Star Trek The Motion Picture - Original Main Title

[Numinous20111]

For Horner fans, I need to explain why Goldsmith's score is designed the way it is. Star Trek is set in the future, therefore the music has to be a little unfamiliar in style, though still orchestral. The naval metaphor has to be incorporated, as well as a sense of exploration and nobility of spirit. Since TMP is a more abstract, impersonal story, the score has to work on those terms too. I like Horner's ST music, but Goldsmith was a better dramatic FILM music comp6ser. No offence intended.

[rohansrider]

Wisely, they retained the theme for Next Generation.

[DefconWarningSystem]

I remember when this movie first came out, I was surprised at how different this theme was from the Star Trek theme we all knew and loved. But now, this theme is just as much Star Trek as the original is.

[TheArtsyTuber]

Vger Disliked this video.

[soaphelps]

the motion ppicture yes and also the next generation

[ndalum75]

I feel like this is for The Next Generation. Did they reuse the theme?

[SMUPony]

@ndalum75 More or less, yes.

[qwuezalothus]

@ndalum75

I was surprised myself when I first saw this movie. The theme of TNG was originally made for this movie. Such a shame it didn't win Oscar!

[chrismc410]

@ndalum75 The other way around. This was TMPs theme, they reused it for TNG.

[tyber2010]

This is the original intro for the 1979 movie, there is a remastered intro for the movie when it was remastered in 2001.

[72281livefreeordie]

THIS theme marks the epic journey for the Enterprise crew as they embark on a long film series!!!

[d3w1c8]

Jerry Goldsmith! The most boldly going Trek theme EVER!

[InnerspacePictures]

This is the single greatest theme song for any movie ever, IMO.

[RedOnyxProductions]

This theme brought Star Trek sound tracks to an amazing height, one that I don't any other theme reached.

[SuperSaiyanAl]

What about James Horner's scores for Star Trek II and III? I consider those the very best in the film series, not to knock Goldsmith (or, for that matter, Michael Giacchino).

[RedOnyxProductions]

@SuperSaiyanAl True Horner's themes were very good. Maybe it is just that this is the first Trek movie I watched and the music really made a big impression.

[soonerdew]

@SuperSaiyanAl No offense, but Horner couldn't hold Goldsmith's jock. I get so sick of hearing Horner's retread work in virtually every movie he scores; I swear I've heard duplicative elements from his TWoK score in at least a half-dozen other movies. Goldsmith's effort for TMP is a legendary piece of movie music, and perhaps the last of an era of grand movie musical scores. It is truly a masterpiece, one Horner couldn't possibly match.

[SuperSaiyanAl]

Then I suppose that's a matter of opinion, because the two Star Trek scores that James Horner provided are among my favorites of all time.

[DOMuricu]

@soonerdew Have to agree with you. Movie scores have been seriously declining in quality and originality since the early 1990's and it was already evident in the 1980's. Admittedly the Star Trek movies Horner scored were very different to TMP, which required a very specific kind of score. I'd still rate Goldsmith's score as possibly his best and it's initial impact and continuing popularity, despite being a cerebral/asbract score, speaks volumes.

[tripsadelica]

@soonerdew So right about Horner re-using his old themes! Want to hear ST-TWOK? Just fire up the soundtrack to "Krull"! Goldsmith's work here was nothing short of genius...probably his finest compositions ever were brought together in ST-TMP. Vale, Jerry Goldsmith!

[wlt777]

I think this "Epic" Star Trek theme song should've been used in the (2009) Star Trek film!

[TheNewEmphinix]

This was used for The Next Generation. It is very epic!

[alucard624]

Thanks for posting this version of the main title, as I always thought it had a more triumphant percussion sound to it than the one used in the directors cut and the soundtrack album. At 0:10 when the percussion kicks in on the main theme, the crash is louder and I have always liked that better than the album version.

[Xwingpilot]

I think I DO prefer to stick with this version of the movie rather than the director's cut as well

[dafmurray]

This is probably my favourite opening credits film music. Goldsmith had to establish several elements quickly with this theme and arrangement. The nobility of 23rd Century humanity; the spirit of exploration; the naval metaphor for Starfleet; the huge scope of the film (i.e. this is not the TV show). The main theme also suggests the rather stately paced/sober/abstract nature of the story to come. That's a lot to get across with one theme.

