Expert: Phineas Tarbolde - 4/12/2004

Question
Phineas -

I'm directing a short film with a TOS fantasy sequence. I have a composer who is going to "ape" the original cues for me, but I'd love to give him some specific samples.

There is, of course, fight music. But I don't want to just use the Amok Time Vulcan Mating Battle cue that everyone uses to death. I know there are other, equally Trekish fight cues.

There is also, of course, a Kirk speech. Those are usually accompanied by a rousing or inspirational cue, sometimes with the "fanfare".

I just know there is some fan out there who knows exactly what I'm looking for and exactly where to find it.

Can you point me in the right direction?

Thanks and may the Great Bird of the Galaxy etc, etc.

Jim


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Followup To
Question -
Are you an expert on TOS music?  I need some info on episode scores not on CD.
Answer -
Yes.

As long as it is music from TOS.

Answer
Jim,

Thanks very much for your question.

I know exactly what you mean.  Fortunately much of the music written for the original series was recycled and reused for cost-saving reasons.  So there really wasn't that much original score written for TV.  However not all of it has been released commercially for public consumption.

I am assuming you have the sequence from Amok Time.  If you do, it may be the recording released by GNP Crescendo.  If you don't, it may interest you to find the score from the episode "Doomsday Machine" which also has a lot of cheesy fight music.  Take note though that much of the score has the Alexander Courage fanfare theme embedded into it (some of it distorted mind you, but it may be a bit obvious).  Also, the musical themes are on the shortish side by comparison to the fight sequence on Amok time, which is an unusually long sequence in the Star Trek oeuvre.

You might also consider using music from the episode "Corbomite Maneuvre" available on Varese Sarabande Volume 1 (VCD 47235) -- classically Star Trek, yet original (i.e. no over use of the Alexander Courage Theme.)  Furthermore the sequences are fairly long.  On the same disc is the themes from "Charlie X".  They are pretty cheesey and "very" Star Trek, but again the themes are short.

Most of the Original Series Star Trek themes which are available can be found on Varese Sarabande (2 discs) and GNP Crescendo (3 discs).  There were two discs by "Label X" which were quite rare when they were available and almost impossible to find even used today.  You might want to check out the used bins/or an internet search of them.  It's got the score to Conscience of the King, Enemy Within, Paradise Syndrome, Is There in Truth No Beauty, Spectre of the Gun and I Mudd.  The Enemy Within score may be useful if you can get a hold of a copy.

Hope this help.  Don't hesitate to write again, should you need further help.

BeST regards,

Phineas Tarbolde.