Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
Cliff Eidelman
" To boldly go where Cliff Eidelman never went again "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
To boldly go where no one has gone before. Well, this pretty much sums up Cliff Eidelman on Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. Because it was frankly unseen how this talented composer suddenly received the chance of a lifetime, the mother of all opportunities. The final movie of the original cast signing off. Stepping in the footsteps of the great Jerry Goldsmith and James Horner, Cliff Eidelman was suddenly on board a franchise that had to make things right, after William Shatner's funny but ultimately failed attempt at directing Star Trek V. And given the fact Nicholas Meyer (of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan) made one of the strongest movies of the franchise, it was only logical Meyer would bring back James Horner for a third attempt at Star Trek music. Yet somehow due to financial budgetary reasons, the great Horner was too expensive. Thus going back to the same technique that gave filmmusic fans a boost of energetic proportions, namely giving young unknown talent a chance. In 1982 it worked wonders for James Horner, this time it gave Cliff Eidelman his chance to soar amongst the stars.
And like James Horner, it turned out to be a great choice. In a way it is illogical to apprehend, but somehow Cliff Eidelman put himself in the midsts of the great Goldsmith / Horner through one original Star Trek score. Star Trek VI was not only a refreshing original Star Trek movie, it also delivered a fresh original score. Well not totally original considering somehow Eidelman had to infuse the tone of Gustav Holst's The Planets into his music (Meyer attempted to use edited suites of this classical music at first, but ultimately it wasn't possible due to again budgetary restraints, and perhaps even more editing concerns). So Eidelman may had to follow a certain distinct sound for this ultimately gloomy science fiction spectacle, it nonetheless gave him a chance to deliver perhaps the most original Star Trek score to date.
"Overture" simply tells us everything we need to know about Star Trek VI. Opening with the ominous bad guy theme, continuing to state the Holst effect that gets added heroic color through the ingenious insertions of little Star Trek hints, to end with the excellent battle music and its relentless energetic rhythms. This opening cue sums up the strengths of Eidelman's music, most specifically the use of drums and strings to add the tension and the lack of time in the final battle sequence.
And through this prologue, we are handed the sounds Cliff Eidelman will work with for the remainder of this adventure. Sounds that return often, if perhaps even too much now on this extended version. During the middle, all we hear are the sinister sounds of the conspiracy, the threatening darkness that consumes the dangerous situation Kirk and Bones are in, and in the unreleased cues "The Trial / Morally Unjust Evidence", "Sentencing" and "Mind Meld" it puts a darker demise on the listening experience, because it doesn't bring anything new. Furthermore, by doing so the long tracks about Rura Penthe and the escape become a bit more heavier to appreciate as well (though the noble main theme in "Escape from Rura Penthe" always sheds light on the adventure).
So, even though this extended edition pays too much attention to the darkest details of the score, the end is all for the glory, rhythm and power of Eideman's take on Gustav Holst. And unlike the opening piece, now it has all the time to give the star trek the adventure and power it deserves. The long "The Battle for Peace / The Final Chance for Peace / The Final Count" might lack the finishing touch musically (mostly because the sound effects overbear the music due to the explosion), the build up is nonetheless spectacular. And nothing beats the almighty versions of the 2 musical themes in the power combo "Signing Off" and "Star Trek VI End Credits Suite", masterful examples of true inspiring Star Trek music.
Several bonus cues are added as well, and for your amusement also 2 takes on the trailer music. Rarely has music given a trailer so much weight than Cliff Eidelman's score (see how it enlightens a spectacular trailer), and its inclusion here is then also for the fans of this particular sound), of which I am a massive fan.
This expanded, mastered edition is a sign that Cliff Eidelman was perhaps too mature for his age, delivering music that seemed almost impossible to beat the upcoming years. Or how else could you describe the almost complete disappearance of his music today. The outlet of his music during the beginning of the 90's shows a composer that not only gave movies a voice, but a thundering one at that. Today that sound is long gone, but at least his musical legacy will survive. And Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country is rightly called the best non Horner / Goldsmith score for a Star Trek motion picture. This expanded edition doesn't hold anything spectacular for interested fans (save for the trailer music), but the basic fact it's available once again might make you reconsider. What a triumph.
Favorite Moment - Signing Off (1.19 - 3.10)
Star Trek goosebumps, the theme has never sounded any brighter and better than here.
CD 1: 67.14
1. Overture (3.02) Excellent track
2. The Incident (1.09)
3. Spacedock / Clear All Moorings * (1.59)
4. Spock's Wisdom (3.13)
5. Guess Who's Coming (0.49)
6. Assassination (2.16)
7. Surrender For Peace (2.48)
8. The Death of Gorkon (2.07)
9. The Trial / Morally Unjust Evidence (1.13)
10. Sentencing (1.02)
11. Rura Penthe / First Sight of Rura Penthe (4.09)
12. Alien Fight (1.05)
13. First Evidence / The Search (1.33)
14. Escape fom Rura Penthe (5.35)
15. The Mirror (1.17)
16. Revealed (2.48)
17. Mind Meld (2.06)
18. Dining on Ashes (1.01)
19. The Battle for Peace / The Final Chance for Peace / The Final Count (8.15) Excellent track
20. The Undiscovered Country (1.07)
21. Sign Off * (3.16) Excellent track
22. Star Trek VI End Credits Suite (6.17) Excellent track
Bonus Tracks
23. Trailer * (Take 10) (2.23) Excellent track
24. Guess Who's Coming (Alternate Version) (0.51)
25. Sign Off * (Alternate Version) (3.31)
26. Trailer * (Take 2) (2.20)
CD 2: 45.17
1. Overture (2.57)
2. An Incident (0.53)
3. Clear All Moorings * (1.39)
4. Assassination (4.45)
5. Surrender for Peace (2.46)
6. Death of Gorkon (1.10)
7. Rura Penthe (4.22)
8. Revealed (2.38)
9. Escape from Rura Penthe (5.34)
10. Dining on Ashes (1.00)
11. The Battle for Peace (8.03)
12. Sign Off * (3.13)
13. Star Trek VI Suite (6.18)
* contains "Theme From Star Trek (TV Series)" by Alexander Courage & Gene Roddenberry
And like James Horner, it turned out to be a great choice. In a way it is illogical to apprehend, but somehow Cliff Eidelman put himself in the midsts of the great Goldsmith / Horner through one original Star Trek score. Star Trek VI was not only a refreshing original Star Trek movie, it also delivered a fresh original score. Well not totally original considering somehow Eidelman had to infuse the tone of Gustav Holst's The Planets into his music (Meyer attempted to use edited suites of this classical music at first, but ultimately it wasn't possible due to again budgetary restraints, and perhaps even more editing concerns). So Eidelman may had to follow a certain distinct sound for this ultimately gloomy science fiction spectacle, it nonetheless gave him a chance to deliver perhaps the most original Star Trek score to date.
