Music of Battlestar Galactica (RDM)

While Battlestar Galactica uses a wide variety of ethnic instruments and styles to create a soundscape that is not usually found in television science fiction, it nonetheless makes use of various leitmotifes for characters, events and places.

Main Title Music

To date, the main titles have been set to two distinct pieces of music. For the first season, a different cue was used in North America than for broadcasts taking place in other regions. The North American cue was a modification of the track "Two Funerals" from "Act of Contrition", followed by a segment played on taiko drums that played over a montage of scenes from the upcoming episode. The "worldwide" cue followed the same structure, but with the funeral cue replaced by a rendition of the Gayatri mantra:

Lyrics (Sanskrit, IAST transliteration):	English translation (one version)):
Oṃ bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ Tat savitur vareṇyaṃ Bhargo devasya dhīmahi dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayāt	O earth, atmosphere, heaven: May we attain that excellent glory of Savitr the God: So may he stimulate our prayers.

Since the second season, all broadcasts of the show use the "worldwide" version of the main title cue.

Character and event themes

Six theme

A simple 9-note motif composed by Richard Gibbs for the Miniseries, it is perhaps the most recognizable theme of the series, playing in nearly all scenes with Number Six and used as the "Prologue" of each episode. It is nearly always performed on a Balinese instrument called a gamelan.

• Note: It is used as virtual Baltar's theme in "Downloaded", but digitally reversed to signify the reversal of roles.

Boomer theme

Another very common theme, that plays in many scenes with Boomer, especially in Season 2. Initially created as a Helo/Boomer theme for "33" it quickly turned into Boomer's theme. Sometimes played with woodwinds of string orchestra, it is usually performed by gamalans and bells.

• Note: Bear McCreary also composed a percussion theme for "Water" (heard in the teaser), intended to give Galactica-Sharon and Caprica-Sharon different themes, but abandoned that idea.

Starbuck theme, triumph theme

This theme first appears in a track called "Starbuck on the Red Moon" in "You Can't Go Home Again", in the scene where she leaves the planet in the captured Raider, and in the same episode in "Forgiven" when Adama forgives her for the death of Zak. After that it makes many appearances in scenes with Starbuck, sometimes used a simple fanfare (Home, Part I), or in the background of other tracks, like "Flesh and Bone" or more subtle in the pounding "Prelude to War" in "Resurrection Ship, Part II".

It wasn't initially intended as a theme solely for Starbuck, but since she is the center of many of the show's heroic and triumphant moments, it became associated with her. However, it sometimes appears in scenes involving other characters, most notably Galactica's daring jump into New Caprica's atmosphere in "Exodus, Part II".

It has been performed by all major instruments of the show, but usually heard in duduk, vocals and strings.

Leoben and Starbuck theme, Destiny theme

While their first meeting is in "Flesh and Bone", this theme was composed for their changing relationship in "Occupation" and beyond. It's a small fragment always performed on a Chinese erhu - which is similar to a violin - or zhonghu. It is a representation for Starbuck's anger at being imprisoned, Leoben's love towards her, her self-doubt, fears and the uncertainty about her destiny.

After the New Caprica storyline it is featured throughout "Maelstrom", where it is combined with Starbuck's own theme.

After her mysterious return in "Crossroads, Part II", the theme reappears in the following episode in many of Thrace's scene to represent her confusion about her situation and her higher purpose.

Helo theme

Starting in "33" it can be heard several times in Season 1, but then disappeared for a long time once Helo returned to Galactica. It appears again in "A Measure of Salvation" and "The Woman King". On the Season 1 soundtrack it is included in the form of "Helo Chase".

• Note: The last two notes are the starting point of Baltar's theme.

Adama family theme

Initially composed for "The Hand of God" it appears twice in this episode. Once as a quiet background piece when Lee talks with his father before the battle ("A Good Lighter") and as a rousing song at the end after the Cylons are defeated ("Wander my Friends").

After that it can be heard in many scenes involving a friendly moment between the two Adamas like Lee visiting his injured father in "Valley of Darkness", Lee being promoted to Pegasus's CO (The Captain's Hand), the two parting before the Battle of New Caprica (Exodus, Part I), and Lee receiving his grandfather's law books in "A Day in the Life". It even appears as a general theme for family when Adama decides to "Reunite the Fleet" in "Home, Part I".

• Note: The Gaelic lyrics are printed in the Season 1 soundtrack.

Apollo theme

Apollo also has his own theme theme first appearing when he destroys the Olympic Carrier in "33". Then in the flashback in "Act of Contrition" at Zak's coffin, and in "The Hand of God" when he improvises his attack plan.

It is seldom heard, because it's not as dynamic as other character themes, but serves as the main theme for all the flashbacks in "Black Market".

