The War: A Ken Burns Film

Amazon.com:
The soundtrack for The War, documentarian Ken Burns's 2007 PBS series on World War II, alternates between earlier, wartime, and postwar material, all designed to complement the narrative.The material was clearly selected to evoke the mood of the era: Benny Goodman's sextet tears off a hot 1942 "Wang Wang Blues," and Count Basie lets fly with "Basie Boogie" (1941) and the prewar "How Long Blues." Also evoking the war years are Bing Crosby's hit "It's Been a Long, Long Time" with the Les Paul Trio, "Solitude" (1934) by Duke Ellington's Orchestra, and Kay Starr's "If I Could Be with You (One Hour Tonight)" and the Nat "King" Cole Trio's "If You Can't Smile and Say Yes" from a wartime V-Disc. Classical numbers include Leonard Slatkin and the London Philharmonic's 1989 version of "London: The Death of Falstaff" and an excerpt of Benny Goodman, in his spare time a respected classical clarinetist, performing "Concerto for Clarinet, Strings, Harp, and Piano" with Aaron Copland and the Columbia Symphony Orchestra in 1950. Newer recordings include Norah Jones's "American Anthem," reprised at the end by Amanda Forsyth and Bill Charlap, "Movin' Back," "Until You're in My Arms Again," and "America My Home" by Wynton Marsalis. --Rich Kienzle

Amazon.com:
This stunning soundtrack recording to Ken Burns's epic series features seventeen pieces of music from the film. It includes war-era favorites from Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, Bing Crosby, and Nat 'King' Cole as well as music from Edgar Meyer, Aaron Copland and Yo-Yo Ma. The soundtrack also features new compositions from Wynton Marsalis, and Norah Jones's breathtaking performance of "American Anthem"- exclusive to this album.

The War Photos Photos courtesy of the National Archives and Library of Congress

More from The War

The War: An Intimate History, 1941-1945	The War: A Ken Burns Film	Sentimental Journey
I'm Beginning to See the Light	Songs Without Words	The War - A Film By Ken Burns and Lynn Novick

Album Description:
A new masterpiece, The War promises to be an unforgettable experience and could well rival Burn's breakthrough landmark The Civil War in its simple yet profound artistry and universal appeal.

Disc 1:

1. American Anthem - Norah Jones
2. Walton, The Death of Falstaff - Leonard Slotkin & London Philharmonic Orchestra
3. The Wang Wang Blues - Benny Goodman Sextet
4. Movin' Back - Wynton Marsalis (composer & arranger)
5. How Long Blues - Count Basie
6. In the Nick of time - Edgar Meyer, Joshua Bell, Sam Bush & Mike Marshall
7. It's Been a Long, Long Time- Bing Crosby with Les Paul
8. America My Home (Excerpt) - Wynton Marsalis (composer & arranger)
9. If I could Be With You (One Hour Tonight) - Kay Starr, accompanied by the Capitol International Jazzmen
10. Blue As the Turquoise Night of Neyshabur (Excerpt) - Yo-Yo Ma & The Silk Road Ensemble
11. Until I'm In Your Arms Again - Wynton Marsalis
12. Variations For the Healing of Arinushka - Kalle Randalu
13. Basie Boogie - Count Basie & His Orchestra
14. Solitude - Duke Ellington & His Orchestra
15. Concerto for Clarinet, Strings, Harp and Piano (Excerpt) - Benny Goodman, Aaron Copland & Columbia Symphony Orchestra
16. If You Can't Smile and Say Yes - The King Cole Trio
17. American Anthem - Amanda Forsyth & Bill Charlap

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Customer Reviews

Rating: - Very Moving !
The previously unreleased American Anthem by Norah Jones is worth the price of the entire CD.I was a great tribute to the Greatest Generation !

The work by Wynton Marsalis is incredible & I really enjoy the tempo of the song In The Nick Of Time....

Youwill not be disappointed with this purchase.
Rating: - A Haunting, Touching Score
This soundtrack for Ken Burn's "The War" documentary can be evaluated on two different criteria:

First, there is the period music (mostly jazz).I did not buy the soundtrack for this reason, but for those older than I it will likely bring back many great memories of times gone by.

Secondly, however, there are the haunting melodies that are the undercurrent of the entire film.Whether it be the soothing voice of Norah Jones, the aching violin, or the soft, solo piano, this ... Read More
Rating: - Wonderful
Haunting sounds and lively music captured the time my parents met, married and had me.They music is great as a stand alone, but brings back images of the PBS special. I cannot believe it has been over 60 years since the war. My father, and uncles would sit in the livingroom of my grandparents house and discuss the better times of their military life.I never heard anything about the action that they experienced.My grandfather would add his experiences of his life in WWI.These are wars that changed ... Read More
Rating: - Review: AudioCD; The War/ a Ken Burns film
Very moving; at times brings me to tears especially American Anthem performed by Miss Norah Jones; grateful this aired while my father was still here; I wanted to view it and have the CD as a tribute to him; may we never forget the sacrifices of that generation; watching the program should be required of every American; and the CD makes a wonderful momento..
Rating: - Sarpedon
This is a stunningly good series, capturing a mosaic of the country. It follows, perhaps unconsciously, many of the conventions of epic poetry, including the elegaic tone of these from the Iliad through Beowulf.

The sense of irony that pervades and destroys so much of historical reportage is largely missing. The heroism does not obscure the horror of what our side did, which is also a welcome change.

Would that the current administration had the patience to watch this from one end ... Read More