Music is a big part of everyone's lives. Whether you listen to Queen or Aerosmith, Lady Gaga or Taylor Swift, or anything in between, we all share a love of music. Most people who name their favorite musician's choice would be instantly recognized. For me the sad truth is, it isn't. I tell people about my love for the late Jerry Goldsmith, and no one has any idea what I'm talking about. The worst part of being a fan of Jerry Goldsmith is, other than the lack of recognition the man deserves (and he deserves A LOT of it), is that his work is quickly being swept under the rug. At one time his theme for "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" (and its various derivative themes) were synonymous with Star Trek and, for me, it is still symbolic in a very basic and subconscious way of the franchise as a whole. But in recent years, it is rare to find a concert to attend where ANY of Goldsmith's work is being played, and unlike the works of his contemporaries (such as John Williams, whose themes for Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Jurassic Park are still just as prevalent in their respective franchises as ever) Jerry Goldsmith's Star Trek theme, which is my favorite music of all time, is no longer featured in Star Trek productions. And in that way it feels like an era is ended. What I want to know is, do you think we will ever hear his distinctive themes in future Star Trek productions, or is that part of Star Trek dead along with Goldsmith? The sad truth is, I became a Star Trek fan for two reasons: at the age of four, I thought the Enterprise-D was the coolest spaceship ever, and also because of Goldsmith's music. If there is to be no further homage or usage of the themes as composed by this legend among legends, then my days as a trekkie are numbered. I want to, and need to, know that he will be honored in time. In his own words I suppose can find some measure of comfort: "If our music is to survive, which I have no doubt it will, it will be because it was good."
I really don't know. It was originally the TMP theme and resurfaced in ST V, so it could be called general ST music and not just the TNG theme, although that is the association for most people. I would love to see it used on Discovery/one of the Nu Trek movies, but I kind of doubt it will happen.
Who thought the TOS theme would ever return? It's likely they'll do a new Trek one day and feature a new version of it.
After being reused for TFF and TNG I got quite tired of it. There's a lot of music in TMP that I still really enjoy, but that one's been, for my ears, massively overplayed.
It's undoubtedly iconic, but it more than likely will never return. It is representative of the era of the franchise the powers that be clearly want to distance themselves from.
Unfortunately it's doubtful, just because the movie industry for whatever reasons is moving away from themes. I look at modern movies and very rarely is there a theme I can hum that came from the movie. Ironically, one of the pieces that does stick in my mind is the Star Trek (2009) theme.
Isn't a new version of Goldsmith's theme used at the end of the CBS All-Access Discovery trailer? Click!
Don't forget- the piece of music that Goldsmith's Trek theme is based on is called "The Enterprise". It is a theme specifically written for the Enterprise. I believe Goldsmith was the only Trek composer to do this. There are several themes written for Spock and other characters, but only one for the ship. I suspect it will come up again someday. Loved hearing a new iteration of it in those video game commercials last year.
I completly agree with the OP 's thoughts on the value and significance of Goldsmiths work, and especially his ST scores are favourites of mine. I am not at all versed in modern or contemporary mainstream music (or the kind with lyrics in general), but I do LOVE filmscores and have spent many hundreds of hours listening and absorbing them. For me, Goldsmiths TMP-theme / The Enterprise embodies the spirit of Star Trek. I instantly connect it with Kirk, Spock, space exploration and adventure and the TNG crew and their missions. And, most important of all, with some sort of optimism and hope I used to have about the future. Something that is not as strong in recent Trek or myself anymore. I'd wish for Goldsmiths main theme to make a grand return in whole or at least in passages here and there to any future optimistic Trek -show, but I believe chances are small. Maybe the guys over at ST Continues give it a thought, for their closing episode... I doubt we'll hear anything melodic and majestic like it on Discovery.
The other day I put TMP in the DVD player but didn't watch it for about an our. I was distracted for a moment when the theme came on and I thought I was watching TNG! Sometimes I forget that TMP. Is where we first heard that theme. The TOS & TNG themes are the most iconic in Trek and I never get tired of hearing them.
If it's a show that has an Enterprise in it, I say so, otherwise it seems rather pointless. The Courage fanfare being re-used again or even a redo of the classic theme is more likely, given it seems to be a general purpose Trek theme, moving from TOS to even the TNG films.
The TMP/TNG Main Title Music scored STAR TREKs that were - to be Frank & Ernest - classier than the rest of the franchise is. Gene Roddenberry's style was all up in those offerings and it really does show. They have style. STAR TREK is never going to be like that, again. I'm so grateful that "Discovery" won't be using it -- that's all I've got to say!
Aside from early ready room models on TNG, the TOS (pre-refit) Constitution design appears nowhere but in fan films. Each new version has to reinvent as much as they can get away with. Music is no different. The way TMP was completely devoid of the familiar TOS trumpet fanfare was made even more obvious when it was in TWOK a toot or two here and there. IMHO Mr. Gene spent good money on a movie theme for TMP and that's why a version of it is in TNG. And even it is cut down with arrangement differences. It's a great piece, don't get me wrong. You just can't drastically change everything and expect fans to warm up to it or embrace it. Isn't that what sank ENT ratings? You can't replace the Vader march with 1960's Batman intro music. But there will always be a reinventing, updating, or "marking" territory of new creators. It just is.