Favorite Star Trek film score

Television, Movies Games and Books Star Trek
#1

IMO Star Trek has always had great music accompanied by wonderful composers. From the iconic Alexander Courage main title to Jerry Goldsmith and James Horner, but which score is your favorite?

I love the ‘Search for Spock’ soundtrack by James Horner. ‘Returning to Vulcan’ and ‘The Katra Ritual’ are so moving. I’m old school, yo. All of Horner’s stuff is great.

When I first heard ‘The Undiscovered Country’ soundtrack I was blown away. Best stuff I heard since Star Wars then someone told me it was influenced by Holst ‘The Planets’ and I was like rip-off. Then I heard John Williams was influenced by Wagner so I guess that’s how it be.

I made this so you can pick multiples, since sometimes you just have more than one favorites.

#2

I loved STII’s soundtrack. Horner’s music was different from the original score (the Goldsmith stuff), but nevertheless utterly beautiful.

A musical journey thru the ST soundtracks:

//youtu.be/zILAi_hmGWY

#3

Thanks, Galaxy Ranger, for illustrating why this must be a multiple-choice poll.

#4

My pleasure.

There are really not a lot of weak points to the ST soundtracks as a whole. Most of the main scores/title themes are beautifully done, very poetic, very expressive, very emotional and sometimes I put them on my iPod just randomly in between rock music and listen during my workouts.

And what’s more, even some of the soundtracks that might be perceived as “weaker” - I’m thinking of Generations, it hasn’t gotten a single vote so far and might overall not be as good as the others - do have some wonderful individual music tracks, like “Jumping the Ravine.”

#5

First Contact, hands down. That main theme is very rousing and elegant, and, as a bonus, you get Magic Carpet Ride and obiedobie.

#6

This is tough because my favorite of the scores (TMP) is defnitely not my favorite of the films (TWOK). But Goldsmith’s work stands apart from the movie the best of all of them, I think, and also captures that “sense of wonder” that TMP was going for (and, arguably, achieved to some extent, more than the rest of the films – even though most of the other films were better Star Trek).

#7

I agree, Goldsmith’s work has become iconic for Star Trek.

#8

It will be interesting to see what Michael Giacchino (composer on Lost and on most of JJ Abrams’ projects) will come up with for the new Star Trek movie.

#9

I voted for Wrath of Khan, but I wish I could vote for Search for Spock too. To me, I see those movies and their soundtracks kinda like all one, long two-movie epic.

#10

I agree, ThotFullGuy. I wish ST III had had a better, more complete soundtrack release. I think that was one of the first albums I ever bought, and I was disappointed to learn that not only were most of my favorite cues not included (e.g., the score for the bird of prey’s arrival on Vulcan) but also what was included was an awful disco-esque remix of the main title – one side of a 33 rpm vinyl disc, with the other side entirely blank!!! Sheesh.

#11

Wrath of Khan by James Horner. You’d end up hearing similar themes in his Aliens score.
I think Wrath of Khan really put Horner on the A-List, up there with Williams and Goldsmith.

#12

Horner’s TWOK score is quite good. Speaking strictly musically, Goldsmith’s score for TMP is probably superior, but it doesn’t even come close to Horner’s for action and goosebumps factor. :slight_smile:

The weakest film score is probably Leonard Rosenman’s for ST IV, although even it has it’s points. I’m still sorta fond of “Ballad of the Whale.” (But, then again, I’m hopelessly nostalgic for my 1980s adolescent fandom days.)

#13

Agreed.

Aren’t we all? Well, at least us old folks. I felt the IV soundtrack was like the film. Either you enjoyed the fun frolic or you didn’t. I find IV a relief from all the tension of the previous two films (II and III). It was jovial. Most people hate it for that. Same with the soundtrack, it’s upbeat and silly. My favorite piece is ‘Chekov’s Run’.

#14

Although, iST IV’s soundtrack wasn’t my favorite, I did love the booming Main Theme on that one.

Oh man, and I absolute love Checkov’s line the reveal of the aircraft carrier. “…and Captain, it’s the Enterprise.”
A wonderful movie moment.

#15

I actually really like when movies that I am not especially enjoying happen to have good scoring because it provides a tiny bright spot to an otherwise crappy couple of hours. My fave ST score is First Contact.

#16

My favorite is the music from Insurrection.
I love the Baku village theme. Very sweet, very melodic.

#17

im gonna have to go with the first contact soundtrack, with “red alert” being my fav track

#18

I dont remember much music from the movies, but the one song that always comes to mind is that opening song in Nemesis when it zooms into the Romulan Senate.

I really liked that song.