All 5 Gerald Fried Star Trek scores ranked
By Mike Poteet
![Nov. 2, 2015 – CBS Television Studios announced today it will launch a totally new “Star Trek” television series in January 2017. The brand-new “Star Trek” will introduce new characters seeking imaginative new worlds and new civilizations, while exploring the dramatic contemporary themes that have been a signature of the franchise since its inception in 1966. The new series will blast off with a special preview broadcast on the CBS Television Network. The premiere episode and all subsequent first-run episodes will then be available exclusively in the United States on CBS All Access, the Network’s digital subscription video on demand and live streaming service.Pictured: Leonard Nimoy as Mr. Spock in STAR TREK (The Original Series)Screen grab: ©1967 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Nov. 2, 2015 – CBS Television Studios announced today it will launch a totally new “Star Trek” television series in January 2017. The brand-new “Star Trek” will introduce new characters seeking imaginative new worlds and new civilizations, while exploring the dramatic contemporary themes that have been a signature of the franchise since its inception in 1966. The new series will blast off with a special preview broadcast on the CBS Television Network. The premiere episode and all subsequent first-run episodes will then be available exclusively in the United States on CBS All Access, the Network’s digital subscription video on demand and live streaming service.Pictured: Leonard Nimoy as Mr. Spock in STAR TREK (The Original Series)Screen grab: ©1967 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/26397117296c35921dd55540ee1c47792c127c32987854cfea1e81c58edf7d1a.jpg)
“Amok Time” (Season 2, Episode 1)
How could Gerald Fried’s unforgettable score for Star Trek’s first trip to the planet Vulcan not top a list of his contributions to the series?
The score’s centerpiece is, naturally, the driving and pulsing “fight music” that accompanies Kirk and Spock’s duel to the (supposed) death. It quickly became the go-to fight music in TOS, but few fans can think of anything but “Amok Time” when they hear it. But Fried also gives us moody, brooding music on what sounds like the electric guitar as Spock suffers the blood fever.
Even had he scored only “Amok Time” and no other episode, Fried’s contribution to Star Trek would be immeasurably valuable. Composer Michael Giacchino briefly quoted Fried’s fight music as the Kelvin Timeline’s Spock chases down and pummels Khan in Star Trek Into Darkness. And composer Nami Melumad used the fight music in the Strange New Worlds episode “Spock Amok,” as Spock fights himself in a dream sequence.
How would you rank the five Star Trek scores Gerald Fried composed? Let us know in the comments!
Next. 3 times beyond “Children of the Comet” music saved the day in Star Trek. dark