Customer Reviews

Battlestar Galactica (1978 Television Film)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you saw the show, you know the music and you'll automatically buy this CD as memorabilia. Stu Phillips tries to elevate his TV music to the level of a John Williams movie score by using the Scottish National Orchestra. It almost works, but not quite. These are epic-scale, grandiose performances, but they reveal the limitations of the original score, which is really meant for the small screen. Most of the memorable themes are short motifs, such as "Red and Blue," a jaunty short scale representing speeding Colonial Vipers crossing their paths in space, or the crushing "Imperious Leader" theme which rips off John Williams' Death Star motif with pounding timpanis. "Sex at Last" is a great title for the love music for Starbuck and Cassiopea, but the music is anything but torrid--it's gentle, restrained, and fairy-tale like. Of course, the main theme and end credits are glorious and benefit from the mighty horns of the SNO, but it makes me want to hear a more developed theme, because Phillips had the makings of a great symphonic concert piece. The "Theme to Battlestar Galatica" is structured in classical 3-part sonata-form: opening horn fanfare, middle formal statement with horn and strings, and resolution. It has the potential to outdo Star Wars. Maybe something to shoot for if and when the new movie comes out.

The merits of the 70's TV series "Battlestar Galactica" have been debated by science fiction fans for over 20 years. But one issue that is beyond debate is the excellence of Stu Phillips' stirring score for the series' movie-length premiere episode. This is music in the great tradition of the space saga and its cinematic precursors.

The score has been newly recorded by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, conducted by Stu Phillips himself. This new recording pulses with energy and emotion. The mysterious prologue, the powerful main theme, the tender love theme for Cassiopea and Starbuck--each track is wonderfully realized.

Whatever flaws it had, "Battlestar Galactica" was a saga with both an epic vision and a tender heart. Stu Phillips' score expertly captures these twin aspects of the saga. This disc is an essential addition to any good collection of science fiction and fantasy film music.

I have mixed feelings about this re-performed version of the original theme music from Battlestar Galactica. I consider myself a diehard fan of both the original shows and also a fan of Stu Phillips in general. Here's my thoughts on this CD.

I guess I was most dissapointed by the title track (the main theme). I found it to be a slightly higher tempo than the original performance and a bit 'tinny' sounding. The rushed feeling bugged me right from the start. The missing bottom end also got me down. Well this was a rough start since I'm at the beginning of the CD. However, it gets better. I found myself really enjoying the fidelity and instrument range on the 4th track (fighter launch/zac in trouble). Definitely liked the expanded orchestra.

The overall sound quality is pretty good, so people who are in to hi-fi will not be dissapointed. Personally I found many of the tracks on the treble-ish side of things. I felt like it was lacking in the bottom end, but tweaking the settings on my stereo helped. And the increased instrument range was definitely cool.

My big gripe was I didn't like the re-performance of the Galactica theme. To me it was the most important part and while it was pretty decent, I felt it lacking the feeling of the original. For that, I am giving the CD three stars. my recommendation? I if you can, buy the orignal 4 cd release as well. Maybe Stu will have another opportunity to re-perform it again.

This is the music I've been waiting for! I'm especially thrilled that Stu Phillips was able to come back and conduct his own work -- these pieces are his babies, after all.

The only thing lacking on this CD is that little piece of intro music you heard at the beginning of every episode over the opening credits: the one where they run through the cast of supporting characters, writer for the episode, director, etc. But even without that piece, this is still a great CD, a must-have not only for BSG fans, but for fans of orchestral science-fiction themes.

While keeping the spirit of the original, Stu Phillips has indeed improved the performance. All of us who enjoyed this classic science-fiction TV series are bound to love this remake of the Battlestar Galactica soundtrack.

This is a great sounding soundtrack. I remember owning the old LP of this soundtrack. I loved the show, and the music is simply incredible and powerful. My hat's off to Stu Philips and the gang for resurrecting this album. A special thanks to Amazon.com for making this CD available at a reasonable price. May Cylon Centurions do it by your command!!

This is a new recording of the original music that Stu Phillips re-recorded with the Royal Scottish Phil., and what power and grace. The opener is AUESOME and even though I've been a long time Star Wars fan, I must say that without any hesitation that this recording blasts "The Phantom Menace" to dust!!! There are a couple of sections where the music is alittle different but the sound quality is excellent I get goose bumps on my arms and back. I only hope that this re-recording is any indication of the Battlestar Galactic movie that is being worked out by Richard Hatch, and if your reading this Richard "make sure that you employ Stu (Phillips) once again for the blast down the viper tunnel!

It's amazing to find out how Stu Phillips' music for the original "Battlestar Galactica" has endured in popularity. The main theme has been one of the greatest staples in sci-fi history after "Star Wars". We have the original album from 1978, and 25 years later, we film score collectors have been blessed with the anniversary edition CD. Now this album released by Varèse Sarabande is the one that concerns us here.
The year is 1999, and Stu Phillips is brought back to re-record his classic score with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. The result is interesting, yet strange for several reasons. In some tracks, the tempo is sometimes slow in relation to the original soundtrack album: case in point 'Destruction Of Peace', 'Escape From The Ovion Mines', and 'Dash To The Elevator' -these tracks sound like the orchestra is trying to do their best in keeping up, but they somewhat stay behind. When you are used to listening to the pace in the original album, listening to this re-recording leaves you wanting a little more light speed. The main theme here is one of the good things about the album, as well as 'The Red Nova', which begins at a nice pace, yet ends very slow.
There is no denying that the music for the original "Battlestar Galactica" is a classic, but this re-recording does an average justice to the score. It's funny to see that it's Stu Phillips himself who is conducting, but I definitely stick to the original album, or the 25th anniversary edition CD for that matter.

It may not be the original soundtrack (it's a studio track, having been done by the Scottish Philharmonic Orchestra in 1999) but unlike the original soundtrack music which I have on old-fashioned vinyl, this is much better sounding with lots better dynamic range than the original. If a new release of the movie is ever done on DVD, the original music should be replaced with this. It's just THAT much better.

great music i love this soundtrack. i mean the show was short lived but i mean the music is great and the show was great and i dont know why it got canceled oh well thats a subject for another day. anyway the soundtrack is excellent. i for one got a tingle runnin up my back when i heard the main theme. excellent music.