound like. If you want Tennessee Ernie Ford singing authentic sounding, guitar and banjo Civil War songs, by all means, buy it. It is a fantastic collection. But if you want something a bit different, buy this. I mean, it's the MTC, for crying out loud. Sounds like angels. A very interesting collection. Oh, and listen to the samples if you aren't sure if you'll like it. :)"

Great overall, with three minor gripes

Christian D. Orr | OFallon, IL United States | 05/26/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"My one gripe is that the choir modified the words to the Chorus to "The Battle Cry of Freedom": "The Union Forever! Hoorah, boys, hoorah . . " becomes "Our country forever! Hoorah . . ." Now, speaking as a patriotic American, there's nothing wrong with the words "Our conuntry" in and of themselves, mind you; the problem is that they aren't the original lyrics. It's kinda like having an all-original '67 Mustang and replacing parts with those of an '84! The second minor kvetch is that they don't do all the verses to "Bonnie Blue Flag." Finally, "Marching Through Georgia" is conspicuous by its absence. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir obviously sings very well, and I'm sure they'd have done a bang-up job w/"MTG" had they attempted it. But enough sour grapes! Wonderful, uplifting choice of music overall!

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