u/cbnnexus

From Jerry Goldsmith's extraordinary theme introduced in The Motion Picture - operating at levels of Stravinsky in "The Enterprise" track - inventing instruments to incite a scale and grandeur not yet heard in film music, and creating the Klingon theme, all in one film. Not to mention his beautiful overture setting the stage for all of Star Trek to follow. RIP Jerry Goldsmith.

James Horner absolutely knocked it out of the park with some of the best Star Trek music we've ever gotten, deftly weaving Jerry Goldsmith's work into his own themes for The Wrath of Khan. Some of the best film music I have ever heard - nay, some of the best music period that can be heard on this earth - is at roughly 5:30 of "Genesis Countdown," inciting intense feelings of beauty and bittersweetness. I'm not a professional musician and I lack the vernacular to describe it, but the dissonance of hope and desperate need in that musical moment is truly special.

Don't forget Cliff Eidelman's amazing score for Star Trek VI - the opening track intentionally echoes Stravinsky's The Firebird, and when he opens up the orchestra in "Escape from Rura Penthe," it's some of the most beautiful music we've heard in any sci-fi film.

Jerry Goldsmith brought it home for the rest of the film franchise, along with contributions from his son Joel (you can hear this in the opening track to First Contact), who later went on to score Stargate SG-1 before his own untimely death - even before his father's.

Michael Giacchino also brought a fresh sense of adventure and boldness to his own new Star Trek theme. "Enterprising Young Men" is a standout favorite and has earned its own place in the musical legacy of Star Trek.

And the modern Trek era has its own musical riches. Jeff Russo - an Emmy winner for Fargo and co-founder of the rock band Tonic - has become the musical backbone of new Trek, composing the scores and themes for Discovery, Picard, Strange New Worlds, and Starfleet Academy (the latter also featuring additional music from hip-hop legend Dan the Automator). Nami Melumad, the first woman to compose for a Star Trek series, delivered a beautiful score for Prodigy and contributed to Strange New Worlds. Stephen Barton and Frederik Wiedmann brought gorgeous orchestral callbacks to the film scores in Picard Season 3. And Chris Westlake brought real heart to Lower Decks, even at its most absurd.

We are so, so lucky to have such incredible music. Nothing comes close outside of a few key franchises from Mr. Williams - Star Wars, Harry Potter ("Mischief Managed" is probably one of the best all-encompassing tracks for any franchise, by the way).

Let's all take a moment to come together and appreciate this - regardless of your take on old or new Trek. We have the best music.