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

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