Commedia Beauregard's "Klingon Christmas Carol" is just what it sounds like: Dickens' "A Cristmas Carol" presented entirely in tlhIngan Hol (with English supertitles, thankfully), the Klingon language created by Marc Okrand for the "Star Trek" films and TV shows. The protagonist SQuja' (Scrooge) refuses to practice the Klingon virtue of bellicosity, and has lost honor as a result. Just before The Feast of the Long Night, three avatars of the messianic Klingon character Kahless appear to SQuja' to show him visions and restore honor to his family.
This project allowed me to imagine what the music of Klingon civilization would sound like. Given the culture's concern with honor, discipline and militarism, I employed a variety of hard-edged percussive tones while respecting the stylish ornamentation evident in the society's armor, spacecraft and weapons design.
MARLI'S THEME
Underscores an appearance by the spirit of marlI' (Jacob Marley). I imagined this piece to have funereal associations in Klingon culture. The bell tones-- originally sampled from assorted kitchen metalware, then pitch-shifted and combined to imply intervals not used in Earthbound scales-- have a dolorous feel, but still retain an honorably aggressive edge.
marlI's Theme [ excerpt ] [ mp3 ]
FIGHT MUSIC
The director wanted the underscoring for combat scenes to evoke the campy sensibility of music cues from the original Star Trek show. There didn't seem to be any such thing as going too far over the top here, as theme upon urgent theme piled up.
Fight Music [ excerpt ] [ mp3 ]
SQUJA'S THEME
Definitely the tenderest musical moment in the show. I wanted us to develop sympathy for SQuja' in his solitary moments, so I developed this cue to evoke some pathos without getting maudlin. I imagine the instrument here as something played with a bellows, like a pump organ or a massive accordion-like device.
Squja's Theme [ excerpt ] [ mp3 ]
KAHLESS FUTURE
A raw, ominous dirge to herald the "Ghost of Christmas Future" figure. I imagine a strong-lunged Klingon blowing a massive horn like something the Vikings might have used. (In reality, the voice is that of a French horn transposed far lower than normal.)
Kahless Future [ excerpt ] [ mp3 ]
MARCH
Okrand's "Klingon for the Galactic Traveller" relates that in Klingon culture, music is often utilized to re-live military glory. Hence, for the triumphant ending, what could be more celebratory than a martial rhythm? Honor is restored! Dumbek and taiko drums coexist!
March [ excerpt ] [ mp3 ]
TRANSPORTER SOUND
In addition to scoring the production, I also created an original transporter sound effect to accompany the ghosts' transporting SQuja' from place to place. I decided to evoke the "Next Generation" era here.
