Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

The few lucky ones are those who get into the film music A-list and make it by scoring large efforts. Not only is a Star Trek feature a very big thing but Cliff Eidelman also had the opportunity to score the last Star Trek movie with the full original cast, meaning this is sacred ground for Trekkies and he would better not disappoint. But obviously, director Nicholas Meyer knew what he was doing and hired the right composer for the job. I find the movie different from the other ones but equally interesting for that matter, and has especially an amazing suspension building tone when the spaceships are battling each other. In also other words, Star Trek VI isn't a normal Trek score because it contains darker passages of sound, ethnic material that locates the setting and some impressive building sequences of music, but more just 24 year old Cliff Eidelman succeeded in a score that never disappointed and can be called the best Trek score Goldsmith or Horner didn't score. And for those who are wondering, the captain and his crew receive a musical salute worthy of attention.

The begin and end are the best, and the middle somewhat struggles but no way is this a bad score. The begin offers already the threatening dark passage with 'Overture' which will be released the best in the last track. For once the mood is light with a very interesting main "Alexander Courage" theme performance in 'Clear all Moorings' but for the most part the score is dark and mysteriously unknown, like the great action music during 'Assassination', which even involves some good choral accompaniment. Also ethnic material is used to transport the listener to Rura Penthe, the forbidden facility in were Kirk and Bones are captured and contained. Nonetheless, the best musical moments are the last three tracks, with first an interesting action battle in space in the 8 minute 'The Battle for Peace' (this piece really rocks in the great tradition of space battle music). The relieved and brightly 'Sign Off' is a perfect finishing piece while the one head character after the other puts his signature on the screen for the last time, the music really shines on this occasion and the excellent 'Star Trek VI Suite' is a nice summarization of the main theme music.

In all respect, Cliff Eidelman really portrayed class and intelligence when scoring this musical coffin. Because fail and you have not only insulted the fans of one of the biggest series but also jeopardized the chances of breaking through in the music business. Surprisingly, Cliff Eidelman succeeded but didn't break through which makes it the more sad for the fans that enjoy a piece of Eidelman. Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country is a dark but perfect fitting score and offers some of his most inventive musical developments and not only fans of Eidelman but also the main Star Trek fans will enjoy its outcome. I have never been a really big fan of the music, but this composition (no matter how dark it sounds and that the middle doesn't really run sky high) can amuse me with its bright spots. And hopefully Eidelman can show his orchestral capabilities a little more often with efforts that demand a new fresh look.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Overture (2.56)

2. An Incident (0.52)

3. Clear All Moorings * (1.39)

4. Assassination (4.44)

5. Surrender For Peace (2.42)

6. Death Of Gorkon (1.09)

7. Rura Penthe (4.22)

8. Revealed (2.37)

9. Escape From Rura Penthe (5.32)

10. Dining On Ashes (0.59)

11. The Battle For Peace (8.01)

12. Sign Off * (3.12) Excellent Track

13. Star Trek VI Suite (6.17) Excellent Track

* Contains Theme From "Star Trek" TV Series from Alexander Courage

Total Length: 45.17

The use of artwork or photos is posted for non profitable reasons

=== Link to Composer Site: Cliff Eidelman ===