Star Trek IV Score

[CoveTom]

I was listening to some of the Star Trek IV score today. Does anyone else think this score is under-appreciated? I rarely here it talked about when folks are discussing Trek scores.

I know it's much different than the typical Trek film score, owing to the very different tone of the film, but I thought Leonard Rosenman did an excellent job. I love many of the tracks, including both the theme itself, the Crash/Whale Fugue track, the Hospital Chase, and the Home Again music before the end credits.

Also, I believe this is the only Trek score other than Goldsmith's masterful TMP to be nominated from an Oscar.

So, any thoughts? Any other lovers of this score out there?

 

[Harvey]

I like the score, and enjoyed the recent expanded release, but it's still one of my least favorite of the franchise. That doesn't mean I dislike it -- the only score to come close to that for me is Star Trek: Generations -- but I don't listen to it as much as the others, outside of certain cues (Home Again and End Credits is a terrific track).

 

[Indysolo]

I've always loved it!

 

[LOKAI of CHERON]

Yes, I love the TVH score. Stylistically, a perfect match for the movie - with the cues placed judiciously throughout. Way underrated.

 

[Ssosmcin]

I "like" it, but it rarely gets a spin in the player. I like the rest of them a lot more.

 

[Brikar99]

I've never really cared for it; I like the opening titles, and the bit at the end as they get their new ship... but otherwise, I'm pretty meh on it. Even considering the sillier, lighter tone for the movie, this score always feels like it's a joke in and of itself.

 

[Balrog]

I've always loved it. It's a fun, quirky score.

I had been waiting years to hear the unused TOS theme. It's on the expanded release, as are a bunch of unused and early cuts. I love that stuff.

This CD does find its way into my player often. And I can't wait for the Generations expanded release. :fingers crossed:

 

[Therin of Andor]

So, any thoughts? Any other lovers of this score out there?

My first inkling of the ST IV score was watching the workprint in Paramount's Sydney theatrette, a few weeks before the premiere. It reminded me of something - and then I remembered that Leonard Rosenmann had done the soundtrack for Ralph Bakshi's animated "The Lord of the Rings". I couldn't wait to get home and remind myself of that score.

So I love it, but I was already enamoured by the animated "Lord of the Rings" film (and its music).

There are many moments of ST IV's soundtrack that I really enjoy: "Chekov's Run" is wonderful, the opening theme, the whale stuff, etc....

 

[Use of Time]

It doesn't come close to TWOK but I am a fan of the opening theme. It came across much lighter than the previous three scores. I guess it comes to down to what kind of mood I'm in for it to make it into my running mix.

 

[LOKAI of CHERON]

It came across much lighter than the previous three scores.

Exactly, just what was required I suspect.

 

[22 Stars]

The right score for the right movie and release-date. Very 'Happy Holidays' music, filled with bells and upbeat tempo's. One more way that IV hit a home-run during the holiday movie season, 1986.

 

[Amasov]

Oh thank god! I was always, ALWAYS a fan of this score. I would even go as far to say out of the Star Trek soundtracks, it's my favorite. I know there are those who like to point out that Leonard Rosenman recycled his Lord of the Rings theme into this one, but it doesn't matter to me. I heard this score before I heard LotR, but even so, it's still fantastic music. On the complete soundtrack, one of my favorite tracks is Whale Fugure (alternate).

 

[doubleohfive]

The right score for the right movie and release-date. Very 'Happy Holidays' music, filled with bells and upbeat tempo's. One more way that IV hit a home-run during the holiday movie season, 1986.

This.

Also: Always, always loved the score myself.

 

[Albertese]

I really like the Voyage Home score. I'm a big fan of classical music and orchestral film scores, and i would say that the ST4 score is the most "classical" of the Trek scores. Goldsmith is a terrific film composer, and the music to his movies holds up right alongside John Williams stuff, and they work great as both film scores and classical style music. But those guys compose film music. (full disclosure: I do generally prefer film score classical to old-school classical; it has a narrative element that the old stuff often lacks and that appeals to me.) But the ST4 music would have been right at home played alongside the classical music from the late 18th and early 19th Centuries.

I can see how some might feel it lacks that certain Star trek something, as it is a departure in style, as it lacks some of the grand Wagnarian bombastic sweep of Goldsmith and Horner and Williams stuff, but it is wonderfully textural music which, taken on it's own as orchestral music, it is quite good.

--Alex

 

[sbk1234]

I think it really matches the more contemporary setting of the 20th century, which works well. Even the stuff by the Yellowjackets works, although I thought I'd hate it before I actually saw/heard it in its theatrical use.

It's also one of the few times they have a score that has different sounding "songs" for different parts, without reusing so many parts of the main score. Did I comunicate that acurately?

 

[Albertese]

...

It's also one of the few times they have a score that has different sounding "songs" for different parts, without reusing so many parts of the main score. Did I comunicate that acurately?

I think instead of "songs" the word you want is "themes." And you're totally right. The score is actually much more complex than most other Trek scores, and indeed more so than film scores in general, which is why I'd characterize it as more "classical" than others...

--Alex

 

[RyanKCR]

The score reminds me of Fantastic Voyage.