Its size is epic, as if a sci-fi prop itself. Its otherworldly sound is chilling in Star Trek: The Motion Picture. And The Blaster Beam is the unique handiwork of Captain Kirk’s own nephew — okay, Craig Huxley, who played that character on the original series. Meet The Blaster Beam. If any of us wins the lottery, there will be signs.
True Star Trek fans didn’t need that introduction, because you’ll instantly recognize the instrument’s sound and very possibly Craig Huxley’s voice. But The Blaster Beam is surely ready for primetime now, because what once was a creepy alien sound is now just what we want all instruments to sound like. This thing is simply beautiful, a tribute to sound.
For all the criticism of Star Trek: The Motion Picture — its weird tonal shifts and slow pace in the series’ first big-screen adaptation — Jerry Goldsmith’s score is sublime and evocative. This film is probably responsible for my unhealthy obsession with bowing random objects later in life. (Second thought — healthy!) And honestly, if you have problems with the film, just close your eyes and imagine it to this. Goldsmith melds melodramatic classic Hollywood flourishes with uneasy metallic timbres. It could have you skipping straight past the sample library, grabbing someone’s old bow, and looking for a junkyard. And to get full action from The Beam Blaster, you need an all-V-Ger musical experience.
(Without The Motion Picture, of course, we also wouldn’t have the theme from The Next Generation.)
The instrument was brilliant, but so was the playing technique. Put your whole body into this one, kids:
The beauty of this is that it is physical, but there’s plenty to be learned from trying to model it, too. Here’s a compelling effort in AAS Chromaphone, one of my all-time physical modeling favorites.
Another discussion here, via another physical modeling approach.
Some folks have gone one giant leap further and tried building the physical instrument:
Building a Blaster Beam — llllllll.co forum
Side note on that ST:TMP/TNG theme — what’s great is that Goldsmith totally didn’t get it the first time around. For anyone who watches movies and laments the lack of themes, here you go. (Also for anyone who’s had a really bad day.)
The episode in question is “What Little Girls Are Made Of.” You know, there’s something about Kirk’s nephew’s name that just really feels right, you know? Can’t quite put my finger on it. But don’t look at me, I AM ROGER COLBY!
I am not a computtahh!
Sorry, more V’GER / The Blaster Beam action needed.
Uh, spoilers. (Look, you’ve had since 1979.)