hroughout its half-decade history, the Babylon 5 TV series faced
overwhelming obstacles, including frequently shifting airtimes, ongoing fears
that the program would be canceled, and even the exodus of a few major cast
members. Yet despite these impediments, for most viewers the adventure
remained enthralling and enjoyable.
Creator J. Michael Straczynski is rightfully credited for much of the
show's success, but composer Christopher Franke also deserves kudos for
bringing musical consistency to the oftentimes byzantine story line. On its
latest batch of CDs devoted to the program, Sonic Images Records showcases
Franke's contributions to a quartet of key episodes: "Falling Towards
Apotheosis," "Darkness Ascending," "Objects at Rest" and "Sleeping in
Light."
Each of the four albums focuses on an individual show, presenting the
melodies in the order they were initially aired. There are six tracks per
disc, with nearly every selection consisting of between two and five
individual cues clustered together. Like previous releases in this
ongoing CD series, the packaging forgoes traditional liner notes, instead
printing informational text beneath the transparent inner tray and on the
back of the jewel case. The platters themselves are decorated with
eye-catching geometric designs that serve as the cover art.
Compassionate cues
During B5's formative years, much of the action centered around
grand struggles such as the Shadow War. However, by the final season, many of
the large-scale conflicts had given way to highly personal dramas. These
relatively intimate subplots required significantly more heartfelt harmonic
accompaniment, which listeners can readily experience on this set of
remarkably evocative recordings.
Compassionate cues are especially evident on "Sleeping in Light," the last
episode of the series. In what is undoubtedly one of his most affecting
scores, Franke simultaneously echoes and enhances the emotions of the
on-screen characters as they prepare for the impending death of President
Sheridan and the demolition of the Babylon 5 space station. The melodies on
"Objects at Rest," the penultimate chapter of the saga, are also quite
poignant, subtly introducing many of the moving motifs that are so
effectively incorporated in the finale.
"Falling Towards Apotheosis" functions as a transitional tale, with the
soundtrack delivering a pleasing fusion of exciting and emotional tunes,
while "Darkness Ascending" offers compositions that are clearly indicative of
the episode's ominous atmosphere. The Babylon 5 story may have
concluded, but through these impressive CDs Franke's marvelous music, and in
a sense the program itself, lives on.
