Gettysburg (1863) is a musical composition by Jon Schaffer, performed by American heavy metal band Iced Earth with the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra. The piece is an extended song cycle that musically dramatizes the Battle of Gettysburg during the American Civil War.
Contents
It was released in 2004 as an extended play second disc included with the album The Glorious Burden. It was also released in 2005 in a special DVD set, which includes two different 5.1 surround sound mixes.[1]
Track listing
- "The Devil to Pay" (12:13), based on the first day of fighting at The Battle of Gettysburg on July 1, 1863.
- "Hold at All Costs" (7:06), based on the actions taken on the southern end of the battlefield on July 2, 1863, specifically in the areas of the Wheatfield, Devil's Den, and Little Round Top.
- "High Water Mark" (12:36), based on Pickett's Charge, the Confederate assault against the Union positions on July 3, 1863.
Motifs
In an attempt to evoke the spirit of the period, the melodies of "The Star Spangled Banner", "When Johnny Comes Marching Home" and "Dixie" are incorporated as themes for the Confederate and Union armies. Orchestral elements were added to increase the drama and tension, and a more immersive feel was attempted with the use of (largely or completely fictionalized) spoken passages from generals and background sounds of fighting.