STAR TREK: INSURRECTION

JERRY GOLDSMITH

Rating:

Original Review: The crew of The Next Generation are back, and this time they're better than ever. In a deliberate attempt to recapture the tone of the TV series, Star Trek: Insurrection pitches Captain Jean-Luc Picard and his crew into a battle for the future of a garden of Eden-type planet, Ba'ku, which is being systematically de-populated by an unscrupulous Federation Admiral in collaboration with a strange race of beings known as the Son'a. What makes Insurrection so successful as a movie is the interplay between the characters (especially Riker and Troi, who are fabulous), and the generally more relaxed and informal nature of the proceedings. Add into this mix a couple of awesome space battles and even a chaste love affair for old baldy himself, and you've got the best Trek movie since The Wrath of Khan way back in 1982.

The other thing about Star Trek: Insurrection is that, in parts, it has the most un-Star Trek like music ever written for a Star Trek movie. Jerry Goldsmith, scoring his fourth adventure, boldly goes where no split infinitive has gone before and gives the listener the best of both of his musical worlds, endowing the ninth instalment with plenty of his trademarked exciting action fare, as well as one of the most attractive and delicate melodies he has composed for a good few years. First appearing in 'Ba'ku Village' after Alexander Courage's opening fanfare has died down, the new theme is a soft, almost idyllic melody for harps, light strings and airy flutes which creates an air of calm and serenity redolent of the peace-loving people it represents. Although I was initially disappointed not to get another rip-roaring main title, the Ba'ku theme has grown on me enormously the more I have heard it.

It is developed into an attractive secondary theme in 'Children's Story', is performed to bring things to a close in the penultimate 'The Healing Process', and is given a rapturous full-on emotional statement during the beginning of the glorious 'New Sight', a beautiful scene in which Geordi La Forge, having recently regained "normal" vision, experiences a sunset for the first time. As the score progresses, though, the tranquillity is gradually shattered by cue after cue of Goldsmith's powerful action music, and in many subsequent tracks Jerry's undisputed talent for creating music that bursts with life and energy and crackles with power shines through.

'Not Functioning' is a barnstormer, underscoring the scene where a malfunctioning Data attacks the Enterprise shuttle craft, and the cue reverberates to strong horn blasts, bold, sweeping stringwork and rippling electronic effects. 'The Drones Attack', 'The Riker Maneuver' and 'No Threat' all feature similar orchestrations and, although their style is somewhat reminiscent of the action cues from Goldsmith's U.S. Marshals score, they generate a wonderful sense of tension and excitement. 'The Drones Attack' also features a sneaky recapitulation of the dramatic Klingon theme, used here as a heroic leitmotif for Worf. For the 'End Credits', Goldsmith has again come up with a medley of the score's main themes, bookended by two powerful performances of his near-legendary Star Trek theme, performed with a grandeur and flair that really hammers home the fact that, after hearing it muted down over the credits of the Star Trek: The Next Generation TV series year after year, you tend to forget just what a damn good tune it is.

As is always the case with Star Trek scores, GNP Crescendo will undoubtedly have another big-seller on their hands. Although die-hard fans of more raucous music will probably dismiss the lovely Ba'ku theme as being too soft and light, aficionados who appreciate the combination of and juxtaposition between beauty and battles will find much to enjoy here.

Track Listing: Running Time: 44 minutes 52 seconds

GNP Crescendo GNPD-8059 (1998)

Music composed and conducted by Jerry Goldsmith. Orchestrations by Alexander Courage. Features music from the Star Trek television series, composed by Alexander Courage. Recorded and mixed by Bruce Botnick. Edited by Bruce Botnick and Ken Hall. Mastered by Bruce Botnick. Album produced by Jerry Goldsmith.


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