Soundtrack Information

Russia: Land of the Tsars

Russia: Land of the Tsars

Whirled Music (WM20032)

Release Date: 2003

Conducted by Gary Pozner

Performed by
Osu Symphony Orchestra

Format: CD

Music By

Track Listing

1. The Russian People
[previewing track]
 
2. The Vikings Set Sail
[previewing track]
 
3. Peasants
[previewing track]
 
4. Murder of Brothers
[previewing track]
 
5. Russians and Ottomans
[previewing track]
 
6. The Uprising
[previewing track]
 
7. The Mongol Yoke
[previewing track]
 
8. Baru Kahn
[previewing track]
 
9. Paying Tribute to the Mongols
[previewing track]
 
10. The People Battle the Mongols
[previewing track]
 
11. Prince Dimitry
[previewing track]
 
12. The Holy City Falls
[previewing track]
 
13. Moscow
[previewing track]
 
14. The Feast
[previewing track]
 
15. Ivan Claims the Crown
[previewing track]
 
16. Glory of Ivan the Terrible
[previewing track]
 
17. Ivan's Reign of Terror
[previewing track]
 
18. Despair Across the Land
[previewing track]
 
19. Ivan Dies
[previewing track]
 
20. Peasants Try to Survive
[previewing track]
 
21. The Orichniki
[previewing track]
 
22. Russia's Neighbors
[previewing track]
 
23. Peasants Become Slaves
[previewing track]
 
24. Polish Pretender
[previewing track]
 
25. Time of Troubles
[previewing track]
 
26. Save the Motherland
[previewing track]
 
27. Peter the Great is Crowned
[previewing track]
 
28. Sophia's Rumor
[previewing track]
 
29. Peter Takes Charge
[previewing track]
 
30. Stronghold of Azov
[previewing track]
 
31. The Warrior Tsar
[previewing track]
 
32. Peter Sails the Seas
[previewing track]
 
33. The Streltsy Revolt
[previewing track]
 
34. Death at St. Petersburg
[previewing track]
 
35. Tsar Peter and Marfa
[previewing track]
 
36. Tsarevich Alexei is Tortured
[previewing track]
 
37. The Battle with Sweden
[previewing track]
 
38. Elizabeth's Moonlight Ride
[previewing track]
 
39. Elizabeth Summons Sophia
[previewing track]
 
40. Paul and Catherine
[previewing track]
 
41. Catherine the Great
[previewing track]
 
42. The Murder of the Tsar
[previewing track]
 
43. Catherine Reforms Society
[previewing track]
 
44. Catherine the Great Dies
[previewing track]
 
45. Paul Makes a Mess of Politics
[previewing track]
 
46. Paul is Killed
[previewing track]
 
47. War in Crimea Land
[previewing track]
 
48. Russian People Unite
[previewing track]
 
49. Tsar Alexander Liberates Paris
[previewing track]
 
50. Conspirators Meeting
[previewing track]
 
51. Iron Tsar Nicholas
[previewing track]
 
52. Conspirators Plot Revolution
[previewing track]
 
53. Alexander Pushkin Loses the Duel
[previewing track]
 
54. Russia at War
[previewing track]
 
55. The Saddest War
[previewing track]
 
56. The Iron Tsar Dies
[previewing track]
 
57. The Plot Takes Shape
[previewing track]
 
58. Sophia Plans an Attack
[previewing track]
 
59. Start the Revolution
[previewing track]
 
60. The Poor are Even Poorer
[previewing track]
 
61. Into the Future
[previewing track]
 
62. Nicholas and Alexandra
[previewing track]
 
63. Tsar Nicholas Expands
[previewing track]
 
64. Funeral Bride
[previewing track]
 
65. Naval War Against Japan
[previewing track]
 
66. Protestors at the Tsar's Palace
[previewing track]
 
67. The Murder of Rasputin
[previewing track]
 
68. Tsar Nicholas Returns Home
[previewing track]
 
69. Bloody Sunday
[previewing track]
 
70. The End of the Empire
[previewing track]
 
71. The Romanov Family is Executed
[previewing track]
 
72. The Beginning of a New Russia
[previewing track]
 
Track lengths not available for this album. If you have track length/time information for this album, please e-mail it to us at mail@soundtrack.net and we will add it to the database.

Review: Russia Land of the Tsars

by Josh Wisch June 21, 2004
1 / 5 Stars

Russia: Land of the Tsars is a History Channel film, so I suppose it's unfair to expect much from the soundtrack.  That being said there are occasionally pieces of music that make you deeply wish you could request the wasted moments of your life back that were spent listening to them.  As Dr. Smith from Lost in Space would say, "Oooh the pain!"  Not to bury the lead, but this is one such piece of music.

The music is composed by Gary Pozner, an unknown to many film score buffs.  If he keeps up his present level of excellence, it will undoubtedly remain that way.  Pozner has recently formed a company called "Whirled Music," which produces music for films, television, commercials, and the like.  According to his biography at Whirled's webpage, in his former life, Pozner played piano in the Catskills, and was part of an African-Celtic-Gospel-Rock band called "EO."  One hopes that he goes back to his band, because when it comes to film scoring, he's not quite ready for prime time.  

Land of the Tsars is like the soundtrack for a jungle video game.  You can envision the little pixelized character sitting, looking around, while the music continues to drone on with the same melody, oh so ponderously.  Alternatively, this would provide lovely background for a rousing game of Dungeons and Dragons.  Nowhere is this more typified on the soundtrack than early on, with "The Vikings Set Sail."  I would name other tracks on the score, but it doesn't matter.  Really, believe me, it does not matter.  Each successive track is more unwieldy and less enjoyable than the one before.  Ok, I'll name one more: "Russians and Ottomans" is a perfect display of just how this soundtrack is so incredibly by the numbers.  Cymbal crash there, medieval flute there, little bit of violin over to your left please, and slower, slower, then crescendo – and yes! build! build! build! MORE MEDIEVAL FLUTE AND FRENCH HORN! The only track I found even remotely redeeming was "Glory of Ivan the Terrible," for the sole reason that it was pretty – and I'm straining to say something nice here.

In case you are still considering purchasing this album, consider this: for some inexplicable reason, dozens of tracks on the score are approximately 10 to 20 seconds long.  Arguably this is beneficial in the sense that the pain diminishes more rapidly, but it's also damnably distracting. 

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