Russia Land Of The Tsars (Original Motion Picture Score) [Soundtrack]

Track Listings

1. The Russian People

2. The Vikings Set Sail

3. Peasants

4. Murder of Brothers

5. Russians and Ottomans

6. The Uprising

7. The Mongol Yoke

8. Baru Kahn

9. Paying Tribute to the Mongols

10. The People battle the Mongols

11. Prince Dimitry

12. The Holy City Falls

13. Moscow

14. The Feast

15. Ivan Claims the Crown

16. Glory of Ivan the Terrible

17. Ivan’s Reign of Terror

18. Despair Across the Land

19. Ivan Dies

20. Peasants try to Survive

See all 72 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews
The Christian Science Monitor, May 29th, 2003
"Possibly the best work on TV this week...as gripping as it is beautiful..."

The Philadelphia Inquirer, May 26th, 2003
"It provides meat and potatoes in a whipped cream world"

Album Description
The album is a beautiful mix of small and large ensembles, old and new melodies, recounting the history of Russia in music. The album like the film, RUSSIA LAND OF THE TSARS, has the task of representing over 1000 years of Russia’s rich history. If you listen to the album from beginning to end you will feel yourself experiencing The Vikings, then the Mongols, then Ivan the Terrible, then Catherine the Great, then Peter the Great, then the revolutions, then Lenin and then Stalin, and then even the hope of what Russia will now become. The music will remind you of the great Russian Masters Glinka, Tchaikovsky, Moussorgsky and Prokofiev. Included in the album is a Russian History Outline showing where the music fits in with the historic events.

When we asked the composer, Gary Pozner, why he thought this soundtrack CD was so special he said it was how vast the music variety is on it, and how special the performances of the musicians are. We, just like the filmmakers, had to reenact the history of Russia. It wasn’t an easy task, but it was truly a labor of love. We also asked Gary were the Russian influences came from, because when you look at his biography and see it mostly consists of working with fridge elements of the music scene--Lou Reed, Taking Heads, Debbie Harry,Tom Tom Club, David Byrne, Bernie Worrel, Nona Hendryx, UTFO, Mimi Goese, Peter Gabriel, he explained that all he grand parents were from Eastern Europe, and he just thought of them and channeled their spirits.

While the album is a soundtrack it definitely stands on its own. It’s Tchaikovsky meets Peter Gabriel. (for a shot of vodka, of course)

Russia Land Of The Tsars (Original Motion Picture Score) [Soundtrack]

Russia Land Of The Tsars (Original Motion Picture Score), Music, Gary Pozner, Think Tchaikovsky meets Peter Gabriel. Or imagine Tchaikovsky getting together with 12 of his best friends, who just happen to be extraordinary musicians, on a Friday night with a few bottles of Vodka and jamming until Sunday morning.

Russia Land Of The Tsars (Original Motion Picture Score)
Average customer rating:

A Television Soundtrack With Motion Picture Qualities

Too much variation

Great instrument use

How the East was Won

a dramatic, exceptionally fine score

Russia Land Of The Tsars (Original Motion Picture Score)
Gary Pozner
Manufacturer: Whirled Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00009OLTK
Release Date: 2003-05-20

Tracks:

The Russian People
The Vikings Set Sail
Peasants
Murder of Brothers
Russians and Ottomans
The Uprising
The Mongol Yoke
Baru Kahn
Paying Tribute to the Mongols
The People battle the Mongols
Prince Dimitry
The Holy City Falls
Moscow
The Feast
Ivan Claims the Crown
Glory of Ivan the Terrible
Ivans Reign of Terror
Despair Across the Land
Ivan Dies
Peasants try to Survive
The Oprichniki
Russias Neighbors
Peasants become Slaves
Polish Pretender
Time of Troubles
Save the Motherland
Peter the Great is Crowned
Sophias Rumor
Peter Takes Charge
Stronghold of Azov
The Warrior Tsar
Peter Sails the Seas
The Streltsy Revolt
Death at St. Petersburg
Tsar Peter and Marfa
Tsarevich Alexei is Tortured
The Battle with Sweden
Elizabeths Moonlight Ride
Elizabeth summons Sophia
Paul and Catherine
Catherine the Great
The Murder of the Tsar
Catherine Reforms Society
Catherine the Great Dies
Paul makes a Mess of Politics
Paul is Killed
War in Crimea land
Russian People Unite
Tsar Alexander Liberates Paris
Conspirators Meeting
Iron Tsar Nicholas
Conspirators plot Revolution
Alexander Pushkin Loses the Duel
Russia at War
The Saddest War
The Iron Tsar Dies
The Plot takes Shape
Sophia Plans an Attack
Start the Revolution
The Poor are Even Poorer
Into the Future
Nicholas and Alexandra
Tsar Nicholas Expands
Funeral Bride
Navel War against Japan
Protestors at the Tsars Palace
The Murder of Rasputin
Tsar Nicholas returns Home
Bloody Sunday
The End of the Empire
The Romanov Family is Executed
The Beginning of a New Russia

