Star Trek IV The Voyage Home

Star Trek IV The Voyage HomeComposer: Leonard Rosenman

Label: MCA
Release Date: 1986-11-26
Conductor: Leonard Rosenman

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Track Listing

01 Main Title (2:39)
02 The Whaler (2:00)
03 Market Street (4:37)
04 Cras: Whale Fugue (8:15)
05 Ballad Of The Whale (4:59)
06 Gillian Seeks Kirk (2:41)
07 Chekov's Run (1:19)
08 Time Travel (1:28)
09 Hospital Chase (1:14)
10 The Probe (1:16)
11 Home Again: End Credits (5:37)

Total Length: 36:10

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Reviewed by James - Grade: D
Perhaps the most divisive Trek score, this reviewer falls squarely into the Not Very Good camp.

When "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home" was released in theatres, some film music fans must have been a little confused. What was Leonard Rosenman, one of Hollywood's most serious artists and the composer of dark and dramatic fare like "Rebel Without a Cause" and "Pork Chop Hill" doing on this picture, the most silly and comedic of the Trek movies?

Whether because the music was that good or because of the popularity of the film (it was the most successful of the original series), Rosenman scored an Academy Award nomination, the only Trek film besides Goldsmith's original to achieve that honor. So it must have been awesome music! And certainly a worthy follow-up to Horner's work on the previous movies. Right?

There are two misconceptions to clear up here. First, it really was not that strange for Rosenman to work in science fiction ("Fantastic Voyage" and two "Planet of the Apes" movies), and while he took his music and music theory very seriously, he was certainly capable of working in a more light hearted vein. The other misconception is that Star Trek IV is any good. Because let me tell you - it's not.

Some people love this score. Some people like the music, but find it inappropriate in the Trek universe. I both don't like the music and I find it inappropriate. Oh, Rosenman tries to give us a grand and majestic new title theme, but instead gives us a cheery fanfare that would be more appropriate at a Renaissance Fair and just seems cobbled together from his own, vastly superior work in the animated "Lord of the Rings." At least the fanfare is somewhat memorable. The rest of the score is filled with forgettable filler, unmemorable action, or dated and painful disco. Ugh.

There is an exception. There are two fast paced and fun little cues - "Hospital Chase" and "Chekov's Run," two lively scherzos that are the highlights of the album. Some folks think even these cues are too cheery and silly for a Trek score. I think they are actually very appropriate considering their placement in the film. Its fun music and it is a shame both these cues combined last only a two and a half minutes. Bogus.

I don't mean to badmouth Rosenman himself - he was an innovative and important composer with a lot of great works in his filmography. But "Star Trek IV" just up isn't up to par - not as a Star Trek score, not as a science fiction score, and certainly not an Oscar-nominated score. Horner must have been pissed!


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