The Best of Stargate SG-1: Season 1 (Compilation)

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

You have probably noticed it, but Stargate SG-1 has received quite a following the last couple of years. The television series is doing well and the series create a good developed pace and story. And the people that have seen it somewhere will definitely be pleased by the opening minute of music, when David Arnold's outstanding theme makes its entrance under the arrangement of Joel Goldsmith. Several years ago, there has been a release of the Television music, at least the first episode which was all Joel Goldsmith's doing. How well that score was, I thought it was hard liking someone else's work while it used almost practically the same thematic material as the original score by Arnold. Now, with this score, we can finally see what each composer created of music and what each style sounds like. Richard Band and Dennis McCarthy receive each one suite, Kevin Kiner (of Wing Commander) a few and Joel Goldsmith the most (because he is the original composer). The Best of Stargate SG-1: Season 1 becomes through this a most enjoyable score with several surprises but this is not another Stargate and the lack of a true orchestral pumping voice (which the Stargate SG-1 soundtrack contained) makes it somewhat minor in excellence.

The theme is the one we all know but the real difference lies in the suites from the several composers. 'Suite from The Enemy Within' of Dennis McCarthy and Kevin Kiner sounds distinctly Star Trek Generations like with its militaristic approach and synthesized choir and Kiner's own 'Torment of Tantalus' shows a remarkable change with containing in the first minute a true jazz moment of music. The best moments and tracks on this score are surprisingly the mellow and soft emotional pieces of music. While I thought I was getting orchestral powerhouse moments of score, it are the soft and elegant themes that make this score truly enjoyable. 'Cold Lazarus' of Richard Band shows remarkable emotion because it contains light choral accompaniment and especially the main theme of Stargate transported on piano, this especially must work on screen because it also seems to be a very special scene in the episode. 'Thor's Hammer' of Joel Goldsmith is special because it contains choral chanting in the begin but mostly, a different array of instrumentation at the end. Especially the flute and guitar portraying Thor's gate works remarkably well and is a breath of fresh air. And last but not least, the best part is found in Goldsmith's own Emmy nominated 'The Nox', this contains a touching, mystical theme for the planet and the population and is very good stuff. At times the score of Insurrection of his father (with of course the idyllic theme for the Ba'Ku) spooks through my head but no way does this sound that way in tone. It is the best part of the score and surely feels quite welcome on this release.

The rest is good but not containing this special touch the others carried. For instance a difference in use of the Stargate theme in 4, ethnic instruments in 8 or an Egyptian based musical score in 9. It all carries something but nothing that special. Still, the lack of the own themes of Arnold is refreshing even though they make an appearance once and a while, with for instance the most the own Stargate theme (with powerful momentum at the end of 'Emancipation') or the evil violin theme of Ra in 7, 8 and 10. This makes The Best of Stargate especially pleasing in its originality factor, but not in the sheer excellence of musical score. This is good television music (more very good music) but considering then its whereabouts as also movie music, it is lacking some spunk. Especially because I consider it mostly synthesized music, the comparison between track 10 and for instance 11 (which is composed by The Seattle Symphony Orchestra) is noticeable but not irritating. Due to the budget, some things are acceptable in situations like this. Again The Best of Stargate SG-1: Season 1 is a very good score if you want that diversity, that music drawn away from the original. But people like me kinda wished it contained some orchestral spunk and bravura. Good television music but not excellent one.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Stargate SG-1: Main Title (David Arnold, arranged by Joel Goldsmith) (1.02)

2. Suite From The Enemy Within (Dennis McCarthy & Kevin Kiner) (6.45)

3. Suite From Cold Lazarus (Richard Band) (6.09)

4. Suite From Emancipation (Kevin Kiner) (3.35)

5. Suite From Torment Of Tantalus (Kevin Kiner) (10.13)

6. Suite From Thor's Hammer (Joel Goldsmith) (7.31)

7. Suite From The Nox (Joel Goldsmith) (10.01)

8. Suite From Hathor (Joel Goldsmith) (6.44)

9. Suite From Tin Man (Joel Goldsmith) (6.56)

10. Suite From Within The Serpent's Grasp (Joel Goldsmith) (8.42)

11. Stargate SG-1: End Credits * (Joel Goldsmith) (0.58)

* Performed by The Seattle Studio Symphony

Total Length: 68.54

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=== Link to Composer Sites: Joel Goldsmith, Richard Band, Kevin Kiner & Dennis McCarthy