Review: Going Home- Gods and Generals-Mary Fahl

Subject: Review: Going Home- Gods and Generals-Mary Fahl
From: DonMeixner
Date: 24 Jan 03 - 11:12 AM

I am listening to this song, Going Home, sung by Mary Fahl and I have some crow to eat here, maybe.
   First I must say how enchanted I am by Mary Fahl's voice. I have never heard her before and I know nothing of her singing. What I hear is a direct, unaffected alto voice, with strength and power through out her range in the song. I can hear some subtle similarities to Jennifer Warnes in this singing which is maybe why I like the voice so much.
   The song was emailed to me by my friend, Actor and Historian Drew Ellis who was an actor and historian in the new movie, "Gods and Generals", a movie prequel to "Gettysburg" . Drew let me listen to this tune after telling me it was from "Gods and Generals".   I must say it is brillant in melody and lyric. I don't know if the sound track is out yet or if this song was recorded elswhere and included in the movie.
   Now the crow part. Drew insists that Bob Dylan wrote this song. If this is true then I am prepared to at least reconsider my opinion of Bob Dylan's abilities as a song writer. I will admit that Bob has written some good songs in the past and that I am partial to a couple of them. But to say that he is a genius is a lot further than I am willing to go.
   This singular song is a remarkable bit of writing and based on this I am willing to bump Bob up a notch on my opinion poll.

Don

Subject: RE: Review: Going Home- Gods and Generals-Mary Fahl
From: Uncle Jaque
Date: 24 Jan 03 - 02:35 PM

Does it go something like:

"Goin'Home; goin'home;
I'm jes' go-in' home.
Quiet like; some sweet night;
I'll be goin' home."

And does the melody sound like something you may have heard as a piece of Classical Music?

If so, then Mr. Dylan can hardly take credit for it, as it is an old Negro Spiritual which predates the American Civil War, 1861-5.
Alas, it is not to be found in the Mudcat DTDB. Perhaps I may remedy that absence, if any would like.

Some of my CW Reenacting Friends have worked as "Extras" on that film and are a little critical of some of the liberties taken by the Producers in the area of "authenticity", which is as you may know can be a sensitive issue among us Reenactors.

If they used a modern, Bob Dylan piece in the soundtrack in stead of a period Spiritual, I for one would be sorely disapointed.

When the film does come out, surely a lot of us will have to see it, if for no other reason than to look for our Celebrity (if but for a fraction of a second) "Pards"!

Subject: RE: Review: Going Home- Gods and Generals-Mary Fahl
From: PeteBoom
Date: 24 Jan 03 - 02:48 PM

"heard as a piece of Classical Music?" Anton Dvorak's "From the New World", Symphony #.... somethin'. Don't remember the number. Commonly referred to as "New World Symphony". He collected bits and pieces of folk music while visiting the US and built a symphony around them. It was fairly common at the time - several of Chopin's pieces were "spruced up" versions of Polish folk music. I played the Dvorak once upon a time when I was a percussionist and had to wear formals when performing.

Cheers- Pete

Subject: RE: Review: Sound Track; Gods and Generals
From: Uncle Jaque
Date: 09 Feb 03 - 09:20 PM

This review just in from Jari Villanueva and Heather Faust via E-Mail from a Civil-War Reenacting Freind.

They worked on the production and got to see an inside pre-release screening recently, and since they are Musicians this is essentially a review of the Music presented in and along with the film - so I paste it here for your perusal.

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Subject: [G-GCoreCompany] G&G Music Review

Received this review of God's & Generals from a friend with the 7th NJ. Thought I'd pass this around to the members and friends of the 3rd. Dana

Subject: [G-GCoreCompany] G&G Music Review

"Just got home from seeing the film;

I¹m not going to comment on the movie much outside of music which is my field of expertise. It was a real pleasure to work with David Franco as his assistant and am glad I got the chance to work on this film.

Much on Manassas, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville but nothing about Antietam or even mention of the Peninsular Campaign.
Stephen Lang is great!!! Oscar material.

The soundtrack is expansive! I personally enjoy the type of grand, symphonic, emotionally poignant, Neo-romantic music that runs throughout the movie soundtrack. It will make you feel the action throughout it¹s score. The overall feeling is that of a Requiem Mass. It does, however, lack the feeling of triumph. A shame because in the deeply religious overtones of the movie the promise of life over death prevails.   I wished there had also been more rousing, martial music (you know, "Sound the trumpets and beat the drums, boys, we're going off to fight for God and country!").

Joseph Farah, In his Between The Lines, column wrote:

³Uniquely, this film recognizes the deep spiritual values of those involved in this conflict ­ on both sides . Soldiers pray in this movie. They pray heartfelt, sincere prayers. They read scripture. They make great personal sacrifices to carry out their duty. They love and revere their wives.
While the War Between the States was the bloodiest war in U.S. history, this movie will make you proud to be an American ­ from the North or South.²

The score is thickly orchestrated and far exceeds the Gettsyburg music in my opinion. The London Orchestra that recorded this performs this type of music well and the playing is awesome, especially the solo horn and trumpet. John Frizell uses the Violin, Tin Whistle and Uilleann Pipes (played effectually by Mark O¹Oconner and Paddy Moloney) in creating the ³Irish² sound that describes the soldiers on both sides who claim Irish Heritage. The use of this tonal color was used to great effect in the movies Brave Heart and Titanic. Randy Edelman returns to contribute several good tracks .
The Goin Home selection by Mary Fahl is probably the new Ashokan Farewell and is used as the background to the opening credits which are wonderful with all the flags.