"Overture" simply tells us everything we need to know about Star Trek VI. Opening with the ominous bad guy theme, continuing to state the Holst effect that gets added heroic color through the ingenious insertions of little Star Trek hints, to end with the excellent battle music and its relentless energetic rhythms. This opening cue sums up the strengths of Eidelman's music, most specifically the use of drums and strings to add the tension and the lack of time in the final battle sequence.
And through this prologue, we are handed the sounds Cliff Eidelman will work with for the remainder of this adventure. Sounds that return often, if perhaps even too much now on this extended version. During the middle, all we hear are the sinister sounds of the conspiracy, the threatening darkness that consumes the dangerous situation Kirk and Bones are in, and in the unreleased cues "The Trial / Morally Unjust Evidence", "Sentencing" and "Mind Meld" it puts a darker demise on the listening experience, because it doesn't bring anything new. Furthermore, by doing so the long tracks about Rura Penthe and the escape become a bit more heavier to appreciate as well (though the noble main theme in "Escape from Rura Penthe" always sheds light on the adventure).
So, even though this extended edition pays too much attention to the darkest details of the score, the end is all for the glory, rhythm and power of Eideman's take on Gustav Holst. And unlike the opening piece, now it has all the time to give the star trek the adventure and power it deserves. The long "The Battle for Peace / The Final Chance for Peace / The Final Count" might lack the finishing touch musically (mostly because the sound effects overbear the music due to the explosion), the build up is nonetheless spectacular. And nothing beats the almighty versions of the 2 musical themes in the power combo "Signing Off" and "Star Trek VI End Credits Suite", masterful examples of true inspiring Star Trek music.
Several bonus cues are added as well, and for your amusement also 2 takes on the trailer music. Rarely has music given a trailer so much weight than Cliff Eidelman's score (see how it enlightens a spectacular trailer), and its inclusion here is then also for the fans of this particular sound), of which I am a massive fan.
This expanded, mastered edition is a sign that Cliff Eidelman was perhaps too mature for his age, delivering music that seemed almost impossible to beat the upcoming years. Or how else could you describe the almost complete disappearance of his music today. The outlet of his music during the beginning of the 90's shows a composer that not only gave movies a voice, but a thundering one at that. Today that sound is long gone, but at least his musical legacy will survive. And Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country is rightly called the best non Horner / Goldsmith score for a Star Trek motion picture. This expanded edition doesn't hold anything spectacular for interested fans (save for the trailer music), but the basic fact it's available once again might make you reconsider. What a triumph.
Favorite Moment - Signing Off (1.19 - 3.10)
Star Trek goosebumps, the theme has never sounded any brighter and better than here.
CD 1: 67.14
1. Overture (3.02) Excellent track
2. The Incident (1.09)
3. Spacedock / Clear All Moorings * (1.59)
4. Spock's Wisdom (3.13)
5. Guess Who's Coming (0.49)
6. Assassination (2.16)
7. Surrender For Peace (2.48)
8. The Death of Gorkon (2.07)
9. The Trial / Morally Unjust Evidence (1.13)
10. Sentencing (1.02)
11. Rura Penthe / First Sight of Rura Penthe (4.09)
12. Alien Fight (1.05)
13. First Evidence / The Search (1.33)
14. Escape fom Rura Penthe (5.35)
15. The Mirror (1.17)
16. Revealed (2.48)
17. Mind Meld (2.06)
18. Dining on Ashes (1.01)
19. The Battle for Peace / The Final Chance for Peace / The Final Count (8.15) Excellent track
20. The Undiscovered Country (1.07)
21. Sign Off * (3.16) Excellent track
22. Star Trek VI End Credits Suite (6.17) Excellent track
Bonus Tracks
23. Trailer * (Take 10) (2.23) Excellent track
24. Guess Who's Coming (Alternate Version) (0.51)
25. Sign Off * (Alternate Version) (3.31)
26. Trailer * (Take 2) (2.20)
CD 2: 45.17
1. Overture (2.57)
2. An Incident (0.53)
3. Clear All Moorings * (1.39)
4. Assassination (4.45)
5. Surrender for Peace (2.46)
6. Death of Gorkon (1.10)
7. Rura Penthe (4.22)
8. Revealed (2.38)
9. Escape from Rura Penthe (5.34)
10. Dining on Ashes (1.00)
11. The Battle for Peace (8.03)
12. Sign Off * (3.13)
13. Star Trek VI Suite (6.18)
* contains "Theme From Star Trek (TV Series)" by Alexander Courage & Gene Roddenberry