TREKS' best music

[Basill]

For me, the first 3 films are a given. Simply the best IMO. But the Original series is in a field all its own and I love it. Some of my favorite stuff from TOS is actually mostly pieces used during establishing shots and "The End" shots. But I also love some of the better moody pieces from Amok Time and battle scenes from The Doomsday Machine, The Corbomite Maneuver, and Balance of Terror (a lot of that good stuff that was used repeatedly.)

Some of the best stuff though are the romantic pieces or what I like to call the "Trek Ladies" music. The scene with Kirk and Lenore above the shuttle bay in The Conscience of the King is an all time fav (used at least once again in Court Martial.) Mudd's Women had some good music even though I don't care for the episode. What Are Little Girls Made Of has a sexy little piece, and Mirror, Mirror has one of the best from the scene with Kirk and Marlena. It is actually a brilliant, sultry variation of the Romulan music from Balance of Terror since it was reused throughout the Mirror, Mirror episode as a theme for the evil mirror empire.

And speaking of variations, one the best variations goes to Vena's Theme from The Cage. It is used throughout that episode differently at different times; Sultry and seductive, mysterious and other-worldly, hauntingly, and even romantically happy at the end when she receives her illusion. It was even used for her Orion belly dance. It would later be used throughout the series- taken from the scene where Captain Pike first appears on Rigel, this version has a drum that mimics a heart beat and has a psychic trance like twinkle or ripple filling the background while a siren like lady wails away the notes of the melody. It would be played for happy spore trances (This Side of Paradise,) telepathic mind control (Return of the Archons,) psychic and voodoo riturals (Wolf in the Fold- A Private Little War,) and others I probably can't recall. It is one of the best tingly experiences in all of Trek.

 

[Rico]

The original series music is really amazing and my favorite - especially season one. I even did a whole podcast on Trek music. Need to do another. There's so much great music in Trek.

 

[kimc]

I've always loved the music from the "Stealing the Enterprise" sequence from STIII, which is probably my favorite sequence from the movie.

I've always love that too. I also love the opening theme to Voyager. I think it's the drums...

 

[RobertScorpio]

For me, the first 3 films are a given. Simply the best IMO. But the Original series is in a field all its own and I love it. Some of my favorite stuff from TOS is actually mostly pieces used during establishing shots and "The End" shots. But I also love some of the better moody pieces from Amok Time and battle scenes from The Doomsday Machine, The Corbomite Maneuver, and Balance of Terror (a lot of that good stuff that was used repeatedly.)

Some of the best stuff though are the romantic pieces or what I like to call the "Trek Ladies" music. The scene with Kirk and Lenore above the shuttle bay in The Conscience of the King is an all time fav (used at least once again in Court Martial.) Mudd's Women had some good music even though I don't care for the episode. What Are Little Girls Made Of has a sexy little piece, and Mirror, Mirror has one of the best from the scene with Kirk and Marlena. It is actually a brilliant, sultry variation of the Romulan music from Balance of Terror since it was reused throughout the Mirror, Mirror episode as a theme for the evil mirror empire.

And speaking of variations, one the best variations goes to Vena's Theme from The Cage. It is used throughout that episode differently at different times; Sultry and seductive, mysterious and other-worldly, hauntingly, and even romantically happy at the end when she receives her illusion. It was even used for her Orion belly dance. It would later be used throughout the series- taken from the scene where Captain Pike first appears on Rigel, this version has a drum that mimics a heart beat and has a psychic trance like twinkle or ripple filling the background while a siren like lady wails away the notes of the melody. It would be played for happy spore trances (This Side of Paradise,) telepathic mind control (Return of the Archons,) psychic and voodoo riturals (Wolf in the Fold- A Private Little War,) and others I probably can't recall. It is one of the best tingly experiences in all of Trek.

Yeah, I'm with you...The TOS music is so, well, from another time...but I agree with you, TMP-KHAN and SEARCH FOR SPOCK have the best music...but I do like the haunting music of SIX as well...

Robert

 

[Natural]

Unfortunately a lot of the music from the tv series can get pretty bland. There don't seem to be a lot of episodes where they really try something unique. If I had to pick some memorables though, I'd name:

- Kirk/Spock fight in Amok Time (?)
- Picard's flute in Inner Light
- Best of Both Worlds
- Riker losing his sanity in Frame of Mind had a nice score
- Not much of an ENT fan at all, but I have to admit I thought the score from Regeneration was excellent.

The movie soundtracks were a little more memorable. I liked the scores from TWOK and FC.

 

[Reanok]

I really liked the Music from The wrath of Khan and deep Space Nine The way of the Warrior and The Visitor suite from one of the StarTrek cds and Tos music from Amok Time also the music from ENT Similtude and The Forgotten.Also the Vulcan arc and Demons & Terra prime I wish there was another album of new music from the other series to be released.

 

[Sector 7]

My most memorable moment in Star Trek music is from the Funeral Scene for Spock. For me, it is still the most beautiful music in all of Star Trek. I wish I could hear music that beautiful in church.

 

[Star Treks]

Theme to TMP. Theme to First Contact.

 

[Reanok]

I also like the music from Yesterday's Enterprise and Best of Both worlds also that music Picard was playing on the Risikian flute where he was zapped by the probe and lived on Kaatan I forgot the name of the epiosde.

 

[Michael]

[...] I forgot the name of the eposde.

"The Inner Light"

 

[Fedaykin]

My favorites-

TPM-All of it, flawless.

TWOK-"Battle in the Mutara Nebula"- Awesome build up of tension, especially knowing what is going on on the screen...