Baltar theme

This is a very short and simple theme first appearing in "Six Degrees of Separation". In the albums it's included in "Baltar Speaks with Adama" (Season 1) and "Dark Unions" (Season 2). It is quoted in the piano basestar theme from "Torn" and appears in more complex arrangements in "Taking a Break from All Your Worries".

With Baltar's rise to a messianic figure and cult leader a new theme is used for him. While evolved from the original theme, it is nearly entirely new, in order to reflect his change and growth. While the old theme represents his dark and sinister side, the new theme stands for serenity and spirituality. However, the two versions interact and are used as counterpoints in various scenes. The supposedly dark theme used to score spiritual moments and the spiritual theme to score dark moments. Bear notes that his the two sides of Baltar's personality cannot be easily separated.

This new theme has lyrics sung by Raya Yarbrough:

Translated Anglo-Saxon lyrics by Alison Walker:	Original English lyrics by Bear McCreary:'
We gadriaþ in nihtscuan Neoðan þin gledstede, þin liċfæst in blode ond lieġe. Nu þin ġebann, æþreddaþ us To þæm anliċum æltæwan gastcyninge Gaius Baltar, ure dryhtweorþ nergend Nu ond æfre to alder. Swa we ġehwilc ġehalsiaþ.	We gather in shadow, Beneath your altar, Your image in blood and flame. Your image in blood and flame. By your command, deliver us Unto the One True God. Gaius Baltar, our divine savior Now and for eternity. So say we all.

Religious ceremony theme

This haunting piece is first in "Act of Contrition" during the funeral scene. When Laura Roslin's religious role became more prominent towards the end of Season 1, it became associated with her (for example in "The Hand of God"), but ultimately a different melody is used for that.

It can also be associated more closely with death as it is also used for Socinus's death in "Valley of Darkness" (originally only a temp track, it was retained) and Admiral Cain's funeral in "Resurrection Ship, Part II".

McCreary notes that, while the theme has been used for several occasions due to the producers liking it as a temp track, he always thought it be the theme for Zak Adama. As such it appears in "He That Believeth In Me" at the end of the discussion between William and Lee Adama about Zak.

Adama and Tigh theme

A military theme to underscore the friendship between William Adama and Saul Tigh, usually accompanied by snare drums. It can be heard in many scenes with the two: Adama relieving Tigh of duty in "You Can't Go Home Again", Adama thanking Tigh for saving his life in "Litmus", Adama watching marines restraining Boomer to abort her child in "Epiphanies", and Adama and Tigh talking about Ellen's death in "Hero".

It was first conceived as theme for the military aspects of the Fleet and appears as such when Apollo briefs the Viper pilots in "33". Played on a bansuri at first, it evolved over time.

Phelan theme

Usually, guest stars don't receive themes, because they rarely reappear again. For Phelan in "Black Market" however, McCreary created a piano theme. On the soundtrack it appears as "Standing in the Mud". Some of the pianos are played in unusual ways, like striking or plucking the wires directly.

• Note: The drum-like pulse effect was created by striking a satellite dish with timpani mallets.

Novacek theme

Daniel Novacek from "Hero" is another guest character with an own theme. The theme itself is a melody carried by duduk, electric sitar and other ethnic strings. Added to that is a relatively complicated string piece, that can be heard throughout the episode. When Novacek arrives on Galactica, when he tells Adama what happened to him, when Starbuck finds out the truth about Novacek and talks with Tigh, and finally his fight with Admiral Adama. Another element to this theme is a short four-chord passage that can be heard when Novacek arrives and again when he departs ("Wayward Soldier").

To kiss or not to kiss

This theme is played at the end of the Miniseries when Dualla and Billy Keikeya, as well as Sharon Valerii and Chief Tyrol are reunited and embrace. In the regular series it appears at the beginning of "The Farm" in the scene with Anders and Starbuck, and in "Sacrifice" when Keikeya proposes to Dualla. It can be thus seen as a love theme.

The title is from the Miniseries soundtrack.

Sagittaron theme

Similar to other religious themes, it appears in "The Woman King" and is played on a lone electric fiddle.

Temple of Five theme

Introduced in "The Eye of Jupiter" when Tyrol walks, like in a trance, over the algae planet and discovers the Temple of Five. It is played by an ensemble of bells, chimes, glass harmonica, glass marimba, tibetian temple bowls and tines.

When Tyrol is inside the temple for the first time, the already established religious theme serves as a starting point for a wordless vocal piece sung by Raya Yarbrough; a melody that previously appeared in "Pegasus" and "Occupation". Added instruments are yialli tanbur, zhong hu and guzheng.

