Star Trek: Ranking All 13 Movie Soundtracks
5. Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country – Cliff Eidelman
Like Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan's James Horner, Cliff Eidelman was a young composer given his start by Nicholas Meyer for Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.
Eidelman's work on The Undiscovered Country is decidedly darker than previous Trek scores, opening with the brooding choral "Overture" that clearly demonstrates the score's Holst and Stravinsky inspirations. A lighter, major key theme for the Enterprise and her crew is sprinkled throughout the film (most recognizably in "Sign Off" and the "End Credits Suite"), but much of The Undiscovered Country is dominated by Eidelman's Klingon identities, characterized by deep choir, brutal percussion, and minor key brass.
The interplay of these identities comes together in the stirring and frantic "Battle for Peace", one of the very best examples of action scoring in the Star Trek franchise. Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country is another challenging listen, but one that successfully reflects the maturity of the film and the characters.