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Editorial - Music and Melody: Courage and Goldsmith

Since its beginnings, Star Trek has been inherently associated with soaring melodic overtures. Each successive series has had its own powerful introduction with the same being the case for all of the movies.

By Dentari Fri 20 Feb, 2015 9:00 PM - Last Updated: Sun 03 Apr, 2016 11:27 PM
Since its beginnings, Star Trek has been inherently associated with soaring melodic overtures. Each successive series has had its own powerful introduction with the same being the case for all of the movies.[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]

The orchestral suites of Trek have become, for the most part, indelibly linked to one man: Jerry Goldsmith. Goldsmith captured that epic scale of technology, personality and most importantly adventure which are crucial elements in Star Trek. Having penned the scores for such films and series as Star Trek: The Motion Picture, The Next Generation and Voyager, Goldsmith quickly came to be considered the dominant musical influence over the franchise. Whilst his reputation is justified, he is not the sole individual responsible for the musical direction of Star Trek.

The iconic Original Series theme has permeated into popular culture and is now instantly recognizable around the world. Even those who cannot tell a phaser from a tricorder know that this piece of music is Star Trek. A tune that has this much resonance cannot be disregarded. Whilst the theme is clearly approaching legendary status, its composer is overshadowed by his own composition and is left relatively unknown despite the gravitas of his creation.

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Size:  36.3 KBAlexander Courage is the man behind Star Trek's famous theme.Alexander Courage composed and recorded what was then known as “Where No Man Has Gone Before” in 1964 at the request of Gene Roddenberry. Courage was actually recommended to Roddenberry by none other than Jerry Goldsmith, who had already turned down the opportunity to compose the original theme for the franchise which he would later dominate. So it was that by these unexpected events we have been left with the quintessential Star Trek opening. The theme is very much a product of its time. At the peak of the '60s musical revolution this theme was released alongside the likes of the Beatles film and album A Hard Day's Night.

The 1960s was a period of experimentation, adventure, liberalism and idealism. In no realm is this rise in societal self-awareness best expressed than in music. Music is after all one of the defining aspects of the 1960s, and the ideals behind Star Trek and its theme are no different. Where No Man Has Gone Before evokes this same spirit of adventure, mystery and freedom which is synonymous with the '60s, as is Star Trek: The Original Series itself. The rise and fall of the orchestra as the Enterprise whooshes past repeatedly, the retro font, Shatner's monologue. All of this combined evokes wonder and intrigue. It is even worth noting that the whooshing noise of the Enterprise in the opening credits is created by Alexander Courage's own voice. So in many ways he really is the unappreciated voice behind Star Trek as we know it.

It can be argued that the spiritual successor to Courage's Trek theme is the main title of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Structurally identical to Star Trek: The Motion Picture's main track in all but a handful of ways, this piece is one of Goldsmith's finest compositions. Cannibalizing aspects of music from The Motion Picture and The Original Series, Goldsmith blends this selection together into a powerful and rousing opening piece for the continuation of an already cult status franchise.

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Size:  32.9 KBJerry Goldsmith arranged TNG's graceful theme.Unlike Where No Man Has Gone Before, TNG's theme is not so much a product of its time. Rather than being unashamedly brash, bright and very much a product of the late '80s, TNG's main title at first glance seems reflective. It hearkens back to its '60s counterpart, yet there is no denying that the two themes are distinctly different. TNG's theme to me is grounded and strong. A very powerful presence – confident, but not as garish as its predecessor. This fits TNG perfectly. It exudes the notion that we have advanced far beyond the wild and earlier days of the Federation as we see it in The Original Series. Instead we are meeting the more mature, refined and regimented Federation circa one hundred years down the line. This is by no means a condemnation of either of these two fantastic themes, in fact it is a compliment.

Whether by some degree of luck or by the skill and attention to detail of both Courage and Goldsmith, both themes perfectly represent the style, substance and thematic direction of their respective shows. The fact that one so fittingly leads into the other just makes me appreciate Star Trek on a whole new, much grander, level. Regardless of the intent, both composers brought Star Trek to life in the greatest way they knew how. They caught the emotion and excitement of fans worldwide and as the decades passed by, their pieces lost none of their potency.

WHICH STAR TREK THEME IS YOUR FAVORITE?
TELL US IN THE COMMENTS BELOW!

WRITTEN BY DENTARI
EDITED BY FLICKY
4 Comments
Fri 20 Feb, 2015 10:00 PM
Well done Dentari! Thanks for sharing!
Sun 22 Feb, 2015 10:24 AM
Great Article.

While i love both iconic fanfares i think the best intro (to me) is the one of VOY.

The overall best musical Star Trek musical piece is still the melody from the TNG episode "The Inner Light":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4y_oWBiwAo
As orchestral suite:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyYhbC0MXlY
Sun 22 Feb, 2015 11:36 PM
Fantastic Article Dentari! Thank you for bringing this to us! I found it to be very informative. I think both the TOS and TNG themes resonate the most with me. While, I would say Voyager is definitely a close second. Oddly, I found the DS9 theme dull.

And I definitely agree with Wesstan with regards to "The Inner Light" musical piece. I loved it the moment I heard it.
Mon 23 Feb, 2015 8:08 PM
Absolutely amazing.

Thank you for this.