© 2002 Lawrence Tuczynski

Title: Dersu Uzala
Japanese Title: Derusu Uzara
CD Label: Toho Music Corporation
CD Number: AK-0011
Music by: Isaac Schwartz
Number of tracks: 33
Running time: 58:34
Number of discs: 1
Year of release/manufacture: Nov. 14, 2002
Year movie released: 1974 (Russia/Japan joint venture)

REVIEW

Dec. 15, 2002

While the music on this CD works very well in the film (I have seen it), it is a very taxing listening experience and does not lend itself well as a stand alone listening experience. There are two many repetitious, dirge like acapella tracks as well as spoken tracks to make this a pleasant listen. The main theme is mysterious and dramatic and sounds fine but it too is repeated far too often. In the older 5 disc Kurosawa CD set, the music for this movie was one suite that was just long enough to convey the music. Expanded here to over 58 minutes we get overkill. The movie itself is a fine tale and well done for a Russian/Japanese hybrid. I suggest you see it if you ever get the opportunity.

Dersu Uzala - Isaac Schwartz

Track translations courtesy of John Cassidy (Daijirou Ryuusei)

  1. Main Title ~ The Autumn Taiga ~ (M2)
  2. The Journeying Car's Song (PS From Film)
  3. Journal (M4)
  4. The Nature Man (M4A)
  5. Dersu's Song (From Film)
  6. The Old Man's Footprints (M5)
  7. Li Tunvin (M5A From Film)
  8. Hanka Lake (M6)
  9. The Fight (M7)
  10. The Harsh Journey (M8)
  11. The Journeying Car's Song (PS From Film)
  12. Farewell (M9)
  13. Intermission Music (M10)
  14. The Folding Ice Age ~ 1907 Spring ~ (M11 Unused)
  15. Arseniev On The Mountain Top (M12)
  16. The Eagle's Song I (PS From Film)
  17. Photograph (M13)
  18. The First Encounter (M14 From Film)
  19. Illusion (M15)
  20. Anba (M16)
  21. The Eagle's Song II ~ End Roll (M18)

    BONUS TRACKS

  22. Title ~ The Journeying Car's Song I
  23. Journal
  24. Dersu's Song
  25. Hanka Lake
  26. The Fight
  27. The Harsh Journey
  28. The Journeying Car's Song II ~ Farewell
  29. Arseniev On The Mountain Top
  30. The Eagle's Song I
  31. Photograph
  32. Illusion ~ Anba
  33. The Eagle's Song ~ End Roll