Defense of Edelman's Score

Rating: 10/10 (6 November 1999)

It should be noted that Randy Edelman's "Gettysburg" score is in fact not synthesizer-dominated, as previously noted by a viewer. And I would like to think Edelman does utilize a full sound with his orchestra here. I actually prefer the score to Horner's more standard "Glory." And John Williams, while a great Wagnerian master of motif and an exciting composer in the Romantic vein, couldn't have done a better job than Edelman has done here. I can't really imagine Williams doing this score in light of what Edelman has done. His work stands on its own for once. One might not usually enjoy Edelman's acoustic guitar-laden style, which isn't as theme-heavy as Williams, but most can at least acknowledge this work as one of his best efforts. He even uses some nice-sounding period instrumentation on "Fife and Gun," the cue heard in the film leading up to General Reynolds's death on the first day of battle. Good stuff. And the themes are good- Edelman has stated in liner notes that he consciously attempted to follow the drama of the story more so than he attempted to fit the music to the time period. For comparison, listen to Ry Cooder's "Geronimo" score from the same year. The chant-heavy music was fitting for the time period and subject matter, but sounded aesthetically ugly for a movie to me. :)