Alexander Courage on writing the "Star Trek" theme song - EMMYTVLEGENDS.ORG

[intermender]

I gather Gene Roddenbury stole all the royalities for Courage's music for star trek? Or is that a malicious rumour, Trekkies?

[lildevil512]

@intermender 50%.

[Trekfreek]

@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.

[HADJEE]

Anyone ever heard of "Out Of Nowhere"?

[bluehazer]

@HADJEE Yes. Sandy had to have heard that composition, you can definitely hear and feel the ST theme in the melodic structure.

[msinvincible2000]

thankyou sir for giving us this beautiful great melody

[Kliffy77]

Where no man has gone before...

[rockyPants4000]

Nice of them to give ole' Alex a story to tell, but the "that's what they tell me" part about the Whooosh, pretty much gives it away. Simple enough to listen to the theme here on YouTube, and not only is the sound nothing like what he describes, but the sound is much to quick and smooth to be voice effect.

Gives Alex something to tell the grandkids though.

[Babiankie]

@rockyPants4000 You know, they still edit his voice creating the swoosh.. =) Although he may not sound incredibly humble here, he was an incredibly humble man.

- His grandaughter

[DavidTyler1]

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.

[TheStockwell]

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.

[Mahlercougar]

@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.

[salvatorearcilesi]

genius........

[TheChronicOne]

Outstanding!!

But uhh.. the left channel seems to be out..

[rcharding]

@TheChronicOne It's not out; it's separated. Courage is on the left and interviewer is on the right.

[flyingscience]

If you google the lyrics you can sing along . The Lyrics fit Kirk to a T being the ladies man he was !

[landline00]

Wow! This gives me pause about the rerecorded version that CBS-D uses in Star Trek Remastered. If Mr. Courage himself conducted the recording session and made the "whoosh" sound, his is the authentic version. Does the Blu-ray version allow you to listen to the original theme?

[JackSzwergold]

What's amazing is how he created two iconic things (1) the theme and (2) the "whooosh" sound and it was all very matter-of-fact. The guy is a pro. Excellent!

[w4kwd]

Outstanding!

[TELEVISIONARCHIVES]

If you get the Blu ray version of Star Trek you can feel the ship go by you during the Whoosh.

[robtran]

Great interview!!

[integral]

I love his description of how the "wooshing" sound of the Enterprise going past was made.

[BLUFISH61]

In claim to fame terms that's gotta be pretty hard to top. Generational worthy cred'.

[tenacross]

Can't get it to play past 2:26, but was really interested

[psylentknight]

Definitely try it again, it played all the way for me, and it's worth it.

[Cramnella]

Yes, do. The very last part is the best. Can't wait to listen to the Whoosh!

[SonicMountain]

tenacross

Did you try moving the little "ball" backwards or forwards ? Maybe it helps.