Agreed, such a great theme. I've always wondered why they couldn't use it again for the fourth movie, since II, III, and IV were the most connected. Other composers have left movie series, but they were still able to use their themes.
still amazes me how Horner had the job to follow the absolutely awesome Goldsmith score from the first movie and managed to pull off a monster masterpiece of his own
While Goldsmith's musical contribution in the first film is massive, in many ways, I feel Horner's score in the second film is even BETTER, more exciting, more heartfelt...
@@kthx1138 I agree. I think this is the better score. No disrespect to Goldsmith but this score is absolutely perfect and extremely fine music just on its own.
This is probably my favorite movie score of all time. When Kirk is running down to Engineering to see what happened to Spock the violins sounded like they are crying. Such a tragic moment but beautifully captured by Mr. Horner. The whole soundtrack was just sheer magic. We lost a very talented man this past week. RIP Mr. Horner.
And that same theme that mr. Horner used for Kirk rushing down the ladder sounded very similar to the theme he used when the hero Colywn from the movie Krull was trying to retrieve his glaze after he had guided it into chest of the villian of that movie. Star trek 2 and Krull had alot James's signature and familiar brass,horn and strings passages, great composer and i miss him to this very day 😞
1982 - a young teenager sees/hears Star Trek II The Wrath of Kahn, he says it's the best movie music he has ever heard. 2019 - a middle aged man is about to go into emergency surgery in late July to save his life (his appendix have burst and he's suffering intense pain, very close to death) In the hospital, the man plays Star Trek II soundtrack opening theme just before surgery. 2020 - I am nearly crying over this interview and what it means to me. This music has saved my life many times over. It has given me strength and purpose to live the best and most powerful life ever. THANK YOU JAMES HORNER!!!! Your score and knowledge of music is the most....... HUMAN..... I will ever hear or have the honor of calling my insipration for life and living!!! L. Meshon, Jr.
McCoy : [1:23:00] What's the matter with you? Elderly patient : [weakly] Kidney [pause] Elderly patient : dialysis. McCoy : [geniunely surprised] Dialysis? [musing to himself] McCoy : What is this, the Dark Ages? [He turns back to the patient and hands her a large white pill] McCoy : Here, [pause] McCoy : you swallow that, and if you have any more problems, just call me! [He pats her cheek and leaves]
Without so much as a hint of exaggeration, I say that this is the single finest musical score ever written. James Horner was a giant, and is missed dearly.
James Horner's scores, particularly the ones in Star Trek II and III touch my soul in such a way it makes me forget where I'm at at the moment. He was truly gifted in his art.
Same here about touching the soul - I always find the ST II & III soundtracks both stirring and emotional, such brilliant scores. RIP James, you went before your time.
I saw Wrath of Khan when I was 13, having narrowly escaped dying from a brain hemorrhage. It was my first outing after leaving the hospital, the first thing I wanted to do, and it played on the biggest screen in Louisville. I'll never forget how I felt when the lights went down and the music swelled as that big, beautiful, rotating starfield appeared on the giant, curved Cinerama screen. Thank you, Maestro Horner.
I love the second and third Star Trek movies in large part because of James Horner's scores. I particularly enjoyed "Stealing the Enterprise" from the third movie... the music made what was pretty much backing a ship out of the garage so dramatic.
If you listen closely during that scene, the voice of the computer saying "Danger, space doors are closed, danger" and the beeping sounds from Scotty's failed attempts to open the doors fit in so well, it's almost as if they're part of the music.
This is James Horner's greatest film score. That speaks volumes considering his incredible breadth of work and the fact they he was able to not only succeed - but eclipse Jerry Goldsmith's wonderful score for The Motion Picture. The music in Star Trek II is as much of a character in the film as Kirk, Spock and Khan himself. Absolute brilliance.
A million great things I could say about Horner's contributions to the franchise, but the thing that strikes me most here is how he comes right out and says he wasn't at all familiar with Star Trek. He just came in and brought something completely different and classic to the table, and it's a legacy that will stand the test of time forever.
The climax where the enterprise is immediately seen leaving the drydock after McCoy asks Kirk about the tranquilizer is one of my favorite moments in any cinematic music, ever.
I HAD THIS SOUNDTRACK AT 14 YEARS OLD. I JUST PLAYED OVER AND OVER. JAMES HORNER IS ONE OF MY ALL TIME FAVORITE'S. HE SEEMS VERY PRACTICAL IN HIS COMPOSITIONS.
This score is IMO one of the 25 best all time and WILDLY brilliant and original. Remember, Horner was following Jerry Goldsmith who had written one of his best scores for ST:TMP. Simply stunning work.
I wept like a baby for 20 minutes at Spock's death scene when I recently watched ST2 again. The friendship and bond the 2 characters share and the pain Kirk goes through is so real it just hit me like a truck that moment. And of course the music set the incredible tone for the entire sequence leading up to the death scene, including the ironic fast paced score while visually the ships moved slow and gracefully fighting for tactical advantage unlike the adrenaline filled high speed typical space fight nonsense in most sci-fi -- something I greatly appreciated this go around vs a decade prior hehe. Amazing all around movie.
