Mikael Tariverdiev - Seventeen Moments of Spring

  by Keith How

published: 24 / 12 / 2018

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Review

'Seventeen Moments of Spring' is the soundtrack to a little known 1972 Soviet twelve-part TV series of the same name. The series finds a Soviet spy undercover in Nazi Germany in 1945 on a covert mission to destabilise a secret pact between Germany and the Allies. The soundtrack released now on Earth Records is an intriguing and atmospheric collection of compositions and has the overall feel typical of classic late ‘60’s/early ‘70’s film soundtracks. Romantic and haunting themes are both poignant, enigmatic and recurring and not to be confused with the more upbeat and contemporary European soundtracks such as 'More' or the James Bond movie offerings. The 'Seventeen Moments' soundtrack reflects a classic middle-of-the-road approach without falling into mediocrity. Naturally there are a couple of vocal tracks such as the haunting 'Somewhere Far Away', but the main themes are orchestral and often piano led. The piano parts are performed by the composer who is accompanied by the Pop Symphony Orchestra. So intrigued by the idea of a little known Soviet Spy story I decided to see if it was available to watch. Sure enough YouTube has all twelve episodes available and all subtitled too. It is here that the soundtrack, although used sparingly, finds its true place. Black and white grainy and austere scenes are often filled with tension, displacement and uncertainty. Unlike our own James Bond or George Smiley. the Soviet agent (Stierlitz) is melancholic and restrained. In keeping with this main character and the measured pace of the screenplay the music flirts with jazzy interludes, sensitive moments and quieter parts. Often in the screenplay there is only silence or short barked orders from authoritarian commanders, themes that recur in the music. 'Farewell Station' features a tasty electric guitar that picks out the major theme while 'Twilight in Berlin' is a lovely melody. My curiosity was awakened by this album and I found the visual imagery enabled me to enjoy the work in context. 'Seventeen Moments of Spring' is best enjoyed while watching the TV series that captures the secret agent’s sense of alienation and the ghosts of fear haunting the Nazi hierarchy in the face of impending defeat in 1945.

Track Listing:-

1 Boys And The Sea Pt.1 (From Goodbye Boys)
2 Boys And The Sea Pt.2 (From Goodbye Boys)
3 Dance at the Stadium (From The Man Follows The Sun)
4 Waltz (From The Long Day) (From The Long Day)
5 My Younger Brother (From My Younger Brother)
6 The Last Romantic (From Small School Orchestra)
7 Evening Cafe (From Till Tomorrow)
8 Summer Blues (From Till Tomorrow)
9 All This Jazz (From Small School Orchestra)
10 A la Invenzia (From Small School Orchestra)
11 Don't Be Sad (From Small School Orchestra) (Instrumental)
12 Waltz (From The Last Thief)
13 Unfinished Recording (Frrom Till Tomorrow)
14 Russian Ragtime (From Small School Orchestra)
15 Dolphins (From Fare-well)
16 You Have Such Eyes (From The Man Follows The Sun)
17 Goodbye Boys (From Goodbye Boys)
18 On Tsvetochnaya Street (From Seventeen Moments Of Spring)
19 A Moment (From Seventeen Moments Of Spring)
20 Prelude for Ket (From The Irony Of Fate)
21 Roads (From Seventeen Moments Of Spring)
22 Couple in a Cafe (From Seventeen Moments Of Spring)
23 Expectation of the New Year (From The Irony Of Fate)
24 Snow Over Leningrad (From The Irony Of Fate)
25 No One's Home (From The Irony Of Fate)
26 Along My Street for Many Years (From The Irony Of Fate)
27 What Is happening to me (From The Irony Of Fate)
28 I like (From The Irony Of Fate)
29 Aria for a Moscow Guest (From The Irony Of Fate)
30 I Asked the Ash Tree (From The Irony Of Fate)
31 I asked the Mirror (From The Irony Of Fate)
32 The Third Stroitelnaya Street (From The Irony Of Fate)
33 Melody (From The Irony Of Fate)
34 The Last Waltz (From The Irony Of Fate)
35 I Love (From Adam Marries Eve)
36 Morning Clouds (From Flight Through Memory)
37 Moscow Morning (From Olga Sergeevna)
38 Moscow Morning (From Olga Sergeevna) (Variation)
39 Morning in the Mountains (From Olga Sergeevna)
40 Prelude for Cello and Piano (From The Fate Of The Resident)
41 Nocturne (From Olga Sergeevna)
42 I Am Writing To You By Accident (From Golden River)
43 On the Scout (From Golden River)
44 Over the Field Twilight is Indistinct (From Golden River)
45 Your Voice (From The Premonition Of Love)
46 Accordion Waltz (From The Long Day)
47 It Happens (From The Man Overboard)
48 Until Tomorrow (From Till Tomorrow)
49 Don't Be Sad (From Big Ore) (Variation)
50 Goodbye Boys! (From Goodbye Boys) (Variation)