And of course I wish more field music and brass band music had made it in! There were several missed opportunities for bugle calls (Chamberlain mentions the Lights Out Call but all we hear is Silent Night), although it was nice to at least see a couple of buglers even if they were running and not playing. The bugle would have added a thrilling layer to the auditory texture of the huge, intense, and noisy battle scenes, which I really missed in its absence.

The field music that was included was very well done in execution, style and accuracy.

The field music that made the cut:

Girl I Left Behind Me-Fife And Drum.
Heights of Alma-Fife And Drum (Wished a few musicians would play with better playing postures!)
Rogues March-Fife And Drum (Very effective because of all teens in the group!)
Good Drum Cadences that were recorded at Antietam 140 including the funeral cadence use at the end of the film and a couple cadences during battles.

Dixie-Brass Band
Bugle Calls
The Charge at Manassas (sounded by me)
The Cavalry Charge (sounded by George Rabbai on C Clairon)
Attention at Fredericksburg (sounded by me)

There was Bonnie Blue Flag done very well by David Kincaid and band.

Bugle hanging on rifles while Jackson wept was a nice touch.

Let¹s hope for a Music from Gods and Generals CD which will have period music on it like the one done for Gettysburg.

In summary, Great Music in my opinion, though I wish more music had made the cut (for example Cheer Boys Cheer and a wonderful rendition of Steal Way To Jesus).

Go, See the film. You will not spend a better 3+ hours."

Jari Villanueva
Heather Faust

********************************

I don't know about you, but this is one movie we are intending to see!(And probably buy the Soundtrack CD)

Subject: RE: Review: Going Home- Gods and Generals-Mary Fahl
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 22 Jul 09 - 12:48 AM

Anyone listen to the October Project? They were a unique band with a sound that blended aspects of Celtic, Folk, and even Opera and fronted by the magnificent voice of Mary Fahl. If you haven't heard it, you are missing some transcendent music.

Subject: ADDPOP: Going Home (Patscha/Isaacs/Fahl)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 22 Jul 09 - 02:28 AM

I found lyrics here: http://historyonfilm.tripod.com/id15.html (beware of popups). There's a recording of the song here (click). I listened to the recording and made changes where necessary, so I think the transcription is pretty accurate.

GOING HOME
(Glenn Patscha, Byron Isaacs, Mary Fahl)

They say there's a place, where dreams have all gone
They never said where, but I think I know
It's miles through the night just over the dawn
On the road that will take me home

I know in my bones, I've been here before
The ground feels the same, though the land's been torn
I've a long way to go, the stars tell me so
On this road that will take me home.

Love waits for me round the bend
Leads me endlessly on
Surely sorrows shall find their end
And all our troubles will be gone
And I'll know what I've lost, and all that I've won
When the road finally takes me home

And when I pass by, don't lead me astray
Don't try to stop me, don't stand in my way
I'm bound for the hills where cool waters flow
On this road that will take me home

Love waits for me round the bend
Leads me endlessly on
Surely sorrows shall find their end
And all our troubles will be gone
And we'll know what we've lost and all that we've won
When this road finally takes me home.

I'm going home
I'm going home
I'm going home

Subject: RE: Review: Going Home- Gods and Generals-Mary Fahl
From: Joe Offer
Date: 22 Jul 09 - 02:32 AM

OK, now a question: it was my understanding that Gods and Generals was part of a trilogy that included Gods and Generals, Gettysburg and a third movie. What's the third movie?

I'm glad you pointed out the October Project, Ernie. I'm having fun discovering YouTube videos.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Review: Going Home- Gods and Generals-Mary Fahl
From: catspaw49
Date: 22 Jul 09 - 03:34 AM

LOL.....Yeah Joe, there was until Ted's patriotic passion took a wallop in his wallet. G & G lost money, a real flop, and it wasn't a finance deal, but Ted's own money!

The last part was to be called Last Full Measure but Ted gave his last full measure on G & G. There is always hope and rumors float about, but I figure its as dead as Tidwell's goat.


Spaw

Subject: RE: Review: Going Home- Gods and Generals-Mary Fahl
From: DonMeixner
Date: 22 Jul 09 - 07:26 AM

Well then, This is not a Dylan song after all. My friend Drew, who is on an extended vacation, is not around to mention this to. He was insistent that Dylan wrote this song. Not that is matters much after six years. It is still a fine song. Back to the bottom for Bob.

Drew told me the plan was to make a definitive movie about Antietam and that much stock footage was in the can. Gods and Generals being already over long couldn't handle the additional time required to do a good job of Antietam. Which like Gettysburg was one of the truly definitive battles of the Civil War.

Now if only they could have done a good job of the movie.   Certainly the acting was there, the story was there, apparently the editor wasn't. Maybe a recut and a different editor could repair this film.

Don

Subject: RE: Review: Going Home- Gods and Generals-Mary Fahl
From: catspaw49
Date: 22 Jul 09 - 07:37 AM

Great casts and all but once again, you don't learn history from a movie. Both G'Burg and G & G gave you the feeling that every line was a setup for the some historically famous moment. All well and good but too many moments are missing. I also hate the tellings of the war only from the eastern armies standpoint.

Anyway, they're both enjoyable for what they are, whatever that is........

Spaw

Subject: RE: Review: Going Home- Gods and Generals-Mary Fahl
From: GUEST,cliff.harper
Date: 21 Nov 15 - 10:04 AM

The song in Gods and Generals written by Bob Dylan was called
Across the Green Mountain, see it on You Tube.

Subject: RE: Review: Going Home- Gods and Generals-Mary Fahl
From: Elmore
Date: 10 Aug 18 - 06:52 PM

No matter who wrote what, Mary Fahl is a great singer, even better than Dylan.