Album Description

The album is a beautiful mix of small and large ensembles, old and new melodies, recounting the history of Russia in music. The album like the film, RUSSIA LAND OF THE TSARS, has the task of representing over 1000 years of Russia's rich history. If you listen to the album from beginning to end you will feel yourself experiencing The Vikings, then the Mongols, then Ivan the Terrible, then Catherine the Great, then Peter the Great, then the revolutions, then Lenin and then Stalin, and then even the hope of what Russia will now become. The music will remind you of the great Russian Masters Glinka, Tchaikovsky, Moussorgsky and Prokofiev. Included in the album is a Russian History Outline showing where the music fits in with the historic events.

When we asked the composer, Gary Pozner, why he thought this soundtrack CD was so special he said it was how vast the music variety is on it, and how special the performances of the musicians are. We, just like the filmmakers, had to reenact the history of Russia. It wasn't an easy task, but it was truly a labor of love. We also asked Gary were the Russian influences came from, because when you look at his biography and see it mostly consists of working with fridge elements of the music scene--Lou Reed, Taking Heads, Debbie Harry,Tom Tom Club, David Byrne, Bernie Worrel, Nona Hendryx, UTFO, Mimi Goese, Peter Gabriel, he explained that all he grand parents were from Eastern Europe, and he just thought of them and channeled their spirits.

While the album is a soundtrack it definitely stands on its own. It's Tchaikovsky meets Peter Gabriel. (for a shot of vodka, of course)

Customer Reviews:

A Television Soundtrack With Motion Picture Qualities.......2004-11-30

Most people would not think of buying a score to a historical piece aired on the History Channel. But after listening to Gary Pozner's score to Russia: Land of the Tsars I saw a different type of composing. I am a huge Hans Zimmer fan and have been a film enthusiast for a long time. What this score does is that it competes in quality to almost any major film score. The only difference is in the way the score has been edited.

Since this score was done for a historical documentary on television it had to be edited and done in a way that would fit a historical documentary. Any informational piece found on Discovery, National Geographic, or History is going to have narration. So in order to make the score work it cannot be too over the top like most films scores and it has to be done in short pieces. This one CD holds 72 tracks, that's right, 72! The reason for this is because of the narration of the piece and how a documentary is made. There cannot be a continuous over the top score playing during a television piece because it will distract the audience from the program's real purpose, to inform. So how can a composer make a score exceptional if it cannot be chock full of emotion and breathtaking pieces? The composer would instead make it true to its historical origin. That's why I love Gary Pozner's scores so much. He is able to create a subtle score that captures the feel of the time period and location of what is being presented in the program. Don't get me wrong here, the score is not a boring, droning piece. It has many astounding moments in it. You'll never see a film score that is so true to the origin of the film's plot.

If you love Hans Zimmer's scores then you'll enjoy Gary Posner's work a lot. He uses lots of string instruments in this score to enhance the feel. This comes highly reccomended from a lifelong film enthusiast and a true Hans Zimmer fanatic. You can learn more about Gary Pozner and his work at his site, whirledmusic.com

Too much variation.......2004-10-15

The documentary "Russia: Land Of The Tsars" tracks the history of Russia from the years 862 to 1991. Musically, Gary Pozner presents us with all facets of Russian music. From male choirs, to Russian violin and even throat singing - it all passes by. Certainly, this is a chance for any composer to show a wide range of musical styles and instrumental colours.

