Who is the best Star Trek composer?

[gottacook]

A good point of contrast is the recycled drydock sequence in Khan vs. the original TMP launch music. Both are great, but Goldsmith is going for epic and sense of wonder where as Horner is adventure and heroism. So whichever you like depends on what you're in the mood for.

The real point of comparison would be: What if Horner had to score a drydock scene as long as the one in TMP?

But generally I agree: Horner (who also did very nice work in Brainstorm around this same time) earned his chance to score TSFS and ought to have been able to do TVH as well - only (as I understand it) Nimoy was a pal and/or neighbor of Rosenman's, and gave it to him.

 

[Tulin]

Slightly off topic but further to mos's first point above, if you've ever seen the Horner interview on the "Aliens" extended documentary, you'd certainly feel his pain there.

As brilliant a visionary as Cameron was(past tense intended), he had NO idea about music scoring for films and the exact timings needed for cues and themes. I remember watching that interview for the first time and thinking Cameron and Hurd were total fucking pricks to Horner.

 

[TREK_GOD_1]

Slightly off topic but further to mos's first point above, if you've ever seen the Horner interview on the "Aliens" extended documentary, you'd certainly feel his pain there.

As brilliant a visionary as Cameron was(past tense intended), he had NO idea about music scoring for films and the exact timings needed for cues and themes. I remember watching that interview for the first time and thinking Cameron and Hurd were total fucking pricks to Horner.

You are not kidding. Some have referred to their treatment as completely dismissive of the importance of scoring (acting as if it can be slapped together like an erector set). Then again, they are not the most sensitive or creative of filmmakers, so their behavior should not be too much of a surprise.

 

[tharpdevenport]

Here's Horner talking about the horrors of having to deal with "Aliens":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzati0Am5GE

 

[eyeresist]

If I locate it, I'll let you know. It's been several years, I don't even remember where. But here's the one about "Robocop":
http://www.filmscoremonthly.com/articles/2008/13_Aug---The_Life_Of_Leonard_Rosenman_Part_Seven.asp

He says The Third Man score only had one theme. It had one main theme, but there were other tunes as well.

 

[Tulin]

It's a miracle and thanks to Horner's own skill and gifts that the "Aliens" score turned out as well as it did within the movie!

It's also a testament to how good it is that I was actually just listening to it at work today while I sat at my desk.

 

[CaptainJon]

My vote goes to Mr. Goldsmith, though I do feel that Eidelman did a fantastic and unique job with The Undiscovered Country. Horner's definitely good, too, but he didn't bring the diversity that Goldsmith did with each of his entries. Aside from his Klingon theme music for The Search for Spock, there's not much in TSFS that's different from TWoK.

 

[Cyclonus]

I'd definitely choose Goldsmith as the best overall composer on this list. Along with Alexander Courage, he helped to define the overall feel of the Trek universe. I do tend to associate him more with TNG, though, since I started watching the show before seeing TMP in its entirety. (Unfortunately his later work is more generic, though I liked the main title for FC.)

James Horner is definitely a close second, and the one I usually identify with the TOS movies.

 

[Iamnotspock]

I'd take Goldsmith from this list without much contemplation. Throw in Alexander Courage and I'd have a tough choice. Gerald Fried would by my third pick.

That's crazy. Goldsmith and Horner's only decent film scores were for LOONEY TUNES BACK IN ACTION and HUMANOIDS FROM THE DEEP. Rosenman totally outmatches them note for note, and has ten times the variety. Rosenman isn't just the only, the ultimate TREK composer. He's the finest, most consistently versatile musical composer in human history. I just realized that today.

As bad as Goldsmith always is, his TMP score is the all-out worst of his five. It can't hold a candle to NEMESIS, which flawed as it is, ranks as a comparative triumph. I've come to realize that too today.

Thanks. That made my evening.

 

[Mudd]

Goldsmith is flat-out the best.

 

[Cyclonus]

I'd also have to add that Rosenman is my least favorite on the list. At least, I remember the main theme for TVH to be rather "meh." The other two are pretty decent but don't have the same punch as either Goldsmith or Horner.

 

[Smellmet]

Goldsmith is flat-out the best.

It would have been interesting to see what Horner would have done with the later Trek gigs that Jerry got though. As much as I adore Horners work we've only got those two, relatively early films in the franchise to judge him.

For the record the scores of ST1-3 for me are head and shoulders above the others.

 

[Kor]

Goldsmith's music was quite cinematic and grand; unbeatable in my opinion.
I found Horner's to be a bit too militaristic, but it definitely fits the tone of Meyer Trek.
I thought Eidelman's score was a bit of a mess, just like the movie, but it's probably more the fault the editing process.

Kor

 

[Jeyl]

Jerry Goldsmith. Not only did he create my favorite Star Trek theme when he did TMP, but he also managed to do it without Gene Roddenberry ripping him off. Just imagine...

"Star Trek: The Motion Picture" Theme created by Jerry Goldsmith and Gene Roddenberry

 

[Kor]

"Beyond the rim of starliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight...."

Kor

 

[Smellmet]

I found Horner's to be a bit too militaristic, but it definitely fits the tone of Meyer Trek.Kor

I can agree with this statement. You've got a point, but I adore the Meyer stuff in 2&3, even if a lot of it is repeated. Perfect example is the Enterprise theft, the first shot of the Enterprise reversing with that theme - It just can't be topped - from that point it's several minutes of goosebumps ahead. Just perfect.

 

[eyeresist]

Jerry Goldsmith. Not only did he create my favorite Star Trek theme when he did TMP, but he also managed to do it without Gene Roddenberry ripping him off. Just imagine...

"Star Trek: The Motion Picture" Theme created by Jerry Goldsmith and Gene Roddenberry

Lyrics:
Now we are trekking through stars
We're trekking through stars just like in the sixties....

 

[suarezguy]

Goldsmith was the best, great range and very fitting for what the films tried to do.