"But I thought you said we couldn't use music that players would recognise?" I did. "So what's going on?"
Let me explain . . . No, let me clarify. I said you shouldn't use music the characters would recognise. How many of your players would recognise the music to 1492 or The Last of the Mohicans? How many of you pay attention to the music of the movie you're watching? Not many on both counts I could presume.
Star Wars, Star Trek, Doctor Who and the likes are different. Everyone recognises them. However, a lot of the Star Trek music isn't very Star Trek-like. In fact, so of it is down right good. So as I once again stress to you not to use the theme to Star Trek, some of the incidental music is very useful.
A nice collection of music from all four Star Trek series which give you a fair idea of what to expect from each one. The music from the classic series is probably too "fun" to be of use and the music from "Heart of Glory" and "Heroes and Demons" is a little bland. However the music from "The Visitor" must be some of McCarthy's best - slow, understated and very nice. Also good is Chattaway's suite from "Inner Light" also available on Star Trek: The Next Generation - Volume 4 (though I enjoyed this much more).
- Star Trek Original Series Main Title (1:02)
Suite from "The Trouble with Tribbles"
- Bartended Bit/They Quibble Over Quibble/Kirk Out/Barrel of Trouble/Tribble Hooks Kirk/Poor Jonesy/A Matter of Pride/Come On Spock/Hissing Tribbles/Dead Heap (5:19) - happy ~ quirky
- The Muzak Maker/The Scherzo maker (1:36) - slow ~ quirky
- A Matter of Pride/No Tribble At All/Big Fite (4:05) - quirky ~ fight
- Star Trek: The Next Generation Main Title(1:48)
Suite from "Heart of Glory"
- Moment of Decision/Battle Signs/Geordi Vision/Looking For Life Signs/Imminent Destruction (8:29) - danger ~ tension ~ happy ~ undercurrent ~ destruction
- A Klingon's Feelings/Let's Make A phaser/Heart of Glory (6:30) - uncomfortable ~ tension ~ confrontation
- Orchestral Suite from "Inner Light" (6:36) - heartache (flute)
- Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Main Title - Season IV (1:54)
Suite from "The Visitor"
- Rainy Night (1:08) - sad
- Steve O's Cue/Freaked Out (3:07) - bitter sweet
- Dad Admonishes (3:11) - tension ~ sad
- One Last Visit (2:57) - realisation
- Second Chance (1:13) - ending
- Star Trek: Voyager Main Title - Extended Version(2:22)
Suite from "Heroes and Demons"
- Last Hope (2:31) - quiet
- Dr. Schweitzer (1:19) - pride
- Armagonnen (2:47) - undercurrent
- Where's Freya/to The Rescue (6:46) - fight ~ quiet ~ uneasy ~ ending
Total Running Time: 63:49
A very good score by Jerry Goldsmith, but not particularly useful for running a general science fiction campaign. The Star Trek theme is so masterfully interwoven in so many tracks that it makes it almost impossible to use without players recognising the melody. I've also noted the use of the "Love" theme (Illia's Theme) as some die-hard Trekkers may also recognise this theme. However, the score would be very useful in a Star Trek campaign.
Disc One
- Ilia's Theme ++ (3:2)
- Main Title + (1:23)
- Klingon Battle (5:27)
- Total Logic * + (3:44)
- Floating Office * (1:03) - quiet
- The Enterprise + (6:00)
- Leaving Drydock + (3:30)
- Spock's Arrival * + (2:00)
- The Cloud (4:59) - danger
- Vejur Flyover (4:58) - tension
- The Force Field * (5:03) - strange
- Games * ++ (3:41)
- Spock Walk (4:20) - danger
- Inner Workings * (3:02) - revelations
- Vejur Speaks * (3:50) - tension
- The Meld (3:09)
- A Good Start * (2:27)
- End Title (3:16)
+ Contains the "Star Trek" Theme
++ Contains the "Love" ThemeTotal Running Time: 65:04
Disc Two
- Star Trek Theme (1:31)
- Introduction: Nichelle Nichols * (1:12)
- Inside Star Trek (1:04)
- William Shatner Meets Captain Kirk (9:11)
- Introduction to Live Show (0:25)
- About Science Fiction * (0:40)
- The Origin of Spock (1:44)
- Sarek's Son Spock (7:20)
- The Questor Affair (3:49)
- The Genesis II Pilot * (2:34)
- Cyborg Tools and E.T. Life Forms * (4:05)
- McCoy's Rx for Life (6:14)
- The Star Trek Philosophy (4:39)
- Asimov's World of Science Fiction (6:27)
- The Enterprise Runs Around (1:49)
- A Letter From a Network Censor (5:03)
- The Star Trek Dream (Ballad I/Ballad II) (5:47)
- Sign Off: Nichelle Nichols * (0:45)
Total Running Time: 64:27
* Previously unreleased tracks.
