In recent years, Monty Pythoner Terry Jones has created a wonderful niche for himself on television. His historical documentaries are fantastic--highly original, fascinating and a bit funny. He's managed to re-examine and breath life into seemingly mundane topics. Here with "Ancient Inventions", Jones is back with a short series (only three episodes) all about ancient technology. His purpose--to show folks of old WEREN'T stupid and their advances led to the advances of today. Overall, the three shows are very, very good (particularly the one on city life). But, considering how PERFECT some of his other documentaries have been, this one seemed a bit of a letdown. Now I am NOT saying it's bad--but he set such a high mark with "The Crusades", "The Surprising History of Rome", "Medieval Lives" (my personal favorite). Still well worth seeing--and a nice way to learn history painlessly!

I have seen one version of this program on the History Channel, and unless I am wrong there are two(?) versions of it. I am sure I will view both/others if it means buying "those others". Anyway, I have found that parts of this soundtrack have also been used in other programs (documentaries, etc.) The "MESMERIZING/BEAUTIFUL" sections of this soundtrack are unmistakable when heard in other programs. And ALAS I have found a beautiful MOVIE SOUNDTRACK which includes some of these same pieces which "WE" have been looking for in a musical CD format, and this whole sound track has been 'praised' as "a GREAT soundtrack". The movie? KING KONG (2005 version). The CD is titled "Original Motion Picture Soundtrack KING KONG", and the music is composed by "JAMES NEWTON HOWARD". Please find "REVIEWS" of this 'movie (KING KONG) soundtrack' which are posted in sites which sell CDs, Music/Soundtracks. Please feel free to E-Mail me if you have any questions or comments perhaps on what you may have found out there which contains some expanded versions of these "beautiful pieces" of music. ALSO!!! There is a way of extracting the MUSIC portion of a MOVIE or Music/Songs CD through programs available to everyone on the internet. For more information on this please write me at the e-mail address shown here, [email protected]. Happy Listening!!!!!

I wholeheartedly concur with previous reviewer (joanmontgomerie) the soundtrack by Dimitri Tchamouroff is spectacular, especially in the chapter pertinent to the Greek inventor Heron. In some parts, the crescendo is so intense and magnificent - the track would suit a Hollywood epic by Cecil B DeMille. It is overwhelming and moves the emotions to a point you stand up and take notice. Like Joan, I wish I could find a copy of just the soundtrack, and I've played the DVD over and over, just to listen to it. Does anyone have more information on where to find the soundtrack for this DVD? Any assistance will be more than welcome. What a discovery - to find this composer.

Has anyone other than me noticed how beautiful the soundtrack music is for this show? The composer is Dimitri Tchamouroff -- I slowed down the credits last night after playing the documentary 5-6 times because I'm so in love with the music. It sounds ancient, exotic, whimsical, mesmerizing all at once. Anyone know how I could lay hands on a soundtrack CD or tape of this? I feel I'll go mad unless I find it. I tried e-mailing A&E networks to ask them about it, and they are so monolithic they didn't even respond. I guess getting a soundtrack to a TV docu is kind of unusual. I thought the music had come from a major motion picture -- it is that good. I don't usually flip over music -- but in this case I could not help myself. I love music that evokes a distant past. If anyone could help me with this quest, I sure would appreciate it.