Can any music experts explain to me why the TNG theme is so good? - eviltoast

There’s something about the TNG theme (played during the opening credits) that seems unique and special to my ear. But I don’t know about music and orchestral production to make sense of it.

It sounds to me like the mix or maybe arrangement is somewhat unusual, even compared to other TNG era star trek themes. It seems to have a brightness and sheen to its tones that are almost synth like (??) But also the arrangement seems to hit some sweet sci-fi spot, like the way strings and trumpets with oboes/clarinets underneath (??) all mix together? Or is the chords that are played some where?

I don’t know, but I’ve always thought it had a sheen and sparkle that almost sounds like star trek (or at least TNG star trek).

Anyone else notice something similar? Anyone know what’s going on?

    • Madison_rogue@kbin.social
      4·
      1 year ago

      Faced with composing a new Star Trek theme for the film, Goldsmith initially struggled for inspiration, and proceeded to compose as much of the score as possible before the need to develop the main title theme. His initial score for the scene in which the newly-refit Starship Enterprise is revealed to the audience was not well received by the filmmakers, director Robert Wise feeling that it lacked a strong thematic hook and evoked sailing ships. Though somewhat irked by its rejection, Goldsmith consented to re-work his initial idea and finally arrived at the Star Trek theme which was ultimately used.

      Jerry Goldsmith - Wikipedia

      The theme is distinct. I had always correlated the theme with TNG until I watched The Motion Picture several years after TNG. I did not recognize that the theme was used in both. It’s amazing because it almost didn’t exist, and was composed after pretty much the rest of the score was complete. Goldsmith had to rework it because the director wanted a “strong thematic hook.”