Master and Commander

1	The Far Side of the World 9:19
2	Into the Fog 2:12
3	Violin Concerto, No. 3: "Strassburg" K. 216, 3rd Movement / Richard Tognetti 1:19
4	The Cuckold Comes Out of the Amery / Phil Ayling 3:27
5	Smoke N' Oakum 5:27
6	Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis / New Queen's Hall Orchestra 5:14
7	Adagio from Concerto Grosso Op. 6, No. 8 in G Minor: Christmas ... 1:56
8	The Doldrums 2:46
9	Prelude (From the Unaccompanied Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007) / Yo-Yo Ma 2:28
10	The Galapagos 1:39
11	Folk Medley: O'Sullivan's March/The Cuckold Comes Out of the Armery / Eric Riegler 5:12
12	The Phasmid 2:34
13	The Battle 5:07
14	La Musica Notturna Delle Strade di Madrid No. 6, Op. 30 / Richard Tognetti 9:23
15	Full Circle / George Innes 1:36

Barnes & Noble

In an age when such tales of adventure and derring-do are often consigned to science fiction, Peter Weir's Master and Commander, based on two of the widely read Aubrey-Maturin novels by Patrick O'Brian, brings high-seas exploits from the age of sail vividly back to the big screen. And the original score -- by the trio of Ira Davies, Christopher Gordon, and Richard Tognetti -- masterfully sets a suspenseful mood, enhancing the film's epic grip with brooding music full of heart-thumping percussion, dark brass chords, and pulsating strings. "The Far Side of the World," "Into the Fog," and "Smoke N' Oakum," feature such ominous statements from the orchestra. But lighter tones are also struck: Bright violins dance with Mozartean grace on "Violin Concerto No. 3" and ply traditional reels on "The Cuckold Comes out of the Amery" and a medley of folk tunes, calling to mind the merrier moments of life at sea during the Napoleonic wars. Other enlivening classical compositions by Corelli, Boccherini, and Bach (played by cello master Yo-Yo Ma) break up the foreboding intensity of the original music. Further tracks --"The Galapagos" and "The Phasmid" -- evoke an air of mystery with eerie scratching on the violins, a plaintive cello melody, and dissonant string chords, while pounding drums, hauntingly coupled with a distant fife, give "The Battle" a breathless immediacy. Master and Commander may look back to old-time tales of swashbuckling heroism, but the vivid and dramatic score gives this film a dark grandeur that is thoroughly modern. EJ Johnson

All Music Guide

Master and Commander, based on the hugely successful literary series by Patrick O' Brian, chronicles the adventures of Captain Jack Aubrey of The Royal British Navy. Musically speaking, the seafaring genre hasn't lived up to its expectations in a long, long time. For a world saturated with lore, shanties, and melodies inspired by the ocean, Hollywood remains unresponsive, uninspired, and bereft of the combination to Davy Jones' locker. One would expect a bombastic, heroic, and unforgettable motif to assist our protagonist in his exploits, but composers Iva Davies and Christopher Gordon provide nothing of the sort. The original portion of the score succeeds in riding wave upon wave of tension, but swashbuckling tales of the sea require a memorable tune, not just a storm of Taiko drums and washed-out strings. The composers fare better on a recurring folk medley, lovingly rendered by master violinist Richard Tognetti -- fans of the novels on which the film is based know full well that Lucky Jack is a fiddle-slinging-bard of a captain -- that captures the true spirit of being miles away from home with your mates and fending off ghostly freighters. The remainder of the soundtrack yields a tad more bounty, utilizing famous classical pieces from Mozart, Bach, and Boccherini to great effect, bailing out the brackish water intent on keeping this ship permanently docked. Reverend Lee Power