I was deeply saddened by the news of the passing of Jerry Goldsmith, one of the greatest film music composers in history.
His credits are innumerable, ranging from Patton to The Sand Pebbles, from Alien to The Mummy, from Total Recall to The Omen (for which he won an Oscar).
But he is best known for his music for five of the ten Star Trek movies (I, V, First Contact, Insurrection & Nemesis). He is also an Emmy-Award winner for the theme to Star Trek-Voyager, as well as numerous other TV music going all the way back to The Twilight Zone. He won a total of five Emmy awards for his television music.
Even if you aren't a Star Trek fan, just listen to the CD of the complete score for Star Trek-The Motion Picture. Nominated for an Academy Award in 1979 (it should have won), it is one of the most seminal works of movie music ever composed. It is also a stunning piece of symphony music in its own right, with the most amazing combination of classical instruments and new age electronics (check out the Blaster Beam used for V'Ger...it's unnerving, yet brilliant).
CNN has provided a complete list of his credits HERE. I shall miss him...he brought me, and millions of others, a lot of soaring, awe-inspiring fun over a fifty year career. He'll never be replaced.
