The Civil War (Original Soundtrack)

One of the best sound-track compilations of all time. Ashokan Farewell and Jacob's Ladder favorites. Recommend for anyone who has an affinity for American music and anyone who ever played in a marching or concert band. Stately marches are not overdone and the variety instrumental groupings keeps things moving and interesting.

For those of you who all argue over who should have won the war, remember these immortal words of the Battle Hymn of the Republic: HIS TRUTH IS MARCHING ON. The war was one that can never be justified by either side. No war is justifiable.

I love that song and the civil war I had family that was in the civil war

If the United States had a soundtrack to the 19th Century, this is it. Masterful, reverent, and at times celebratory, this great masterpiece is capped by Sullivan Ballou's poetic letter. Keep the Kleenex handy...

I bought this soundtrack when Ken Burns's "The Civil War" documentary was first broadcast so long ago. I got it as cassette and listened to it all the time in the car. This morning I heard "Ashokan Farewell" on WQXR Memorial Day program and was thrilled to see I could purchase the album from iTunes. If you haven't seen the documentary, shame on you!

The moment I heard the the song I immediately thought of my grandmother's, great grandmother and great aunts who are no longer on this earth. The way the song was performed by the artist reminded me of the way my relatives used to sing and give praise during worship while in church or at family gatherings. I have very fond memories of them and I can really appreciate the music performed by Bernice Johnson Reagon.

If The Civil War is Ken Burns' greatest documentary film, then arguably, Ashokan Farewell is the greatest, most beloved song on the soundtrack. It's haunting Celtic melody sets the tone for the entire documentary... and it's played more than 50 times in different variations during the course of all nine episodes. Although Ashokan Farewell is one of the most popular songs on the entire soundtrack (and with good reason), most people think that it is a period piece from the Civil War. It is not. It was written by Jay Ungar in the early 1980's. Ken Burns first heard it played a couple of years after it was written and loved it so much he used it in two of his films, The Civil War and Huey Long. As Jay Ungar relates in interviews, he and his wife hosted a violin camp every summer in the Catskills near a reservoir that completely flooded the small village of Ashokan when it was built. As Ungar continues his story, he said he felt so overwrought with emotions as one particularly meaningful camp came to an end that he was moved to write a Scottish lament. When he began to play, the tune we now know as Ashokan Farewell is what came out.

Much of the music and it's interpretation is not representative of the Civil War period. Of course, the theme music is a 20th century creation chosen by Hollywood/Ken Burns.

This soundtrack is simply amazing. The last track makes me cry everytime I hear it. It's worth every penny.

Being a violin player, I have played this numerous times. More than I can remember. Its the solemn tone of the violin that I love, with the added elements of the Guitar, and support of a second violin at the end. I have been able to make this song my own, causing me to fall in love with it. By the Ashokan Farewell, it can be a tear-jerker, especially when played during the "Sullivan Ballou Letter(which was included with my sheet-music)". The PBS series is well done. You will not regret buying the movie, and you will not regret buying the soundtrack. If you are looking for 1 track to get, its the Ashokan, the main theme of the Ken Burns masterpiece