Except for Star Trek VI, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn is certainly the best out of the Classic Trek movies. James Horner comes up with a more inventive score, and the action sequences lend themselves to other roleplaying adventures. Well worth a look at.
- Main Title (3:08)
- Surprise Attack (5:08) - fight
- Spock (1:13) - mystical
- Kirk's Explosive Reply (4:02) - battle
- Kahn's Pets (4:19) - tension
- Enterprise Clears Moorings (3:36) - journey
- Battle in the Mutara Nebula (8:05) - battle
- Genesis Countdown (6:36) - tension/fight
- Epilogue/End Title (8:43)
Total Running Time: 44:54
After his success with Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn, Star Trek III is a less successful score to a less successful film. It is much more Star Trek than the previous score making it more difficult to find suitable music.
- Prologue and Main Title (6:34)
- Klingons (5:59)
- Stealing the Enterprise (8:35)
- The Mind Meld (2:35) - mystical
- Bird of Prey Decloaks (3:41) - battle
- Returning to Vulcan (4:54) - mystical
- The Karma Ritual (4:34) - change
- End Title (6:18)
- The Search for Spock (3:43) - funky
Total Running Time: 46:56
This score I would avoid completely, it sounds too much like Lord of the Rings. Considering both were written by the same person, this isn't very surprising. Stick to Lord of the Rings.
- Main Title (2:39)
- The Whaler (2:00) - fight
- Market Street (4:37) - bar music
- Crash-Whale Fugue (8:15) - danger ~ happy
- Ballad of the Whale (4:59) - new age
- Gillian Seeks Kirk (2:41) - loss
- Chekov's Run (1:19) - chase
- Time Travel (1:28) - danger
- Hospital Chase (1:14) - chase
- The Probe (1:16) - ending
- Home Again: End Credits (5:36)
Total Running Time: 36:09
Jerry Goldsmith returns to the helm, but we'll have to wait till the eighth movie to truly see his greatness. Star Trek V is a pretty decent score to an otherwise unremarkable film. The liberal use of the Klingon theme makes it a little more difficult to use, but otherwise well worth a look.
- The Mountain (3:53)
- The Barrier (2:53) - danger
- Without Help (4:21)
- A Busy Man (4:42) - reflective
- Open The Gates (3:02) - fight
- An Angry God (6:58) - arrival ~ magic ~ danger
- Let's Get Out Of Here (5:15)
- Free Minds (3:19) - quiet
- Life Is A Dream (3:59)
- The Moon's A Window To Heaven (4:00)
Total Running Time: 42:25
All of the tracks that contain the theme of Star Trek on this soundtrack should disregarded. The soundtrack is very dark and brooding overall, starting with the chilling opening theme and ending in the dangerous battle in the end. This soundtrack would be very suitable for dark and gritty campaigns and/or adventures. If some of the music sounds familiar, it should. Originally the producers wanted to use Holst's The Planets for the soundtracks, but couldn't for various legal reasons. They got the next best thing, with Eidelman getting a lot of his "inspiration" from the originals. I always thought it was a pretty good soundtrack.
- Overture (2:57) - main title
- An Incident (0:53) - danger
- Clear All Moorings (1:39)
- Assassination (4:44) - mystery ~ danger
- Surrender for Peace (2:45) - hint of danger
- Death of Gorkon (1:09) - mystery
- Rura Penthe (4:22) - mining ~ danger
- Revealed (2:38) - spooky ~ danger
- Escape from Rura Penthe (5:33) - evil ~ danger
- Dining on Ashes (0:59) - sad
- The Battle for Peace (8:02) - battle
- Sign Off (3:12)
- Star VI Suite (6:18)
Total Running Time: 45:16
This soundtrack is a lot more Star Trek-like than the rest in this list, but there is a few suitable tracks. Most (and I mean all bar three) contain the theme from Star Trek: The Next Generation that makes this unsuitable as a whole.
