The Greatest Science Fiction Soundtrack Ever!

[kentauros]

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[nomorenomore08]

1. Not "2001"? Though to be fair, the climactic piece was written by Richard Strauss decades earlier...

[kentauros]

2. Kubrick used nothing but existing music.

Louis and Bebe Barron created not only a composition, but basically invented synthesizers (or started others on the road to them.)

Personally, I consider it the greatest because it's alien in sound. People loved it at the time because it fit to the genre. Sure, Kubrick picked just the right music for the majesty of 2001, but nothing was originally composed just for that movie.

Now, to be fair, as my brother and I were discussing this soundtrack recently, is that it could never be done again today. Not that you'd have musicians creating new equipment to make new sounds, but such atonal music would not be used by any major studio and today's audiences would never accept it. You'll find plenty such comments on imdb.com from people that just don't get "musique concrete" and think the soundtrack is horrible.

I've got a CD copy of the soundtrack (ripped to flac now) and in listening to it, I feel that deep thrill one gets from listening to a masterpiece, as from any era

[Number9Dream]

3. "The Day the Earth Stood Still" by Bernard Herrmann

[First Speaker]

9. Seconded...it *is* SF film music to me...

[Lionel Mandrake]

10. Thirded ...

I had the same thought, but you beat me to it.

"The Day The Earth Stood Still" began a tradition. Many subsequent Sci Fi movies used the Theremin sound to represent aliens from outer space.

Below is a picture of a Theremin. One antenna controls the pitch; the other controls the volume.



Gort: Klatu berada nikto! Klatu berada nikto!

[sarge43]

18. For the record Miklos Rosza used the Theremin

in Spellbound and The Lost Weekend (both 1945) as a depiction of 'inner' space, the mind state of the protagonist.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

26. Fourthed, if that's possible.

Over 25 years ago, I went to a free screening of TDTESS at the Air and Space Museum on the National Mall in DC. We walked into the Imax theater, and when we turned around, the place was packed, absolutely, completely packed.

Although a few distant exterior shots were filmed in DC, for the most part, it was filmed in California.

Hands down, my favorite movie.

[Tom Ripley]

4. Easily the best; not even the score for Blade Runner comes close.

[sarge43]

5. There's a lot wrong with Lynch's Dune, but it wasn't the sound track

[Dr. Strange]

15. A sound track is the time for taking the most delicate care that the balances are correct.

This every sister of the Bene Gesserit knows.

[A Simple Game]

20. What of the space guild navigators? Do you think them blind to this?

Your Bene Gesserit witches have no monopoly on balance. Unlike the witches the guild has seen where the sound track will be in the future not just the present.

[Dr. Strange]

24. The Guild? Ha!

Their days are numbered and they know this! They need to preserve the balance of things to prevent their role in soundtracking from completely disappearing. But know this: they will become obsolete. One day, the Bene Tleilax will create machines to make soundtracks. And don't think the Butlerian Jihad's exhortation to refrain from making a machine in the image of a DJ will stop them.

But the Bene Gesserit. Ah, they are a cunning bunch. Maintaining the status quo just long enough to fulfill their breeding program. And once the Kwisatz Haderach is born (he who can produce many soundtracks at once), then the balance will shift to the Sisterhood.

[sarge43]

25. The God Emperor who can see all futures will keep sound tracking on the Golden Path

He will allow only John Williams to compose. Eventually the 643rd clone of Bernard Hermann will revolt and ensure humanity never showers alone again.

[A Simple Game]

28. Ha! The Bene Gesserit wouldn't know a Kwisatz Haderach if they saw one. n/t

[Codeine]

6. I didn't see that film until my late thirties.

I was astonished; it's a fantastic work from a period where I assumed all SF was B-movie schlock.

[Tom Ripley]

7. Here's a great article about the Barron studio...

http://www.effectrode.com/magnetic-delay/louis-barron-pioneer-of-tube-audio-effects/

[El Supremo]

8. Contact

For Carl

[mainer]

11. Don't hate me. I still love John Williams' STAR WARS

OK, some of you will say Star Wars isn't really SF, but space opera.
Some will saw the score was overblown.

I still smile when I hear it. And I still love Princess Leia's theme.

[kentauros]

13. I'm not hating anyone or their choices.

This thread is for everyone, and whatever SF movie-soundtrack they love. I just feel Forbidden Planet has the best soundtrack that fits a science-fiction film to a T. I still love Star Wars and its soundtrack

How about this version of the Imperial March

[Lionel Mandrake]

14. John Williams

was the greatest 19th century composer who lived in the 20th century.

Everyone recognizes the music that opens each Star Wars movie. Everyone also recognizes The Imperial March (Darth Vader's Theme), which wasn't even in the first movie.

Princess Leia's theme is more obscure; most people don't recognize it out of context. It's more lyrical and less like a march than the more familiar Star Wars themes.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

12. I thought the soundtrack of Alien was chilling and very well-suited to the atmosphere of the film

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I saw Forbidden Planet as a little kid in the 1950s and it blew me away. It remains my all-time fave SF movie. I agree that the sounds are great, especially the electronic sounds that remind me of robots farting into rubber.

[CBGLuthier]

16. While I agree that is one of the best and a seminal work in early electronic music I am also

fond of John Carpenter's work in Escape from New York. And I am not being overly generous to the director as he also was involved in the creation of the music along with Alan Howarth. I had the movie soundtrack.

Another piece I love is the theme from The Fury where on John Williams channeled Bernard Hermann. Had that one too

[Tom Ripley]

19. I'm a longtime lover of Carpenter's synth work

[chknltl]

17. A different genre than what you asked for but...

...how can one not include the incredible soundtracks of the Science Fiction stories brought to us by the video game industry? IMO, the HALO soundtracks are right up there with the best of anything else Sci Fi has offered us. For countless thousands of us fans, this particular HALO theme song evokes an almost spiritual feeling:

Here is the HALO 4 story done up as a movie, I can't know the minds of the artists at Bungie who put HALO together but I've got to believe Forbidden Planet's Soundtrack was a major inspiration:

[CrawlingChaos]

31. Some incredible music on game soundtracks

I don't think it gets the respect it deserves but many times I've been blown away by game music. There are some very, very talented people working in that industry.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

21. i loved the soundtrack to the recent Guardians of the Galaxy

but i like the 60s/70s/motown sound and that's the whole thing...

sP

[raven mad]

22. Excellent soundtrack!

Although, I still have to go with Star Trek (original). I grew up on it! The TV show, not the movies..............

[olddots]

23. I forget how great Forbidden Planet is

what a movie .

[Tommy_Carcetti]

27. Star Trek II has a great soundtrack.

Not just James Horner's main theme, but some of the background music as well.

Case in point....how the music conveys Chekov's sense of dread once he realizes he and Captain Tyrell are in Khan's lair, and then the way the music builds as Khan slowly reveals himself.

[amerikat]

29. Have to go with..Until The End Of The World - Wim Wenders - soundtrack

Until The End Of The World - Wim Wenders - soundtrack

[progressoid]

30. UFO !!

Kidding. I kind of liked the new Battlestar Gallactica theme song.

Also Moon was pretty good too.

Ooooh, and Tron Legacy