The Enterprise “Star Trek OST” sheet music for 2 pianos

The Enterprise “Star Trek OST” sheet music, Noten, partitura, spartiti, partition, 楽譜 by Jerry Goldsmith

Arranged for two pianos.

Best Sheet Music download from our Library.

Please, subscribe to our Library.

If you are already a subscriber, please, check our NEW SCORES’ page every month for new sheet music. THANK YOU!

To Boldly Go: The Musical Legacy of Star Trek Across TV and Motion Picture

The final frontier of Star Trek isn’t just explored with warp engines and phasers; it’s charted through sound. The music of Star Trek, spanning nearly six decades across television series and motion pictures, is an integral part of its identity, evoking wonder, adventure, hope, and the vastness of space itself. It’s a sonic tapestry woven by brilliant composers, featuring iconic themes that resonate as powerfully as the franchise’s ideals.

The Genesis Fanfare: Alexander Courage and The Original Series (1966-1969)

• The Defining Theme: Alexander Courage’s theme for Star Trek: The Original Series (TOS) is arguably one of the most recognizable pieces of television music ever written. Its opening French horn solo (originally sung by soprano Loulie Jean Norman) soaring over bold brass fanfares instantly evokes adventure and the unknown. The contrasting, romantic sweep of the secondary theme underscores the show’s humanistic core. Courage masterfully blended traditional orchestral scoring with early electronic experimentation (like the eerie “monster of the week” sounds created by the Blaster Beam-like “Crystal Chord Organ”) to create a unique soundscape for the 23rd century.
• Beyond the Main Title: Courage composed the pilot (“The Cage”) and many early episodes, establishing musical motifs for characters like Spock. Other composers like Fred Steiner (“The Trouble with Tribbles,” “Balance of Terror”) and Gerald Fried (“Amok Time” – famous for its intense fight music) significantly shaped the sound, often reusing and developing Courage’s themes while adding their own dramatic weight and suspense. The music was bold, often melodramatic by modern standards, but perfectly captured the serialized, action-adventure spirit of the era.

The Motion Picture Era: Goldsmith’s Grand Vision (1979 Onwards)

• A Symphonic Leap: When Star Trek transitioned to the big screen with Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979), the music needed a grander scope. Enter Jerry Goldsmith, one of cinema’s greatest composers.
• The Klingon Theme & The Enterprise: Goldsmith created two instantly iconic pieces: the brutal, percussive motif for the Klingons (later becoming the definitive Klingon theme across the franchise) and the majestic, awe-inspiring fanfare for the newly refitted USS Enterprise. His main title theme, while not replacing Courage’s for TV, became synonymous with the cinematic Trek experience – a complex, evolving piece conveying wonder, mystery, and heroic resolve.
• Defining the Film Sound: Goldsmith scored the first film and returned for The Final Frontier (1989), First Contact (1996), and Insurrection (1998). His style – rich orchestration, powerful brass, intricate percussion, and deeply emotional themes – set the gold standard for Star Trek films. His First Contact score, blending his new heroic theme for Picard’s Enterprise-E with dark, pulsating Borg motifs and beautiful lyrical passages, is considered a masterpiece.
• Other Film Composers: James Horner brought a youthful energy and Celtic influences to The Wrath of Khan (1982) and The Search for Spock (1984), creating thrilling battle music and poignant emotional themes (notably for Spock’s death and rebirth). Leonard Rosenman (The Voyage Home, 1986) offered a lighter, more contemporary feel. Cliff Eidelman provided a dark, brooding, almost Wagnerian score for The Undiscovered Country (1991). Michael Giacchino revitalized the film scores for the Kelvin Timeline reboot (Star Trek 2009, Into Darkness, Beyond), blending Goldsmith-esque grandeur with his own propulsive, rhythmic energy and memorable new themes.

The Television Renaissance: Orchestral Storytelling Expands (1987-2005)

