Theme for a Star Trek podcast

Hi to all!

I've recently been asked to write a theme for an unofficial Star Trek podcast.

Obviously I'm not allowed to quote any of the original themes, but the brief was: James Horner!

Its supposed to evoke "Star Trek", without actually quoting any copyright material.
So this is what I came up with.

Think my percussion needs a bit of finessing (especially at the end), and I still have some work to do on the balance of the mix, and the mastering.

(Sorry about the score: it's designed for midi rendition only, as I don't expect this will ever be played by real life musicians!)

Hi @Alex Weidmann,

For me it sounds fitted to a space related podcast! Will the podcast take the first few seconds pr the whole duration of the track? Two minutes seem too long for the theme I guess? Thx for sharing!

Henry

6 minutes ago, Henry Ng Tsz Kiu said:

Will the podcast take the first few seconds pr the whole duration of the track?

Hi Henry, thanks for listening.

They asked for 90 seconds: so I've given them an extra 20 seconds as a bonus!

Hopefully they won't be too strict about it.

The latest comment from the client is that this piece is too treble-heavy. So any ideas on how to enhance the bass-line would be very helpful.

One thought I had was to just push up the faders on the low strings and low brass; but maybe that's a lazy solution!

Also could duplicate the double-bass an octave lower on a bass synth, and add some parallel compression on the bass drum and tomtoms? 

After I'd written it, I noticed I've ended on a rather odd chord. It resembles E major, without the tonic, and with an added second. To me it sounds fine; but maybe I should change it?

Here's an updated version of the work, with stereo-panning, and added counter-melody near the end.

Hopefully an improvement?

HI Alex,

I really didn't have any problem(s) with your lower voices.  I really do like your theme ...it reminds a bit of the theme from The Last Star Fighter.  My only suggestion, is I wonder, if you could incorporate the theme or segments of the theme in the ending.  For me the ending loses a bit of energy.  By doing so the arc of the work in my opinion will feel more complete.

Mark

It's a great movie if you haven't seen it!

Thanks Mark.

The reference material I listened to, before composing this, was actually "Battle Beyond The Stars" (1980) and "Wrath Of Khan" (1982).

My composition tutor also suggested reprising the theme at the end, or adding a snatch of theme as a coda (as they did in "Star Trek: Voyager").