Leonard Rosenman 1924-2008
- Thread starter Indysolo
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Chekov's Run from Star Trek IV never fails to bring a smile to my face.
All the composers borrowed from their previous work and Rosenman was no exception. But sometimes fans are too eager to overlook the fact Star Treks II & III, as classic as they were, lifted several pieces from Battle Beyond the Stars and Krull for its iconic moments. I just helps that those other films are obscure and all but forgotten today.
The Voyage Home opening music is easily the most light-hearted movie theme and that reflected the warm humour of TOS perfectly.
All the composers borrowed from their previous work and Rosenman was no exception. But sometimes fans are too eager to overlook the fact Star Treks II & III, as classic as they were, lifted several pieces from Battle Beyond the Stars and Krull for its iconic moments. I just helps that those other films are obscure and all but forgotten today.
The Voyage Home opening music is easily the most light-hearted movie theme and that reflected the warm humour of TOS perfectly.
He shall be missed. 
The score to Star Trek IV has always been one of my favorites. I know it's derided by some folks who hate anything that's not the TMP score, but it had an adventurous, yet lighthearted quality that really fit the mood of the film. IMO it deserved the Oscar nomination.
Sad.
He also composed Bakshi's animated "The Lord of the Rings", another favourite.
He also composed Bakshi's animated "The Lord of the Rings", another favourite.
Yeah, I've always liked his score for TVH. It doesn't have the same sound as TMP or TWOK, but then again it shouldn't... TVH was by and large a comedy, and even the dramatic parts felt lighter than they did in the previous Trek films. A good composer writes a score that's appropriate to the material, and that's exactly what Rosenman did.
Indeed. I too have always enjoyed the TVH soundtrack and it's opening theme, it had an adventurous quality to it. I also liked his rendition of the Alexander Courage TOS theme in the final scene of the movie.
The Score for TVH was probably my third favorite after TUC and TMP. It was lighthearted, and told the theme of the movie we were about to watch greatly. Also, it puts me a good mood. RIP Mr. Rosenman.
Agreed. I'm glad he was more adventurous with the ST4 sound. Fit perfectly, makes me smile. Just reminds me to sit back and enjoy the film!
thanks, sir
thanks, sir
One common thing I hear critics say about this score is that it doesn't fit the scale of what Star Trek should be. My question is what the hell does that mean? What type of music should Trek have? I always thought Trek was about hope for a better future, so shouldn't that mean the music shouldn't be depressing? I don't know but I didn't think we had geniuses who knew what Trek music should or shouldn't sound like.
I don't know about critics (I assume you're referring to professional critics), but around here, the criticism of the music seems to go hand-in-hand with criticism of the film being so light and comedic after the dour seriousness of TMP and the loss-burdened space opera of TWOK and TSFS, as though Trek is "too good" for comedy. Well, maybe it was in the Berman-era, but some of the fan favorites from the classic show are the comedic episodes ("Trouble with Tribbles, the two Harry Mudd episodes, "A Piece of the Action"). I guess Star Trek — and some of its fans — forgot how to have fun.
That's another thing I don't understand. I've always saw Star Trek as a very variety driven show. You can be serious, you can laugh, you can be emotional, it just depended on the week. Why have we as a society come to the whole if it's Dark and Gloomy, it's excellent. If it's anything else than it sucks. Doing comedy wrong might be one thing, but to criticize a movie because it tried to be a comedy and reach out to the mainstream audience is unfounded IMO. I guess that's why I rank 4 so highly. It was a mainstream movie, and it was very Trekkien in nature, despite it being not as serious and gloomy as the first three.
That's what I loved about that movie. And it's light enough that I can watch it with my baby niece.
Good Will Riker
Admiral
Rest in peace, good sir.