Fucking brilliant piece of music. I'll put the Battle of the Mutaran Nebula up against any classical composition ever written. Saint-Saens, Stravinsky, Mussorgsky, you name it. Horner became a legend on June 4, 1982, and immortal on June 22, 2015.
I completely agree with you!! He stands as an equal to any composer who ever lived. It was a huge loss to the entire world when he died in that plane crash. I love his music more than I can put into words. Oh, how I wish he were still here, writing that glorious music!
<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="240">4:00</a> His phonetic take on kirk/khan opposing music is hilarious! Rest in peace James you're sorely missed.
James Horner wrote many of my favorite movie scores, but listening to him talk about what went into this makes me realize how ignorant I've always been about how deftly he worked the different elements together. It gives me even more of an appreciation. He definitely was a true master.
After Jerry Goldsmith's TMP theme, this for me came a very, very, close second. Wrath of Khan itself was an amazing story but to see a composer with an eye for such cinematic detail really dig into what the story was about is simply amazing...
Mr. Horner knocked it out of the park with his music visions for ST2 ! I loved seeing this as it explains everything I feel viscerally watching the film !
He did a terrific job of explaining how he was able to score the film. A truly inspiring interview and something any musician should see. One of the best movie scores of all time.
Funny story about this soundtrack....I was falling asleep driving back to college when I was around 20 years old. There is a loud bang in the percussion and low brass that woke me up as I was listening to this in my car. If I had driven into the median, there was a bridge on that stretch, thus, this score may have saved my life! True story.
In my opinion, this is some of the best music for star trek just because of James Horner finding the emotion of the scenes and moving us. Thank you James. I can't watch even these clips without feeling the emotion of your music.
I feel the loss immensely. James Horner has made me cry and laugh more times than I can count. I have been bracing myself for John Williams as he is really getting old now I was just left destroyed when I found out Mr Horner was gone. Movies will suffer with him gone from this world. The world has lost a brilliant man. I wish I could have met him, I would've thanked him for making me happy and making me sad and even scaring me at times. RIP, Mr Horner you will be missed.
Horner along with Goldsmith and William's knew how to score real themes,something lacking with today's movies scores,sadly gone but the music lives on,thank you
This is a great interview. I admire Horner's spirit and his music has been a big part of my life. His work on The Wrath Of Khan is beautiful and epic. Jerry Goldsmith's score to the first Star Trek film means so much to me as well. Both are favorites. Goldsmith and Horner are deeply missed.
Very PLEASED to have recently completed my James horner soundtrack collection with his score to Another 48hrs! James was an amazing natural talent for somebody who was as young as he was when he first started, incredible! Composing such high profile scores at his age back in his early career was nothing short of an indominable force in the film composing world. Love this interview on his great score to Star trek 2 which catapulted him to legendary status in the same line of work such as John williams and the late Jerry goldsmith!
I thank you Mr Horner,your great theme for Star Trek 2 helped me fall in love with Star Trek.It was this film that got me hooked into Star Trek in the first place.May you rest in peace with God.
Its one of my most favorite scores ever. I can remember being 15 years old and this score was the spark that made me fall in love with film music. Wrath of Khan has been making the rounds on TV lately and I always watch it. The ending 10 minutes of score, with Spock's death and funeral will always get an emotional response from me.
I was 13 when I went to see ST2. I was a rockNroll heavy metal guy but after I saw the movie I had dad order me the 8-Track of the ST2 sound track from Columbia House :) I think I may still have it. RIP to a great great composer. The Spock's death Amazing Grace on bagpipe that transitions to orchestra always touched me and made me tear up...always. And I cant forget to mention Krull. Amazing movie and score.
Back when I listened to audio cassettes on a boom box, I bought the soundtrack of Star Trek 2. What I really wanted a few years earlier was audio for The Empire Strikes Back. Instead I got a disco record with "Funky Town" and MECO's Empire Strikes Back. I learned it must have been an expensive double album since Williams composed almost 2 hours.
Great in-depth interview with the great James horner! Love his discussion on the movie's principal villian theme, Khan. James proved with his Star trek scores,Krull,Aliens and other scores that he was very adapt to scoring sci-fi epics!
The Genesis Countdown when the Enterprise is reversing to get away from Reliant gives me chills every time I watch and hear it. I love this music so much that I bought both Star Trek II and III and listen to the extended soundtracks almost daily. RIP James Horner.
i remember hearing his music first in battle beyond the stars the roger corman movie i knew his music was something special and someone to watch out for.A genius sorely missed.Rest in peace james horner
It is very funny listening how James Horner explains with mouth noises the cues of the main themes!!! I really miss him so much and his music and specially the "parabara cue"
Thanks for this. A blueprint to a masterpiece. His explanation of the Kirk-Spock musical storytelling is what every composer should try to achieve in their own work. -Magic-
R.I.P. James... Your scores were so engaging and awesome and inspiring to me. You are gone but, Your music will not be forgotten James Roy Horner (August 14, 1953 - June 22, 2015)