- Star Trek: The Next Generation - Main Title (1:45)
- Star Date (1:43)
- Troi Senses (1:42)
- Picard's Plan
First Chase
First Chase (Part 2) (4:31)- Detaching
Separation (2:41)- Shaken
Court Tie
There Goes Da Judge (2:29) - spooky- U.S.S. Hood
On Manual (3:18)- Star Trek: The Next Generation - End Credit (1:03)
- Personal Log
Admiral
Old Lovers (2:24)- Caverns (1:27) - danger
- Splashing
The Woods
Memories (2:45)- Scanned
Big Guns
Unknown (3:04) - danger- Revealed
Reaching Out (4:39)- Departure (1:07)
- Main Title - Version #2 (Alternative) (1:43)
Total Running Time: 36:27
One of the most chilling soundtracks that I have heard. The haunting melodies of the engagement of the Borg, and the climax of the first episode provide material for the darker, larger adventures, as well as gloomy campaigns. The short tracks times, and the fact these pieces were set to certain events, makes them better for events or descriptions. Science Fiction or Fantasy.
- Star Trek: The Next Generation - Main Title (1:44)
- New Providence (1:22) - mystery/danger
- Hansen's Message (1:27) - suspicion
- Borg Engaged (1:18) - danger/climax
- First Attack (5:04) - battle
- Borg Take Picard (3:05) - hint of danger ~ climax
- Death is Irrelevant (1:35) - death/deadly enemy
- Away Team Read (1:29) - exploring/mystery
- On the Borg Ship (1:28) - exploring/mystery
- Nodes (2:53) - being stalked
- Captain Borg (3:56) - danger/battle ~ sad ~ climax
- Energy Weapon Fails (3:16) - climax
- Humanity Taken (0:57) - spooky
- Contact Lost (0:38)
- Cemetery of Dead Ships (1:45) - sad/angry
- Intervention (4:23)
- The Link (2:58)
- Sleep Command (3:54)
- Destruct Mode/Picard Is Back (1:36)
- Picard's Nightmare (1:02) - sad ~ spooky
- Star Trek: The Next Generation - End Credit (1:02)
Total Running Time: 46:54
This is typical Dennis McCarthy. It is a serviceable score that will happily find a use in any science fiction campaign. The music is very understated and never really takes to the forefront.
- Star Trek: The Next Generation - Main Title (1:50)
Yesterday's Enterprise- Duality/Enterprise C (2:55) - undercurrent
- Averted/Richard/Guinan/Back to Battle/Cmdr. Garrett (4:31) - incidental ~ tension ~ happy ~ magical ~ danger
- First Kiss/Not to Be/Empty Death/Reporting for Duty (3:45) - quiet
- Klingons/Skin of Teeth (5:42) - battle
Unification I & II- In Case You Forgot (1:36) - tension
- Sarek (1:46) - sad
- Sarek Drifts Away (2:34) - revelations
- Another Captain/Food Fight (0:58) - danger
- Victims of Holography (3:44) - tension
- Sacrificed/Mind Meld (2:41) - discovery
Hollow Pursuits- Barclay Mitty (2:23) - something in the air
- Tissue Sample/Sad Sack/Staff Confab/Hololust (3:01) - happy
- Lady Gates (2:14) - happy ~ danger
- Madame Troi/Blissful/Out of Control/Warp Nine (1:54) - happy ~ tension
- Warposity (3:21) - confrontation
- Plan 9 (0:19) - endings
- Star Trek: The Next Generation - End Credit (0:48)
Total Running Time: 46:54
Finally, GNP Crescendo has released the long awaited fourth volume of music from Star Trek: The Next Generation. Why not release a second volume of music from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine or Star Trek: Voyager? Simply because Star Trek: The Next Generation has a much richer source of music to draw from (opinion, not fact). This CD contains music written by Jay Chattaway, and is (in my opinion) the best composer of the series. They have chosen an excellent suite of music, though I would have enjoyed it more had they added the music from the episode "Masks". I find Chattaway's music to be much more interesting that Dennis McCarthy or Ron Jones (though Jones' score for "The Best of Both Worlds" is still my favourite and is far superior that Chattaway's score for "Descent"). There is quite a mix in this bad, and with the pipe/ethnic slant, much to recommend. This release is better than "Encounter at Farpoint" by far, and only a little off "The Best of Both Worlds".
