February 11, 2005 (New York, NY) - In light of the announcement that came out of Buckingham Palace this week, it may appear as though Gary Pozner knew something we didn?t know when he timed the release of his latest CD. W... more »ith titles like "Royal Crisis," "The Doomed Queen," and "Death to the Royals," The French Revolution, released this week by Whirled Music, seems a most appropriate soundtrack for France?s neighbors across the pond. But instead, this crowning achievement of Gary Pozner?s composing career to date is the soundtrack for The History Channel?s original film, also entitled The French Revolution. The French Revolution Original Soundtrack, which follows in the footsteps of Pozner?s The Quest for King Arthur and Russia: Land of the Tsars (for which Pozner received an Emmy nomination), is an excellent display of this composer?s vast arsenal of polished musicality and raw talent. After a brief French horn introduction, the CD?s opening track, "Birth to the Republic," wastes no time in setting a lively and energetic pace for the remainder of the album. Pozner?s theme in this piece is a simple melody that is recapitulated expertly in "Royal Crisis" and "Storm the Bastille." "The Doomed Queen" introduces a new theme, one that evokes a certain melancholy with brief moments of hope, but ultimately, the promise of an unavoidable downfall. In "Death to the Royals," the former keyboardist for Tom Tom Club displays his penchant for piano, though the simple melody line in this piece is a far cry from Pozner?s rock-n-roll days. Four particularly memorable tracks of The French Revolution Original Soundtrack are "The Great Terror," "The Rise of Robespierre," "Agnus Dei," and "The Streets of Paris Ran Red." All four tracks embody "mini-journeys" within the journey of this story, using original themes and variations, with each piece having its own arch and strong development. Rather than simply being underscore, these, and indeed most of the tracks on this album, stand alone as excellent pieces of music, whether or not one has seen the film for which they were written.« less
February 11, 2005 (New York, NY) - In light of the announcement that came out of Buckingham Palace this week, it may appear as though Gary Pozner knew something we didn?t know when he timed the release of his latest CD. With titles like "Royal Crisis," "The Doomed Queen," and "Death to the Royals," The French Revolution, released this week by Whirled Music, seems a most appropriate soundtrack for France?s neighbors across the pond. But instead, this crowning achievement of Gary Pozner?s composing career to date is the soundtrack for The History Channel?s original film, also entitled The French Revolution. The French Revolution Original Soundtrack, which follows in the footsteps of Pozner?s The Quest for King Arthur and Russia: Land of the Tsars (for which Pozner received an Emmy nomination), is an excellent display of this composer?s vast arsenal of polished musicality and raw talent. After a brief French horn introduction, the CD?s opening track, "Birth to the Republic," wastes no time in setting a lively and energetic pace for the remainder of the album. Pozner?s theme in this piece is a simple melody that is recapitulated expertly in "Royal Crisis" and "Storm the Bastille." "The Doomed Queen" introduces a new theme, one that evokes a certain melancholy with brief moments of hope, but ultimately, the promise of an unavoidable downfall. In "Death to the Royals," the former keyboardist for Tom Tom Club displays his penchant for piano, though the simple melody line in this piece is a far cry from Pozner?s rock-n-roll days. Four particularly memorable tracks of The French Revolution Original Soundtrack are "The Great Terror," "The Rise of Robespierre," "Agnus Dei," and "The Streets of Paris Ran Red." All four tracks embody "mini-journeys" within the journey of this story, using original themes and variations, with each piece having its own arch and strong development. Rather than simply being underscore, these, and indeed most of the tracks on this album, stand alone as excellent pieces of music, whether or not one has seen the film for which they were written.
CD Reviews
Oui! Solide Entretiennent!
D. Mikels | Skunk Holler | 03/12/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"A little French lingo there (and I hope I got my words right and didn't dishonor or insult anyone, or ask for a duel, or nothing). In any event, Gary Pozner can flat out compose, create, and score documentaries. He effectively creates the mood, the emotion, the ambiance of an historical setting, bringing it to life in our mind's eye. And THE FRENCH REVOLUTION, Pozner's latest soundtrack, is an audio triumph: a moving, stirring, sometimes haunting, collection of instrumentals that vividly brings to life this most turbulent historical era.
From "Birth to the Republic," Pozner's first track, this CD tells a story of its own--a story of haughty nobility, of downtrodden masses, of danger, of revolution. The music effectively conjures up images of peasants storming the Bastille, of frightened aristocrats whispering together behind locked doors. And from harpsichord to strings, the music stays true to its 18th Century roots.
As always, Pozner's tracks are flawlessly performed by musicians on top of their games. This is quality craftsmanship, and THE FRENCH REVOLUTION is Pozner's best effort yet.
