Star Trek: The Motion Picture

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

As any classic movie, there is bound to be a classic score. And if you mention Star Trek you are bound to find the classic score with the first movie, the first theatrical release of the sensational popular TV series. As a classic score it received this thanks to a legendary composer's vision. What better way then Goldsmith's instinctive talent then to blend his orchestral and electronic sound for a motion picture about a entity that calls itself V'Ger. Everything this score offers makes the movie and the initial score classic, the main theme, the Klingon sound, the electronic atmospheric feel and the love material. No doubt to say that Goldsmith introduced the world a theme it will never forget, now that is classic and as it what nominated for an Oscar, a classic such as Star Trek: The Motion Picture deserves the fullest praise with a soundtrack release worthy of that respect. Finally after all those years fans have got what they wanted, a double release with one disc consisting of the score, the other disc consisting of a treat for trekkies, an interview with Gene Roddenberry. It becomes classic and legendary, the fans will love the end result no matter what.

The score as of today stands proud with all the other classic releases of its time. Star Wars, Star Trek, the universe was never such an interesting place as now and the fans received the material to fit that wonder and mystical feel. Both Williams and Goldsmith's themes need no introduction anymore, everyone on the planet knows what and how they sounds like. This score however doesn't start with the famous main theme of Goldsmith, it starts lighter with one of my favorite love themes of Goldsmith's career, 'Ilia's Theme'. The main theme receives the glory in 'Main Title' before the so called blaster beam receives its attention in 'Klingon Battle', the sound that would stand for both the Klingons in the next movies as for V'Ger with its electronic almost mystical feel. But what follows next is still the treat for its accompanying scene, the beauty of Goldsmith's main theme in 'The Enterprise' and the unbelievable fanfares of majesty in 'Leaving Drydock', it are those moments that will please any Trek fan. Still, as accompanying mood, the next tracks 'The Cloud', 'Vejur Flyover' and 'The Force Field' are stunning in their creation, electronics rain, beams blast, percussions rattle and the mood becomes a stunning ballet of awe and mystery, science fiction in outer space never received such a musical palette of words before, with 'Vejur Flyover' as my personal favorite in the line. Goldsmith would also use this kind of sound for the science fiction / horror movie Poltergeist, again with a stunning result in the end.

The mood stays pretty much the same until we reach the trio that would glorify the end of Goldsmith's fantastic score, 'The Meld' is as the liner notes explain truly a biblical miracle and receives the proper score of Goldsmith before 'A Good Start' returns with the main theme and 'End Title' with both the love theme as the main theme. A truly spectacular end of a journey beyond words, beyond the boldly horizons were the Enterprise has gone. Star Trek: The Motion Picture is indeed the classic of the Star Trek repertoire and such a milestone should receive its prime release, the sound quality is very good, the material itself is present with quantity, number and Goldsmith gave the movie a stunning musical accompaniment. Science Fiction tales don't always tell stories as vividly as this but Goldsmith became legendary for doing it with each classic release, today he did it with pride for the first installment of Star Trek, boldly going is easy when you receive music that puts you there from start to finish. Not to miss if film music interests you even for a bit.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Ilia's Theme (3.02) Excellent Track

2. Main Title (1.23) Excellent Track

3. Klingon Battle (5.27) Excellent Track

4. Total Logic * (3.44)

5. Floating Office * (1.03)

6. The Enterprise (5.58) Excellent Track

7. Leaving Drydock (3.29) Excellent Track

8. Spock's Arrival * (1.58)

9. The Cloud (4.58)

10. Vejur Flyover (4.57) Excellent Track

11. The Force Field * (5.03)

12. Games * (3.41)

13. Spock Walk (4.18)

14. Inner Workings * (3.01)

15. Vejur Speaks * (3.50)

16. The Meld (3.10) Excellent Track

17. A Good Start * (2.26) Excellent Track

18. End Title (3.16) Excellent Track

* Previously Unreleased

Total Length: 65.06

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

=== Link to Composer Site: Jerry Goldsmith ===