Star Trek: The Next Generation [Original TV Soundtrack]

Right off the bat, you are hit with familiar music, but not quite as familiar as you might think. Many believe that the opening theme to Star Trek: The Next Generation is the same piece as the theme to Star Trek: The Motion Picture. This is not true. It is actually a new composition that draws heavily on both Jerry Goldsmith's score for that film and on Alexander Courage's original Star Trek theme music. It lends a nice familiarity to a mostly new environment. This soundtrack album is actually fairly listenable away from the context of the show, a definite plus in the ranks of soundtracks. That Courage theme shows up frequently in musical references, as one of the elements that tie much of the material together. The CD is also of interest to fans of composer Dennis McCarthy, because it includes material that never actually made it into the show. This one probably has a bit more to interest non-Star Trek fans because of its greater ability to stand by itself. ~ Gary Hill