TSFS-"Stealing the Enterprise" and "Return to Vulcan"-The album track of the latter had a wonderful crescendo that wasn't present in the film, just makes me teary.

TFF-I love the "Yosemite" theme or whatever it's called...beautiful. Also, "Without Help", a great action cue.

TUC-The main theme, goes without saying, sets up the picture nicely. The "Sign Off" theme is great, wish it was used more often in the movie.

GEN-I enjoyed this score on its own merits, there were some great action cues "Kirk Saves the Day" is my favorite-the "Two Captains" theme is nice, and I always enjoyed the opening music, haunting with a great release of the Star Trek fanfare.

FC-Well, the First Contact theme is my favorite Trek theme, and I think Goldsmith should have made some other use of it in the other movies, but oh well.

INS-Lots of lovely music, the main theme is nice and understated, no FC, but good.

NEM-The Shinzon theme heard in "Ideals" is nice, and there is a lovely rendition of it in the final credits...it's really chill inducing.

Besides the Inner Light, in TNG, the moment in Unification, Part 1 when Picard bids farewell to sarek and helps him give the Vulcan salute...TNG music rarely reached that emotional level.

 

[Dane_Whitman]

ENT had music during the episodes??? The opening and end credit music was 100% crap for me. But all I remember during the episodes were simple one note background sounds.

Either you did not watch a lot of "Enterprise", or you do not have much of an ear for music. Because quite a number of "Enterprise" episodes are blessed with an above-average score! And by that, I mean something a lot more pleasant and effective than the wallpaper blandness that dominated much of later-season TNG, DS9 and VOY. Allow me to suggest some "Enterprise" episodes with a good musical score:

Silent Enemy
Regeneration
Canamar
Anomaly
In a Mirror, Darkly
Affliction

Two of these episodes ("Regeration" and "Canamar") where scored by Brian Tyler, a relatively new composer of film music whose credits include "AVP: Requiem" and "Rambo".

 

[Michael]

ENT had music during the episodes??? The opening and end credit music was 100% crap for me. But all I remember during the episodes were simple one note background sounds.

Either you did not watch a lot of "Enterprise", or you do not have much of an ear for music. Because quite a number of "Enterprise" episodes are blessed with an above-average score! And by that, I mean something a lot more pleasant and effective than the wallpaper blandness that dominated much of later-season TNG, DS9 and VOY. Allow me to suggest some "Enterprise" episodes with a good musical score:

Silent Enemy
Regeneration
Canamar
Anomaly
In a Mirror, Darkly
Affliction

Two of these episodes ("Regeration" and "Canamar") where scored by Brian Tyler, a relatively new composer of film music whose credits include "AVP: Requiem" and "Rambo".

Have to agree with you, Dane. Enterprise had some wonderful scores! Some episodes of season three have the best music of modern Trek, IMHO.

 

[Phillip Culley]

Most of the great ones have been mentioned, but I'm surprised no-one's mentioned Voyager's Scorpion - certainly the first part had some excellent music...

 

[RandyS]

Despite what people say about TOS' third season, I'd say that alot of the music from those episodes were pretty good (Space hippies being the exception, even if the episode wasn't that bad.).

Alot of the soft music from TNG's first season was good too. Again, the fans seem to hate the synthiser (How the hell do you spell that?), but I liked alot of it.

 

[Michael]

Despite what people say about TOS' third season, I'd say that alot of the music from those episodes were pretty good (Space hippies being the exception, even if the episode wasn't that bad.)

Really? I love the music from "The Way to Eden"! It's the best thing about the episode. No kidding. I think the tunes a quite good. I wish they were available on CD.

And you're right, the music from the first season of TNG was very good. I loved the synthesizer pieces. At least the music WAS noticeable back then.

 

[RandyS]

Despite what people say about TOS' third season, I'd say that alot of the music from those episodes were pretty good (Space hippies being the exception, even if the episode wasn't that bad.)

Really? I love the music from "The Way to Eden"! It's the best thing about the episode. No kidding. I think the tunes a quite good. I wish they were available on CD.

And you're right, the music from the first season of TNG was very good. I loved the synthesizer pieces. At least the music WAS noticeable back then.

It'd be nice if more of it was released on CD. The 30th anniversary one has some good stuff, but not enough for me.

 

[137th Gebirg]

Star Trek III - Stealing the Enterprise. You know the part...

 

[T'Cal]

GEN had the best score for the films IMHO, what with the Overture, Deck 15, The Nexus/A Chistmas Hug, Two Captains, and Jumping the Ravine.

I love the remix theme of DS9. It always hit me as a modern alternative to classical Pomp & Circimstance. Inner Light theme is great as are some of the songs from BoBW. My other favorites are Archer's Theme and the alternate theme used for IaMD.

One bit of music I have never been able to locate as an MP3 was a version of TMP/TNG's theme that was used in the 30th anniversary TV special. It was played slowly and subtly, yet dramatically, on the piano. IIRC, no other instruments accomanied. It was used as a lead-in to the commercial breaks. I always hoped it was available on one of the soundtrack CDs but I've never found it.

Lastly, there was a poster here back just before NEM was released who posted his original work that could've been used in that movie if it was a Mirror Universe story. It went back and forth between traditional Trek fanfare and a twisted version with lots of strings and precussion. The artist/poster's last name was Collins, IIRC. Anyone know what I'm talking about?

 

[Mr_Homn]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhmgcYM2yIM

thats the intro music from TNG episode "A MAtter of Perspective"

Amazing stuff