Sting and Costello songs in Civil war film

New songs by Elvis Costello and Sting are among the soundtrack music of Cold Mountain, the Civil War epic which stars Nicole Kidman, Jude Law and Renee Zellweger.

T.Bone Burnett – the veteran producer behind the Grammy-winning O Brother, Where Art Thou? – has provided a soundtrack inspired by blues, folk, country and gospel influences for the film, which has been directed by Briton Anthony Minghella.

Celebrated bluegrass performer Alison Krauss will sing both Sting’s You Will be My Ain True Love and Costello’s The Scarlet Tide.

Zellweger’s boyfriend, Jack White of the rock band White Stripes, who makes his film acting debut in Cold Mountain, has provided five additional tracks, and other contributing artists include Tim Erikson, the Reeltime Travellers, Riley Baugus and Tim O’Brien.

“These artists are all true to the sound and spirit of this music,” Burnett told USA Today. “They cross decades and centuries to create traditional music that lives in the moment and reveals the old, coarse truths.”