Alexander Courage on writing the "Star Trek" theme song - EMMYTVLEGENDS.ORG
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- Опубліковано 20 вер 2024
- Composer Alexander ("Sandy") Courage describes how he came to write the theme song for the TV series "Star Trek" and reveals how he created the "swoosh" sound effect for the Enterprise!
For the rest of this interview, visit
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The interview was conducted by Jon Burlingame on February 8, 2000.
I love his description of how the "wooshing" sound of the Enterprise going past was made.
As to "who really knows," it was a shock and surprise to Courage when he found out about Roddenberry tossing those lyrics onto Courage's theme. It meant Roddenberry got co-writing credits for Courage's music - and, of course, royalties. Courage angrily quit and that's why he didn't write music for the show after doing such a great job in the first season. That's the story told by the show's producers who were there when it happened. By the way, Roddenberry's lyrics don't fit the melody.
I am a huge fan of your grandfather's work. He really is missed by music lovers around th world. He was a great man.
Thank You for posting this remarkable interview. He is thoughtful and polite. His timeless scoring added a special quality to star trek, enhancing the entire production. It became an iconic series to a large degree due to his genius!
This is such a GOOD interview! Great find! This man is the sound effect for the Enterprise flying through space! And he did it for free. Incredible history!
Alexander Courage was also the biggest talent of the show, outside of the science fiction authors that the writers stole their best stories from. His music made the show what it was, even more so that the great acting talent they managed to corral for it.
Until now, I've never seen his face or heard his voice. Whoever put this up, thanks.
He does kind of hint at it here when he somewhat goes out of his way to clarify "without lyrics"
thankyou sir for giving us this beautiful great melody
For those that don't know - the 'Lyrics' to the theme were an afterthought by Roddenberry. It's thought that he did it to get some of the writing credit but who really knows. Sandy is a real gentleman for not bringing it up here. Talk was that he was fairly angry about it at the time.
That is because according to Star Trek: The Inside Story, The man got shafted out of the full royalties by Roddenberry throwing in stupid never used lyrics at the last minute so he could get a share of half of the royalties.
Where no man has gone before...
@TheStockwell Oh yes.. I totally know that story that was told to me when I studied Film scoring. It is the only time where I totally *lost* respect for Gene Roddenberry trying to cash in on a composers royalties, which back then werent as much but enough to keep someone employed.
Its so underhanded and I *heard* the song w/ lyrics and it **totally** doesnt fit the melody. I agree.
Doing something complex/difficult as composing, then arranging, then orchestrating, and then conducting as well as recording all this within a week (being the woosh in the theme is an interesting factoid) --- I felt that his response was candid not a sign of person that's not humble.
genius........
If you google the lyrics you can sing along . The Lyrics fit Kirk to a T being the ladies man he was !
Can't get it to play past 2:26, but was really interested
Note to "EmmyTVLegends" lower the interviewers microphone, it is WAY too loud compared to Mr. Courage.
Sound design, sound music.
Outstanding!!
But uhh.. the left channel seems to be out..
@intermender 50%.
@intermender Back than there was no such thing as legal royalties. What happens is they offer an either or proposition. Either we pay you now or we pay you a small reward for every time your music is played. Most people went for the pay me now option. So the answer to your question is no.