[arthurzanoni]

@dafmurray i know it's unpopular, but...talking about music themes....i like buck rogers theme too. even if this is my favourite too.

[DOMuricu]

@arthurzanoni Do you mean the Stu Philips music for the Glen Larson TV Buck Rodgers. That's a favourite of a lot of people even if it's a surprise that it isn't a march.

[SpaceBoyProductions1]

this is one of the best themes. but i think the motion picture is not that good of a star trek film, the original series, star trek II search for spock and star trek V the final frontier are my favs.

[matt123313]

I think this version of Star Trek The Motion Picture is better than the directors cut. I think the vger fly over is better!!!

[shmouts]

fuck the next generation

[sewdavicious]

Where can I get this for MP3 download?

[Bartman954]

Youtube Downloader.

[dafmurray]

Definitely better than the soundtrack album's arrangement (also used in the Director's Edition). Why did Goldsmith change the arrangement?

[speedporn]

It's the same recording. The music in the theatrical cut wasn't a final mix - the scoring sessions for TMP were barely finished in time for the release date (just a week to go) and the final sound mix was therefore a bit rough and ready. For the album and the subsequent Director's Cut, the recording was remixed... virtually obliterating the percussion. I prefer the original mix like most people seem to, ironically. The final mix lacks punch.

[Lx3IV]

I actually prefer this version over the Director's Cut version.

[Bartman954]

@Lx3IV

Get the "Final Frontier-Legends" box set. The film's music is untouched.

[JonathanSolana]

The sounds suspiciously like the arrangement used for TNG... Just a thought....

[kirkrules66]

@JonathanSolana

It was used for TNG although slightly remixed but it is the same exact theme.

[15willywonka]

I miss the original main title of the movie for years now. I used to like this before I heard the new one from the Director's Edition of the movie.

[sewdavicious]

Yeah They used the studio version for the directors edition but have you noticed that for the beginning of ST:TNG's main title on the soundtrack has more percussion than the actual series?

[dondonp12004]

Cool! BTW, the "newer version" that was heard in the Director's Cut was actually heard in the film's score album. Another thing: STAR TREK is a trademark of CBS Studios, Inc., due to the "Viacom Split of 2005". Anyhow, thanks for uploading. Live long and prosper!

[aweboy]

Thanks for the info! I'll update the description.

[FishfilmInc]

@aweboy Hey, I have a better quality version of this.

[FishfilmInc]

@aweboy here it is: watch?v=VqBwoXG6iAg&feature=re­lated

[kargaroc386]

which means the airing of star trek on NBC would NEVER happen today. it would always be on CBS :(

[dondonp12004]

Yes, the reason why CBS owns "Star Trek" is because of the Viacom split back in 2005. The old Viacom changed its name to the CBS Corporation and kept Paramount Television and KingWorld, now known as CBS Television Studios and CBS Television Distribution, respectively, and created a spinoff company that carries the Viacom name. The new Viacom owns Paramount Pictures. BTW, CBS aired 1989's "Star Trek V: The Final Frontier" in '92.

[dafmurray]

I was so disappointed when I bought the original Columbia LP soundtrack and the main titles arrangement was different to the film version. This is the purest and most majestic of all Goldsmith's arrangement of the ST theme. The stripped back orchaestration only enchances how appropriate the theme is for the film. I thought the album version sounded a bit clumsy in comparison.

[deckard97]

@dafmurray did your copy of the lp have the track listing on the jacket? Mine did not,had to memorize it from the Red Label on the vinyl-seemed to rushed (the production of the soundtrack album)

[deckard97]

@dafmurray did your copy of the lp have the track listing on the jacket? Mine did not,had to memorize it from the Red Label on the vinyl-seemed too rushed (the production of the soundtrack album)

[fingrid]

This proves that symphony music is not always artistically repetitious and boring. Even I like this piece.

[kirkrules66]

@fingrid

Agreed Theatrical version of opening > Director's edition of opening. Can't beat the original no matter how much one tries to remix it.