"sickly sweet".    Geschmacksache.

I actually really like the original tempo.   It was, as I understand it, an elegiac farewell to the camp.

Also, even I am somewhat affected by the Civil War connection, though I know the origin of the tune.    The Ken Burns series was perhaps the most powerful TV broadcast I have ever seen--the combination of photos and narration, especially on that topic, was incredibly moving. Perhaps more so to Americans than to others.

And that tune permeated the entire series.

Though as I said, I gave my permission to dance to it.




Also, what is your view on Foster's"Hard Times"?. In my experience Britons tend to liven it up too much, which undercuts the gravity of the subject--even seems to add irony (which I suspect is not intended).