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?
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Ah, the good ol’ DX7 whoooosh at beggining.
Am I the only one who kinda hates it? Maybe it is that it was made for cinema, where this kind of loud, somewhat obnoxious epic-like theme is expected, but the way how it’s trying to scream “Hey look, this guy is watching Star Trek!” while I’m just trying to chill at night, is pretty annoying.
It’s like when flicking through random TV channels and a loud sex scene comes up.
The theme does seem to be loud in the mix
Ha … yea there is some bombast for sure. In fact I think if it didn’t have the sonic qualities that I think I’m picking up on I wouldn’t like at as much for this reason.
If you compare the TNG theme to the theme in TMP, (youtube, TMP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zI9YYe-jgHI, youtube TNG: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5kcBxL7-qI), I feel like I can hear a difference and I think it’s that difference that makes me like the TNG theme … that it has a sound (not the music so much) that feels like TNG to me.
Now that you mention it, I like the TMP more. Maybe it’s just because I’ve heard the TNG theme a trillion times, but compared to TMP… I don’t know, I guess it’s like hearing a 1-minute disco remix of a song you like. The gist of it is there, but it’s not the same and kinda spoils the whole thing.
It’s certainly bombastic. I think after the disco TOS theme, they really wanted to point out how different and grand TNG will be. Even the words, changing from “its five year mission” to “it’s continuing mission” are meant to impress the viewer with the sense of scale.
It somehow manages to be very orchestral and fanfare-y but also like a normal TV show introducing actors. I love that it feels like a celebration for all the awesome characters that we’re about to watch.
Fun fact: originally, TNG was going to have a completely different theme:
Yea’ve I heard that before … I didn’t listen all the way through though … yuck!!
Speaking of unused music, the final TMP/TNG theme itself was almost different:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbdhC-OXXa0There’s an interview where they tell stories, and apparently after they made this early version of the music, Robert Wise listened to it and gave the best three word critique ever - “There’s no theme!”
Goldsmith basically went “…oh.”, then went back and reworked what he had already into the 2nd version, and there you go that’s the final theme.Actually, if you’ve watched TNG’s early seasons, you’ve already heard this unused theme, in bits and pieces.
The very first piece of music heard in TNG ever (that isn’t the intro itself) is a slower, less energetic (more introspective I guess?) version of that unused theme.
The main leitmotif itself appears all over early TNG.
I figure that, when Maccarthy was writing the early filler music, he assumed that his theme would become the main theme, and so heavily leaned into it when writing the filler music. Obviously, the main theme was tossed - but not his other music.
I think it’s because it’s so different from any of the other Star Trek themes, even from the rest of the Berman era. It’s bright, bouncy, optimistic, and bombastic. DS9 and Voyager were both more sweeping and majestic, and the movie themes each skewed more melodic.
The franchise hasn’t really captured the same energy in a theme since, either.
It’s great at giving off the feeling of hopefulness. It feels really optimistic about the future while having a sense of mystery.
TL;DR: It’s the only symphonic march. Loads of brass chord progressions.
Because Jerry Goldsmith did a great orchestral arrangement riffing on the old sci-fi 60s style theme. He made it very grand with Symphonic March style and the layered horn/trumpet progressions. It is a revision of what he had previously written for Star Trek: The Motion Picture, which might also be part of why it’s a March. So, if we look at the styles of a bunch of the the themes:
- TOS: fast 60s vocal arrangement
- TNG: symphonic march with cascading brass/french horn progressions
- DS9: Slower non-march style of symphonic theme
- VOY: Slower grand/inspiring symphonic theme
- ENT: Well, it’s a pop song.
- DISC: Very moody/pensive slow start, growing slowly to a note of inspiration.
- PIC: Similar to DISC with a very slow/moody start. Lots of melancholy layering.
- SNW: Almost between a march and mini overture in feel, but without all those cascading horn progressions that TNG had.
:)
The fact that it was originally written for a theatrical film probably helps.
Oh … I don’t know anything about that … ?TMP … ah nearly forgot. Literally walked away from writing this post thinking “wait a minute … I have heard it outside of TNG …”.
Yea, interesting, hadn’t considered that. Thanks.
Ha … yea I remembered after forgetting … thanks!
Watching that video it seems to me that there’s something different in the mix that is part of what I’m talking about. I’m young enough to have seen TNG before TMP and I remember noticing this when I first watched TMP and heard the same theme. The sort of sheen that I’m talking about is more present in the TNG theme. I think the violins are EQd higher and are louder in the mix (??)
I believe it’s a re-arrangement and re-recording, yeah.
Re-arranged for a smaller orchestra, and more energetic (most noticeable in the percussion)
Yeah, basically they took the intro Dennis McCarthy wrote for TNG, and replaces his theme with the TMP theme
I think you can be forgiven for forgetting about TMP.
I know I try to.