When the star goes nova in "Rapture" it appears with vocals sung in Latin: "All of this has happened before. And all of this will happen again" (from Roslin's theme). When Number Three has her vision more Latin vocals are heard: "Intelligence. A mind that burns like a fire. The hand that lies in the shadows of the light, in the eye of the husband of the eye of the cow". These were previously spoken by the Hybrid in "The Passage".

Cylon theme

Not so much as a theme as a rhythm created by taiko drums. At first only used for Centurions, it is prominently used for the ace Raider Scar in the episode of the same name, where it is underscored with a Brazilian berimbau.

• Note: In a twist of irony, the theme was performed on pots, pans and toasters for "You Can't Go Home Again", before McCreary even saw the episode. In the episode, Helo and Boomer are attacked by Centurions in a restaurant and Helo is betrayed by a literal toaster and showered with pots and pans.

Basestar theme

Also called "Battlestar Sonatica", it was Ron Moore's idea to underscore the scenes on Cylon basestars with a solo piano piece similar to Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata. McCreary developed an original theme from that point, that serves to bridge the at once familiar, yet alien interior of the basestars, and also represents Baltar's fear.

It premieres in "Torn" and is heard in subsequent basestar scenes in "A Measure of Salvation", "The Passage" and "The Eye of Jupiter".

Orchestral themes

The soundscape of Battlestar Galactica was originally conceived to eschew the traditional brass orchestra, that it usually associated with science fiction. Thus, one season passed before a string orchestra was used. But since then string orchestras appeared a few times in the series, to great effect. However, they are still used sparingly and reserved for special occasions, to retain their impact.

Passacaglia

Named after an italian music form, it makes its first appearances in both parts of "Kobol's Last Gleaming" - in the opening of Part I and as a grander orchestral piece as the end of Part II - and plays during further visits to the Opera House, with which it is usually associated ("Scattered", "Hero").

Another prominent occurrence is the beginning of the "Home, Part II" (on the soundtrack as "Allegro"), accompanying Roslin's team struggling on Kobol, where it ends the whole Kobol story arc that it began. And lastly in the flashback during the climax of "Unfinished Business".

• Note: Played in a different meter in every version: Passacaglia (3/4), The Shape of Things to Come (6/8) and Allegro (4/4).

A Promise to Return

This is a Starbuck/Anders theme whose most prominent use is at the end of "The Farm", where it is performed by the Supernova String Quartet. It also plays when Thrace thinks about Anders in "Scar" and when they meet again in "Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I". After that it appears in several Season 3 episodes.

Prelude to War

Combining aggressive string orchestra with taiko drums, this theme appears at the end of "Pegasus", and before and during the Battle of the Resurrection Ship (Resurrection Ship, Part I & Part II).

• Note: The title "prelude" also refers to the so-called musical element.

Worthy of Survival

This is one of the major non-musical themes in the show. The track was developed out of "Prelude to War" for when Starbuck prepares to assassinate Cain. Then it appears in "Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II", and most prominently when Tigh poisons his wife in "Exodus, Part II", this time in an re-orchestrated version ("Gentle Execution").

It is is played with a sole duduk, violins and violas.

Classic Battlestar Galactica theme

This is of course the main theme of the Original Series, and serves as the Colonial anthem in the Re-imagined Series. It can be heard briefly during the Viper flyby during the decommissioning ceremony in the Miniseries and as the conclusion to D'anna Biers's documentary in "Final Cut".

McCreary worked with Original Series composer Stu Phillips to recreate the theme as closely as possible, but also offers a variation of it played with ethnic instruments at the beginning of the track.

Music not original to Battlestar Galactica

Cavatina

Stanley Myers's well known guitar piece Cavatina - probably best known as the theme for the movie The Deer Hunter - is used at the end of the episode "Scar".

Metamorphosis Five

This piano piece by Philip Glass plays in Kara Thrace's Delphi apartment in "Valley of Darkness". She says it was played by her father. It is heard again briefly with Tigh at Adama's beside. In reality, it's Bear McCreary at the piano.

All Along the Watchtower

Main article: The Music

This is a newly arranged version of Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower", used in the Season 3 finale "Crossroads, Part II" and hinted at earlier in "Part I". It is sung by Brendan McCreary (aka Bt4) and features Oingo Boingo's Steve Bartek playing guitar. Bear McCreary changed some of the instruments using an electric sitar and an Indian harmonium.

See Also

• Bear McCreary
• Soundtrack (Miniseries)
• Soundtrack (Season 1)
• Soundtrack (Season 2)
• Soundtrack (Season 3)

External Links

• Bear McCreary's website
• Bear McCreary's blog

Re-imagined Series definition: the process of using the FTL engines to make an near-instantaneous apparent faster-than-light transport of a ship from one point in space to another

Re-imagined Series definition: Commanding Officer; e.g. William Adama

Original Series definition: a typical Cylon response to an order (see: By your command) (TOS: "Saga of a Star World," et al.)