• Dennis McCarthy: The Bedrock of TNG, DS9, and VOY: As Star Trek: The Next Generation (T7G) launched, Dennis McCarthy became the cornerstone composer. While Alexander Courage’s TOS theme was rearranged by McCarthy for TNG (adding a more contemporary, sweeping grandeur), McCarthy composed the vast majority of the series’ episodic scores. His style was versatile – capable of stately elegance for diplomatic scenes, thrilling action for starship battles, warm emotion for character moments, and effective suspense. He established recurring themes for characters like Data and the Borg, and his music provided the consistent, reliable foundation for over 400 episodes across TNG, Deep Space Nine (DS9), and Voyager (VOY).
• Jay Chattaway: Bold Experimentation: Chattaway became another prolific voice, particularly on TNG and VOY. He was known for more experimental and sometimes darker textures, pushing boundaries with unique instrumentation and complex harmonies. He composed significant character themes (like the Klingon theme variations in TNG) and iconic episode scores (“The Inner Light,” “Darmok”).
• Ron Jones: Thematic Powerhouse (TNG): Jones brought a highly thematic and dramatically potent style to his TNG scores (seasons 1-4). He created memorable motifs for the Borg (“Q Who?”, “The Best of Both Worlds”), the Romulans, and intense action sequences. His music was often more boldly orchestrated and leitmotif-driven than the norm for weekly TV at the time.
• DS9 & VOY’s Unique Flavors:
  • DS9: Reflecting the station’s setting, scores incorporated more diverse elements – jazz for Quark’s Bar (often by David Bell), Cardassian motifs with Eastern European or militaristic flavors, and a growing sense of epic scale as the Dominion War unfolded. Composers like McCarthy, Chattaway, Bell, and Paul Baillargeon developed a rich tapestry.
  • VOY: Jerry Goldsmith returned to compose the magnificent, adventurous main title theme, instantly conveying the ship’s isolation and hopeful journey. Episodic scores by McCarthy, Chattaway, Bell, and others often emphasized wonder, mystery, and the emotional strain of being lost, while also incorporating unique sounds for Delta Quadrant species. A haunting, lonely flute motif often represented Captain Janeway.

Modern Trek: New Frontiers in Sound (2017-Present)

• Jeff Russo: Establishing a New Identity: For Star Trek: Discovery and Star Trek: Picard, Jeff Russo moved away from purely orchestral traditions. He crafted distinctive main themes: Discovery‘s features a driving cello motif representing Michael Burnham over ethereal electronics, conveying both personal struggle and cosmic wonder; Picard‘s melancholic, piano-driven theme poignantly reflects the Admiral’s legacy and regrets. Russo blends orchestral elements with modern synths and sound design, creating a more intimate and contemporary feel while retaining a sense of grandeur and Trek’s hopeful core.
• Nami Melumad: Embracing Diversity: For Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Nami Melumad brilliantly bridges the gap between past and present. She rearranges Alexander Courage’s original TOS theme with thrilling new energy for the main titles. Her episodic scores honor the classic orchestral adventure sound of TOS and the TNG films but with fresh thematic development for the Enterprise crew (Uhura, Spock, Chapel, etc.) and a vibrant sense of discovery perfectly suited to the show’s tone. She also scored Star Trek: Prodigy, bringing Goldsmith-level orchestral excitement to the animated series.
• Varied Voices: Star Trek: Lower Decks features playful, energetic scores by Chris Westlake and others, often paying affectionate homage to musical tropes from across Trek history. Star Trek: Prodigy (season 1) featured striking orchestral work by Michael Giacchino and Nami Melumad.

Enduring Themes and Legacy

The music of Star Trek is more than just accompaniment; it’s a character in itself. Its legacy is built on:

1. Iconic Main Titles: Courage’s fanfare, Goldsmith’s cinematic sweep, McCarthy’s TNG arrangement, Russo’s modern textures, Melumad’s TOS revival – each main theme perfectly encapsulates its era’s vision of Star Trek.
2. Leitmotif Development: From Courage’s early Spock motif to Goldsmith’s Klingon theme, Horner’s Genesis material, McCarthy’s Borg variations, and Melumad’s character themes for SNW, composers have used recurring musical ideas to deepen character and narrative.
3. Emotional Resonance: Whether conveying the awe of a new discovery, the tension of battle, the warmth of camaraderie, or the loneliness of deep space, Star Trek music consistently hits emotional beats that resonate with audiences.
4. Evolution & Adaptation: The music has constantly evolved, reflecting changing musical trends and production techniques, from Courage’s early electronics to Russo’s synth textures, while always striving to serve the story and maintain the franchise’s core spirit of exploration and optimism.
5. Cultural Impact: Courage’s theme is globally recognized. Goldsmith’s Klingon motif defines the warrior race. Horner’s Wrath of Khan score is legendary. Trek music is performed in concert halls worldwide, a testament to its power and popularity.

From the primal blast of Alexander Courage’s fanfare to the intricate sonic landscapes of Jeff Russo and Nami Melumad, the music of Star Trek has been an essential companion on the journey through the final frontier. It has given voice to the starship Enterprise, defined alien cultures, underscored countless moments of courage and compassion, and filled the vastness of space with unforgettable emotion.

Conducted by masters like Goldsmith, Horner, McCarthy, Russo, Melumad, and many others, the orchestral (and increasingly electronic) tapestry of Star Trek continues to inspire, thrill, and remind us that the human adventure, set to a truly magnificent score, is just beginning. It remains a vital and beloved pillar of the franchise’s enduring legacy.

Please leave this field empty

It’s nice to meet you.

Sign up to receive our new posts in your inbox.

This field is required.

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

Please, check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.