This powerful orchestral score is Pozner?s ambitious follow-up to his original score for the 2003 epic documentary Russia: Land of the Tsars (History Channel), which was nominated for a 2004 News and Documentary Emmy®... more » Award. Gary Pozner?s rock-n-roll roots (he is a former member of Tom Tom Club, with former Talking Heads) are nowhere to be found in this score. Instead, listeners will be transported in time to medieval England, where sounds of plucked strings are accentuated beautifully by rich brass, driving percussion, and haunting vocals. As an added treat, Pozner makes charming use of the penny whistle and low whistle, played sparingly yet effectively in this recording. Lovers of Celtic music will especially appreciate this soundtrack. The album opens with "For a Thousand Years," an intense and multi-layered piece which whets the listener?s appetite for the rich melodies to come. The haunting "Prepare for Battle" features the low whistle and simple percussion, with an accelerando that gives the listener a heightened sense of urgency. "Peasant Dance" is a beautifully melodious piece, the many countermelodies of which suggest celebration, joy, suspense, and sorrow all at one time.« less
This powerful orchestral score is Pozner?s ambitious follow-up to his original score for the 2003 epic documentary Russia: Land of the Tsars (History Channel), which was nominated for a 2004 News and Documentary Emmy® Award. Gary Pozner?s rock-n-roll roots (he is a former member of Tom Tom Club, with former Talking Heads) are nowhere to be found in this score. Instead, listeners will be transported in time to medieval England, where sounds of plucked strings are accentuated beautifully by rich brass, driving percussion, and haunting vocals. As an added treat, Pozner makes charming use of the penny whistle and low whistle, played sparingly yet effectively in this recording. Lovers of Celtic music will especially appreciate this soundtrack. The album opens with "For a Thousand Years," an intense and multi-layered piece which whets the listener?s appetite for the rich melodies to come. The haunting "Prepare for Battle" features the low whistle and simple percussion, with an accelerando that gives the listener a heightened sense of urgency. "Peasant Dance" is a beautifully melodious piece, the many countermelodies of which suggest celebration, joy, suspense, and sorrow all at one time.
CD Reviews
A Profound Musical Score
D. Mikels | Skunk Holler | 10/12/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Musician/composer/producer Gary Pozner has incredible artistic range and depth, as evidenced by his musical score THE QUEST FOR KING ARTHUR. This soundtrack is a stunning menagerie of compositions that vividly recreates the dangerous yet exotic medieval world of Arthur, of the Saxons and Britons. The haunting audio readily conjures up images of Tolkien's Middle Earth, images of 'Braveheart'--even fleeting and fiery images from 'Gladiator.' The orchestration--the musical craftmanship and vocals--is excellent.
With thirty-five tracts this CD offers incredible variety and range, yet several of the cuts are under a minute in length, often just over 30 seconds in length. This proved to be a distraction for me, as I was unable to get into the flow and rhythm of the shorter pieces. Yet the distraction is a minor one; THE QUEST FOR KING ARTHUR aptly demonstrates that Mr. Pozner is a musical force to be reckoned with.
--D. Mikels"
What an exquisite CD
Mermaid55 | New York, NY | 09/16/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"What an exquisite CD. Each piece tells you an aspect of life. Even you don't know of King Arthur, you can feel everything what these delicate music represent if you have your own life story. The Quest For King Arthur is perfect "once in a while but certainly I will listen over and over throughout my life"-CD. Gary Pozner created such beautiful vocal pieces. They are mystic and flowing out. Listen 'The Knights', 'Lady of The Lake'. 'Peasant Dance' has great depth."
The Quest for King Arthur
Helene | Cincinnati | 08/13/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I saw the movie and was so impressed with the music as a perfect accompaniment to the story line. It added emotion and excitement to what might have been otherwise only a somewhat interesting historical presentation.
I just finished listening to the CD in my car, and had to let others know what a wonderful stand alone musical score it is. Gary Pozner's music made me "feel" as if I were transported back to medieval times, if only for the duration of the tape."
Very enjoyable
Bram Janssen | The Netherlands | 10/15/2004
(3 out of 5 stars)
"This is Pozner's second soundtrack release on his Whirled Music label. He appears to feel more at easy with the Celtic sounds on this album than he did with Russian sounds on his "Russia: Land Of The Tsars." He probably was granted a larger music budget for this documentary, and he doesn't miss the chance to make more out it. The orchestrations sound richer than they did on his former work.
The score rests on three pillars: a mystical Celtic voice, percussion-driven battle music and medieval folk. This gives the album the necessary variation. The style of the music somewhat resembles Goldsmith and Zimmer.
If you like medieval film music or documentary music, then this is a great album to have. I still have complaints. I still think there could have been less clip-length tracks on the album and I still think the music is too much of a potpourri of themes and colours. This was my major complaint of his "Russia: Land Of The Tsars."
I hope Mr Pozner continues to develop his music, this album is in many ways better than his former.
This one gets three stars
Bram Janssen,
The Netherlands"
A marvelous, atmospheric soundtrack
Alejandra Vernon | Long Beach, California | 12/16/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is music that seems to take us back to another time and place; we can almost see the thick fog and feel the damp earth under our feet...it has a palpable visual quality, as well as being a melodic, rhythmic and beautifully crafted musical experience.
The thirty-five tracks often stream one into the other with mellow moods, broken up by masculine rhythms with percussion and brass, like "Barbarian Attack", "Battle of Badon Hill", and the glorious finale of "The Britons".
The instrumentation is lovely, with a Celtic flair. Very effective is the use of voices on many of the tracks, giving the music a dreamy, moonlit quality. Some of my favorite moments are "Ancient Glory", with the strings holding the rhythm while the brass plays the melody, the majestic sound of "Quest for the Holy Grail", and the haunting "Years Pass".
Gary Pozner, an extremely talented and versatile musician and composer who also wrote the excellent score for the History Channel's production of "Russia--Land of the Tsars", has with "The Quest for King Arthur" written a memorable soundtrack that will be enjoyed for years to come.
A delight to listen to and slip into the sensory atmosphere of its sounds, it also makes great background music if you want something dramatic as you work, study or read.
Track Listings (35) - Disc #1