--D. Mikels
"
Gary Pozner Gives An Authentic Feel With His Astounding Work
Kaya Savas | North Hollywood, CA | 03/03/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I have listened to and reviewed Pozner's work for "Russia Land of the Tsars", and "The Quest for King Arthur". But I must say that this score rises above the rest of his work in terms of being able to stand alone.
With television soundtracks for documentaries you enter a different territory. The music must not rise above too much because the real purpose of a documentary is to inform its audience, especially if there is a 3rd person narration. His other two History Channel scores have a large number of tracks, I believe Land of The Tsars had 72 tracks, many of them between 30 seconds to a little over a minute. But with The French Revolution there are only 2 tracks that are less than three minutes in length out of 17.
This soundtrack gives the authentic feel of the era and fits the historical documentary perfectly. My favorite track is #15, "Agnus Dei", which is a moving solo vocal piece accomanied by subtle music, it has a very dark mood to it as well. Any Hans Zimmer fans will be reminded of "Let My Home Be My Gallows" from Zimmer's score to Hannibal, I really liked it. Also, this soundtrack, like his other scores, has the feel of a major Hollywood score. Fans of Hans Zimmer and Nick Glennie-Smith should find Gary Pozner's work very enjoyable.
I Like that this score stands alone and can hold so much value while being listened to apart from the documentary. It is definately worth checking out."
A melodic, gorgeous score
Alejandra Vernon | Long Beach, California | 02/19/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Full of drama and intensity, this is one of composer Gary Pozner's best works. It is melodic and atmospheric, and uses the strings to great effect, to heighten the tension and bring about an almost visual quality to the music; unfortunately I have not seen the film yet, but it surely must be enormously enhanced by this soundtrack, and if half as good as the music, excellent viewing.
Woven through are classical themes and a baroque section in track # 9, "Ancient Regimes", that is wonderful, and makes it one of my favorite sections, with its final regal melody. Also exquisite are the vocal echoes in the "Agnus Dei", and the keyboard section in "Death to the Royals". Each track has its own special brilliance, and has a flow from one to the other, giving this album a feeling of continuity that is rare in film scores, and of benefit to the listener; with no jarring changes from track to track, this makes terrific reading and relaxing music as well as just for listening.
Bravo to the very prolific and diversely talented Mr. Pozner, for coming up with a big winner with this soundtrack; he has scored historical themes in the past for film, with "Russia, Land of the Tsars" and "The Quest for King Arthur", both marvelous, but "The French Revolution" just might be my choice pick of the three. The musicianship is also superb, and sound quality crisp and clear. Total playing time is 56'39.
"
A Composition that can Stand Alone
C. Middleton | Australia | 10/03/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"As a teacher of history including the Russian and French revolution, the History Channel documentary, The French Revolution, is an invaluable teaching tool as the piece gives the students' an overall sketch of the many events.
As a teacher or amateur historian, one knows that gaining a `feeling' for the subject under study is crucial to its understanding. History has moved on from chronological dates and personages, to a visceral conveyance of the time and the motivations of the people involved.
Gary Pozner's soundtrack to The French Revolution documentary is also a wonderful tool or aid in capturing the feelings and mood of the time.
Gary is a gifted composer whose list of compositions for such films as Enemies of War, Gotti and the 2004 Emmy nominated, Russia: Land of the Tsars. Gary is prolific if nothing else.
As I sit at my computer, my headphones wrapped around my head, turned at a proper volume, I'm currently listening to Track 7, The Great Terror; one can actually feel the madness as the streets of Paris literally flow with blood.
A great filmmaker once commented that a soundtrack should never rise above the story or film, stand out on its own, but contributes, as if invisible, only adding to the drama and pathos. This is Gary's true talent; however, listening to the music without the images of the documentary, my own images conjure... imagining the guillotine at work, in some cases during the Reign of Terror for twenty-four hour shifts. In some places in France during the Terror, hundreds if not thousand of heads were removed and taken away in wooden carts like an assembly line of murder. It is true the blood literally flowed through the streets.
One of my favourite tracks is 10, "The Doomed Queen", of course, Marie Antoinette, sitting nobly in a wooden cart on the way to the guillotine as the angry, absolutely mad and hungry mob yelled base obscenities, throwing rocks and anything they could get their hands on; the Queen, facing her death with dignity, continued to look ahead, ignoring the mob's cries. A true aristocrat who existed in the bliss of ignorance, not knowing or even realizing her subject's suffering. This is a very sad moment, and Pozner captures the Patho's of this shameful event.
Other favourite tracks are: track 9 - "Ancient Regime" and track 15 - "Agnus Dei."
Even standing alone without the images of the documentary, the composition is worth listening to as it conjures individual created images of that time in history that changed the world.
Track Listings (17) - Disc #1![The French Revolution [Original Film Soundtrack]](https://nationalbookswap.com/cd//l/86/1386/761386.jpg)