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The Child Opening Fanfare

Joe_Atari

Joe_Atari

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Red Shirt
I was just rewatching "The Child" and it brought back memories of 1988 and the long-delayed (due to a writers strike) season two premiere. Although I personally found the episode as a whole lackluster, I've always been taken with the opening sequence. A great shot of the E and the Excelsior (Repulse), followed by a nice (if dated) shot of a shuttle launch, and then a great crane shot across the bridge catching first Data, then Worf in his new Security colors, Riker with his new beard -- a very well done shot marred only by an object (a brown bag) left on the floor of the bridge behind Wesley's chair. You really got the impression that the creators wanted to give fans something special after the extended hiatus. On top of all of that was a great musical fanfare from Dennis McCarthy (Emmy-nominated for this episode); it ranks as one of my favorites from the entire series.

About that music, aside from videos of the episode is that cue available in any format? The episode has some effects over the track; not too bad but I'd love to have a clean copy of this one. Any ideas?

Thanks!
 
I love the opening, grand, fanfare in the S2 opener. Infact, I like most of the grand, broad, music in TNG's first couple of seasons before Berman in all his infinite, creative, wisdom decided to go with "music wallpaper" for the rest of the friggin franchise. :rolleyes:
 
I've always liked that opening too. Really wish Berman hadn't made the fatal mistake of changing the way they did music forever and ever.

I've never seen any files of that music out there, but i'd snag it up in a second if i could find it.
 
Joe_Atari said:
About that music, aside from videos of the episode is that cue available in any format? The episode has some effects over the track; not too bad but I'd love to have a clean copy of this one. Any ideas?
Click to expand...

Double album: "NEXT GENERATIONS: The Very Best of Science Fiction"
William Motzing conducting The Czech Symphony Orchestra.
This is a only album on which we can listen the tune "TNG - Birth" composed by Dennis McCarthy (from the episode "The Child").

http://www.daisyplanet.com/st/disc-e.html

So, probably not the earlier theme you wanted. Track is 3 min 20 sec, but from later in the episode. 1993, re-released 1997.
 
Joe_Atari said:
I was just rewatching "The Child" and it brought back memories of 1988 and the long-delayed (due to a writers strike) season two premiere. Although I personally found the episode as a whole lackluster, I've always been taken with the opening sequence. A great shot of the E and the Excelsior (Repulse), followed by a nice (if dated) shot of a shuttle launch, and then a great crane shot across the bridge catching first Data, then Worf in his new Security colors, Riker with his new beard -- a very well done shot marred only by an object (a brown bag) left on the floor of the bridge behind Wesley's chair. You really got the impression that the creators wanted to give fans something special after the extended hiatus. On top of all of that was a great musical fanfare from Dennis McCarthy (Emmy-nominated for this episode); it ranks as one of my favorites from the entire series.

About that music, aside from videos of the episode is that cue available in any format? The episode has some effects over the track; not too bad but I'd love to have a clean copy of this one. Any ideas?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Marina made this episode more believable and heartfelt. It was one of her better acting jobs. The music was wonderful, and Bowman did a sensational job with the direction.

RAMA
 
That episode score has neither been released on either the GNP Records CD releases, nor "unofficially" either.


There's a very insightful book called The Music of Star Trek (Jeff Bond), that goes into more details about the scores, including episodes where inspite of a compsoer credit, there was no original score, what episodes re-use what, ones where composers aren't credited. There was also a composer who ghostwrote a couple episodes and someone else took credit -- I don't know if that's in the book or not though. I'm blanking on who and which episodes, but if I recall I'll come straight back here and post 'em.
 
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I never think of this episode as lackluster; Troi's anguish always makes me weep, and I am not a weeper. RAMA is right; Marina did a bang-up job on this one.
 
I can't believe that after 23 years, I never even noticed that bag on the floor until it was pointed out to me! Wesley needs to keep a neater station on the bridge! ;)
 
I loved that open. S2 and S3 had that jump in time and it was exciting to me to see all these little changes in set design and uniforms. Characters leaving, characters changing jobs. Riker grows a beard. Their lives went on and we could drop back in after a few months and catch up as we do with friends in the real world.

They lost all that when they began the "cliffhangers" approach to end each season. I preferred the old way.
 
Trevacious said:
I loved that open. S2 and S3 had that jump in time and it was exciting to me to see all these little changes in set design and uniforms. Characters leaving, characters changing jobs. Riker grows a beard. Their lives went on and we could drop back in after a few months and catch up as we do with friends in the real world.

They lost all that when they began the "cliffhangers" approach to end each season. I preferred the old way.
Click to expand...


I don't know...I really liked the cliffhangers...I expected it in season 1 to 2, and it never happened (even though the Romulan threat resurfaced).

RAMA
 
Can we get a pic of that bag on the floor? I had the ep on my DVR and subsequently watched and deleted it.

I think it's certainly not in the top 10 TNG episodes, but it's not bad. It's a lot better than the majority of the first season had to offer.
 
I thought there were moments on Enterprise when Berman forgot to tell the composer to go with the drone. :D They had some guest composers on Ent for a few eps. Regeneration was one such ep.
 
The music for this episode is excellent. I put in the DVD and while listening to the 2nd season opener, played a 6th season opener, and it is a world of difference. The 2nd Season opener is far more alive and vibrant.
 
I've always liked that opening too. Really wish Berman hadn't made the fatal mistake of changing the way they did music forever and ever.
Click to expand...
Oh, yes, Berman remains a total scumbag to me for what he did to the music. I loved Ron Jones for bucking against the new restrictions, though it got him fired.
 
Glad to see how many like-minded people there are out there who noticed and disliked the direction the music took under Berman. Therin, you may know, has he ever stated why he chose the musical-wallpaper? Personal preference? I know there was a 3 hour interview done with him recently, but I didn't sit through the whole thing.
 
22 Stars said:
has he ever stated why he chose the musical-wallpaper? Personal preference?
Click to expand...

He's certainly discussed it, but I don't recall the quotes. IIRC, it was a combination of his personal preference, budget cuts (not requiring the hiring of an orchestra) in areas that wouldn't harm the show too much, a falling out with Ron Jones, and keeping pace with changes to the types of TV shows that were around at the time. There were people saying that ST was a product of the 60s and TNG hadn't shed enough links to its roots.

While music buffs were saddened by the loss of strong musical suites, many fans didn't even notice! Since the show's ratings went up each year, it was probably also an experiment that appeared to be justified.
 
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