However, what this soundtracks lacks is budget. The orchestration feels as if it consists of one cello, one flute, one violin, synthesizer brass and percussion. You'll have to keep in mind that "Russia, Land Of The Tsars" is a History Channel documentary. Composers aren't granted large sums of money for projects like that.

Something else I didn't like about the album was that it's divided into 70+ little tracks of mostly two minutes and less. Of course this is also because of the documentary, but maybe one or two suites or concert pieces would have made the album much better. Now the score never seems to settle down, loses the necessary flow, and prevents the listener from being absorbed by the music. Also, there is no notable thematic material or development; or rather, there are too many little melodies and themes about as well as too many instruments. There's nothing that binds it all together, as a powerful recurring set of themes would.

This is Pozner's first soundtrack release on his Whirled Music label. While it certainly shows promise, the thin orchestration and lack of powerful thematic material makes me redirect you to his second release: `The Quest For King Arthur', which is much better.

This one gets two stars

Bram Janssen,
The Netherlands

Great instrument use.......2004-02-26

This cd is beautiful without a doubt! But i was a bit dissapointed with the fact that some of the songs are only 30 seconds long or shorter. Some of the songs on this cd are so beautiful that you wish you can hear more and those are the ones that are very short. Another thing that the buyer has to consider is that this cd is only 63 minutes long and it has total of 73 songs so imagine how short some of the songs are... I would have thought if this cd was made the way it was with as many songs as it is the songs should have at least flowed together... but the differeces between the songs are big, in other words the songs are so short that you know the song is over and there is the next song and it's different. Then i am left with a feeling "but i want to hear more of the other song." That is the down side about it. Other than that i think this cd is very dramatic and intense but beautiful. It isn't anything that you've heared of before. I would suggest to buy this cd to listen to when you have lot's of company everyone is talking and enjoying the music in the background. If you want to buy this cd to listen through head phones unfortunately this does't quite fit the criteria.

How the East was Won.......2003-08-11

Russia Land of the Tsars was a production on cable, telling the story (as certain scholars see it) of Russian history through the lives of six tsars.

The score is interesting, not only for the blend of Russian traditional and classical themes, but for the way the composer designed the score for the miniseries. If you are interested in scoring films, this is very instructive in the economical use of material and the structure of a set of music for a visual production.

And it's very nice just to put on the player and listen to for background music.

a dramatic, exceptionally fine score.......2003-06-26

Though this score significantly enhances the documentary "Russia: Land of the Tsars", it also stands alone as a terrific sound journey, brilliantly conceived, with imaginitive melodies, instrumentation, and fascinating rhythmic patterns. The varied use of string instruments is marvelous, as in the exciting "The Feast" and "Ivan Claims the Crown" (tracks 14 and 15), and the spectacular "Start the Revolution" (track 59).
There is an occasional musical reference to Moussorgsky and Tchaikovsky, as well as a piano concerto by Lev Abeliovich (played by Alexander Tutunov), but this is a very unique work, and one I will enjoy for many years to come.

The CD comes with a fold-out that includes the track listings, and an exquisite cover painting of a horse and rider. Mr. Pozner conducts the OSU Symphony Orchestra, and co-produced this CD with Alex Carlson, who is Concert Master. Marian Carlson is listed as Musical Director. "Russia Land of the Tsars" received an Emmy nomination for Best Score, and total playing time is 63: 46.

The film and its music cover a lot of ground, from the Kievan Rus period (862-1242), to the Soviet Era, and there is a thrilling pace to this CD which I am sure will get the attention of the major Hollywood producers. Remember Gary Pozner's name ! Chances are, you will be hearing a lot of his film scores in the near future.

Track Listings:

Track Listings

track listings

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In Celebration

1. The Russian People
2. The Vikings Set Sail
3. Peasants
4. Murder of Brothers
5. Russians and Ottomans
6. The Uprising
7. The Mongol Yoke
8. Baru Kahn
9. Paying Tribute to the Mongols
10. The People battle the Mongols
11. Prince Dimitry
12. The Holy City Falls
13. Moscow
14. The Feast
15. Ivan Claims the Crown
16. Glory of Ivan the Terrible
17. Ivan’s Reign of Terror
18. Despair Across the Land
19. Ivan Dies
20. Peasants try to Survive