- Star Trek: The Next Generation - Main Title (1:49)
Suite from Tin Man- Not Nice/Right/Scared (4:44) - life ~ hunt ~ danger
- Closing/Tin Man Contact/Romulans (2:55) - chase ~ fight
- Meet (3:23) - tension ~ eerie ~ danger ~ eerie
- No Choice/Tam (3:57) - eerie ~ danger ~ life ~ fight ~ decision
The Inner Light- Theme from The Inner Light (2:50) - bitter sweet
Sub Rosa- Hooked on Ronin (3:59) - brewing
A Fistful of Datas- A Fistful of Datas (4:53) - western ~ danger
Dark Page- Painful Revelation (5:27) - meetings
Suite from Descent - Parts 1 & 2- They're Back! (2:53) - fight
- Hook, Line & Sinker (3:20) - tension
- Crusher To The Rescue (1:57) - fight
Birthright - Part I- Data in Dreamland (5:22) - revelation
- Star Trek: The Next Generation - End Title (0:46)
Total Running Time: 48:21
Why on earth they got Dennis McCarthy to score this one is beyond me. I would have picked Ron Jones, but then again I'm not in charge of the franchise. This is definitely one for the fans only. Some nice pieces (the overture is really nice), but overall it is fairly bland. The special sound effects at the end eat up time, and should only be used in Star Trek adventures.
- Star Trek Generations Overture (4:14)
- Main Title (2:53) - discovery
- The Enterprise B/Kirk Saves The Day (3:13)
- Deck 15 (1:41) - hope
- Time Is Running Out (1:12) - sad
- Prisoner Exchange (2:57) - danger
- Outgunned (3:21) - fight
- Out Of Control/The Crash (2:07) - fight
- Coming To Rest (0:57) - quiet
- The Nexus/A Christmas Hug (7:07) - magic
- Jumping The Ravine (1:37)
- Two Captains (1:32)
- The Final Flight (6:15) - fight
- Kirk's Death (2:45)
- To Live Forever (2:42)
- Enterprise B Bride (3:15)
- Enterprise B Doors Open (0:16)
- Distress Call Alert (0:10)
- Enterprise B Helm Controls (0:18)
- Nexus Energy Ribbon (1:40)
- Enterprise B Deflector Beam (0:11)
- Enterprise B Warp Pass-By (0:18)
- Enterprise D Transporter (0:16)
- Tricorder (0:33)
- Hypo Injector (0:06)
- Communication Chirp (0:09)
- Door Chime (0:10)
- Enterprise D Warp Out #1 (0:25)
- Bird Of Prey Bridge/Explosion (2:55)
- Klingon Sensor Alert (0:11)
- Bird Of Prey Cloaks (0:07)
- Bird Of Prey De-Cloaks (0:14)
- Klingon Transporter (0:15)
- Soran's Gun (0:14)
- Soran's Rocket De-Cloaks (0:08)
- Shuttlecraft Pass- By (0:25)
- Enterprise D/Crash Sequence (3:25)
- Enterprise D Warp Out #2 (0:12)
Total Running Time: 60:45
Excellent movie, and an excellent soundtrack by veteran Jerry Goldsmith. The music is dark and scary, well suited to the subject matter and could easily be used in a science fiction campaign. Please do skip the silly tracks at the end which were used, I assume, to bump the CD up to 45 minutes (though I would have rather have had them dropped).
- Main Title/Locutus (4:21)
- Red Alert (2:17)
- Temporal Wake (2:11) - hunt ~ confrontation ~ something in the air
- Welcome Aboard (2:44) - beauty ~ death
- Fully Functional (3:22) - fight ~ danger
- Retreat (4:01) - danger ~ fight
- Evacuate (2:24) - fight
- 39.1 Degrees Celsius (4:48) - tension
- The Dish (7:09) - danger ~ fight
- First Contact (5:56) - hopefulness
- End Credits (5:27)
- Magic Carpet Ride - Steppenwolf (4:26)
- Ooby Doby - Roy Orbison (2:24)
Total Running Time: 51:35
The saddest part of this score is the fact that the best track -- Ba'Ku Village -- has the "new" Star Trek theme attached to the beginning. On the whole Goldsmith has produced a worthy successor to his First Contact score. This score is a little lighter -- and not quite so inventive because Goldsmith is extending his score more than revolutionising it as he did with the previous score -- but no less useful. Well recommended for just about any science fiction campaign.
