Fictional music

In my experience it is rare that works of science fiction or fantasy employ music as part of the story. For example, as I recall, the original "Star Trek" TV series of between seventy and eighty episodes did this in only two programs: jangling bells as part of Spock's marriage ceremony on Vulcan and a sort of lyre or harp used in "Searching for Eden".
I have just run across an interesting description which I find so beautifully written I'd like to share it with you. Perhaps it may even inspire a composition. It is in the paperback book, "Star Winds" by Barrington J. Bayley, Daw Books, Inc., Donald A. Wollheim, publisher, copyright 1978 by the author, pages 122 - 123:

A tinkling sound reached Rachad's ears as he encountered the first
coils of the sparkling smoke. Stepping down the staircase was like
floating through a cloud. The tones, initially random and inchoate,
increased in volume and texture, coalescing as he moved into a collage
of shifting, novel melodies of incredible complexity and color.
The duke's voice drifted to him. "Does the melody mist please you?
The smoke is composed of crystal particles, each emitting a tiny tone. In
addition the crystals have a vibrational empathy with one another; they
respond to each other, creating elaborate webs of sound that movement
translates into tunes and harmonies. No composer could equal the
inventiveness of the mist . . . music, I find, is a unique adjunct to the
stirrings of the soul. . . . My Aegis is everywhere pervaded by music. . . .
One could become lost in music. . . ."
The murmuring voice went on, droning against the ever-meshing,
ever-separating and commingling maze pf melody, which was beginning
to lull Rachad into a state of helpless fascination, especially as the
melodies were so alien to his ear. But then they reached the bottom of
the steps and, a little farther on, emerged into clearer air.
. . .
They strolled across a mosaic floor strewn with what looked like rose
petals. The music had faded to a tinkle, like the sound of a running
stream in the background.

It reminds me a bit of computer generated composition. But this book, being a space opera, complete with faster than light ships sailing on the solar wind, pistols, swords and horses, has no computers.

John F. Sprague wrote...

> In my experience it is rare that works of science fiction or fantasy employ
> music as part of the story.

I've noticed this, too. If you can ever find it (now out of print for
some years) my fantasy novel "A Harlot of Venus" has a long passage
describing a mystical erotic ceremony with lavish music as well as a
flamboyant character who plays the keyboard in a forest. I won't post it
here... If anyone ever finds a copy, I'd be glad to autograph it... ;-)

Rick