"Theme from Star Trek" (originally scored under the title "Where No Man Has Gone Before")[1] was an instrumental piece written by Alexander Courage for Star Trek, the science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry and originally aired between September 8, 1966 and September 2, 1969.
History
The tune was played over both the opening and closing credits of the original series. The opening credits begin with the now-famous "Space: the final frontier" monologue recited by series star William Shatner, accompanied by an opening fanfare. The main theme begins, punctuated at several points by the Enterprise flying toward and past the camera with a "whoosh" sound for dramatic effect, created vocally by Courage himself.[2] The theme, minus the fanfare, was played over the closing credits, which were overlaid on a series of stills from various episodes.
The first season's initial ten episodes used Courage's original mix of a wordless rendition of the melody line sung by soprano Loulie Jean Norman combined with flute and organ, over an orchestral arrangement. Courage said "the whole idea was to mix it in so that it would be a 'what is that that I'm hearing?' sound".[3] This theme was last heard on "The Corbomite Maneuver". After this, the mix was changed to bring up the female vocal. The end titles of all these episodes used an orchestral-only version, save for the second pilot, "Where No Man Has Gone Before", which used the same vocal version for the end titles, and also did not have the familiar opening narration. The unbroadcast pilot "The Cage" used a slightly different version which has both a human soprano voice, electronic underpinnings as well as symphonic support.citation needed
In 2006, CBS began syndicating a "remastered" version of the series with numerous changes, including a re-recording of the theme music. Elin Carlson, a professional singer and lifetime Star Trek fan, re-recorded Norman's wordless vocals.[4]
Over time, the show's theme tune has become immediately recognizable, even by many people who have never seen the program. Portions of the original theme music have been used in subsequent Star Trek series' and motion pictures. Jerry Goldsmith quoted the theme in the first Star Trek motion picture, where it softly accompanies the "captain's log" scenes. Dennis McCarthy reused the original theme's fanfare when he reworked Goldsmith's main theme for use as Star Trek: The Next Generation's opening theme, where the fanfare precedes Goldsmith's theme. Most of the subsequent Star Trek films' main title music starts with the fanfare before seguéing into music composed specially for the given film.
For the upcoming eleventh Star Trek movie, composer Michael Giacchino is expected to use the theme in his score.[5]
Lyrics
Without Courage's knowledge, Roddenberry wrote lyrics to the theme—not in the expectation that they would ever be sung, but in order to claim a 50% share of the music's performance royalties. Although there was never any litigation, Courage later commented that he believed Roddenberry's conduct was unethical. Roddenberry was quoted as responding, "Hey, I have to get some money somewhere. I'm sure not going to get it out of the profits of Star Trek".[6]
Other recordings and uses
In the 1970s, Nichelle Nichols, who portrayed Uhura on the original series, recorded a disco version of the song with lyrics different from Roddenberry's.
Jazz trumpeter Maynard Ferguson recorded a fusion version of the tune with his big band, first released on his Conquistador album in January 1977.
- The beginning of this version was also used as the opening theme for The Larry King Show on the Mutual Radio Network. It was so popular that King would occasionally play the entire song at the end of the show.
In the movie Wayne's World, Garth is heard whistling the Star Trek theme while lying on top of the hood of an AMC Pacer. While looking at the stars, he says, "Sometimes I wish I could boldly go where no one's gone before".
At the 2005 Emmys, Shatner and operatic singer Frederica von Stade performed a live version of the theme, with Shatner reciting the opening monologue and von Stade singing the wordless melody line.
In the 2006 film RV, Jeff Daniels' character has an RV with a horn that uses a snippet of the theme.
In 2007, some TV ads for the Hummer H3 featured the theme recording used in the second and third seasons.
References
- ^ Tim Grant Engle (editor, writer), Bob Klein (producer). (2006, March). Malibu Celebration of Film Presents Music Takes Courage: A Tribute to Alexander Courage (part 1) [video]. Retrieved on 2007-05-20. Event occurs at 0:39.
- ^ Tim Grant Engle (editor, writer), Bob Klein (producer). (2006, March). Malibu Celebration of Film Presents Music Takes Courage: A Tribute to Alexander Courage (part 4) [video]. Retrieved on 2007-05-20. Event occurs at 2:39. "So I went out on the stage and watched the screen, and as it went by, there was the microphone. I just went "whooosh", and that's what they used."
- ^ Tim Grant Engle (editor, writer), Bob Klein (producer). (2006, March). Malibu Celebration of Film Presents Music Takes Courage: A Tribute to Alexander Courage (part 4) [video]. Retrieved on 2008-07-20. Event occurs at 2:06.
- ^ Elin Carlson. "The Re-recording of the Original Star Trek Theme". Retrieved on 2008-07-20.
- ^ "Alexander Courage, Composer of the Original 'Star Trek' Theme, Dies". WCBS Newsradio 880 (2008-05-30). Retrieved on 2008-05-30.
- ^ "Unthemely Behavior". Urban Legends Reference Pages (March 10, 1999). Retrieved on 2007-05-20.
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