- Ba'Ku Village * (6:57)
- In Custody (1:08) - danger
- Childrens' Story (1:51) - quiet
- Not Functioning (1:52) - fight
- New Sight (5:47) - joy ~ sad
- The Drones Attack (4:13)
- The Riker Maneuver (3:13) - fight
- The Same Race (2:53) - danger ~ tension
- No Threat (4:14) - tension ~ happy
- The Healing Process (7:15) - fight ~ sad
- End Credits * (5:23)
* Contains "Theme from Star Trek - The TV Series" and "Theme from Star Trek: The Motion Picture"
Total Running Time: 44:50
One of the more suitable soundtracks than a lot of the Star Trek: The Next Generation soundtracks, the music is slightly more brooding. The soundtrack is suitable for science fiction or fantasy campaigns (except for a few tracks) but more suited to those grander, operatic adventures.
- Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Main Title (1:55)
- Wolf 359 (4:51) - danger ~ escape
- The Enterprise Departs/A New Home (1:10) - home
- Trashed and Thrashed (1:59) - arrival ~ danger
- Bajor/Jake/Saying Goodbye (1:44) - hint of danger ~ safety
- Cucumbers In Space (1:44) - bar music
- New Personality (2:17) - sadness
- Into the Wormhole (3:41) - journey ~ danger
- Time Stood Still (4:13) - unknown ~ danger
- Searching for Relatives (1:13) - strange
- Painful Memories (4:21) - unsurmountable ~ painful ~ danger
- Passage Terminated (3:44) - love theme
- Back to the Saratoga/What Shields? (2:00) - battle
- Reconciliation (3:18) - danger
- The Sisko Kid (4:40) - final battle ~ happy
- A New Beginning (1:47) - happy end
- Theme from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine [Single Version] (4:16)
- Passage Terminated [Single Version] (3:32) - love theme
Total Running Time: 52:32
Though more grand and operatic than the other Star Trek soundtracks it still suffers from having that Star Trek feel about it. Well suited to science fiction campaigns which don't rely on gritty realism.
- Star Trek: Voyager - Main Title (1:47)
- Prologue (3:12) - danger
- 70 Thousand Light Years from Home (3:23) - realisation
- Beamed to the Farm (4:19) - danger
- Lifesigns in the Barn (6:05)
- Paris Takes the Helm (2:38) - confrontation
- Star Trek: Voyager - Main Title: Short (0:19)
- Escape from the Ocampa Underground (8:06) - fight/flight
- Not Enough Time (2:03) - scary
- Battle for the Array (6:55) - fight ~ sad
- Set Course for Home (3:32) - sad
- Star Trek: Voyager - End Credits (1:20)
- The Caretaker's Hoedown (2:36)
Total Running Time: 46:20
Star Trek: The Motion Picture (20th Anniversary Collector's Edition) © 1966/1979 Paramount Pictures Corporation and © 1976/1998 Sony Music Entertainment Inc. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn © 1982/1990 Paramount Pictures. Star Trek III: The Search for Spock © 1984/1990 Paramount Pictures. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home © 1986 Paramount Pictures and © 1986 MCA Records, Inc. Star Trek V: The Final Frontier © 1989 Paramount Pictures Corporation and © 1989 CBS Records Inc. Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country © 1991 Paramount Pictures and © 1991 MCA Records, Inc. Star Trek: The Next Generation (Volume 1 - "Encounter at Farpoint") © 1987,1988 Paramount Pictures Corporation. Star Trek: The Next Generation (Volume 2 - "The Best of Both Worlds") © 1990,1991 Paramount Pictures Corporation. Star Trek: The Next Generation (Volume 3 - "Yesterday's Enterprise" * "Unification I & II" * "Hollow Pursuits") © 1990,1991,1992 Paramount Pictures Corporation. Star Trek: The Next Generation (Volume 4) © 1998 Paramount Pictures. Star Trek: Generations © 1994 Paramount Pictures. Star Trek: First Contact © 1996 Paramount Pictures. Star Trek: Insurrection © 1998 Paramount Pictures. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine ("Emissary") © 1993 Paramount Pictures. Star Trek: Voyager ("Caretaker") © 1995 Paramount Pictures.