2001: A Space Odyssey Opening Alex North Version

This is the unused music Alex Noth composed for the opening of 2001: A Space Odyssey. Stanley Kubrick chose to stick with his "temp" track of Richard Strauss' Also Sprach Zarathustra.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• 2001
• A Space Odyssey
• Alex north
• Stanley Kubrick
• Richard Strauss
• Also Sprach Zarathustra

[karateghostbuster]

A bit unfair on Alex North don't you think? It actually fits the film perfectly, but we're comparing his efforts with a couple of pieces specially selected from the back catoalogues of some of Europe's greatest composers.

Also, we've had 40 years to get used to Kubrik's soundtrack, so of course anything else will sound out of place.

[jslasher1]

Alex North later used the fanfare motive in The Shoes of the Fisherman.

[ClaptonDennis]

I like this.

[billscorpse]

This is awful.

[sfxjames]

Putting all the funny stuff aside isn't this what the art of film making is all about? Conveying hidden meanings by use of camera angles, the camera work is expressing to us that this film is much more than about space travel and exploration but an exploration into ourselves as well.

[bozo47p]

stan your a naughty boy.....hehehje

[bozo47p]

stan you crazy bastard....your are the greatist...I understand this flick....you are so much fun....lol... my hats off to you...intellectualy stimulating in a 'G' rating soft porn kind of way......I luv it....space ship discovery... a phalis...;one man... probe a sperm cell....the monolith a vagina....the ultimate trip a ,,,a tour through the universel uterus...finaly meeting at the the place of conception...thus spauning the dawn of a new inntellectual speciese of man...with no romance

[bozo47p]

man 'o' man what a rightious tune ,,,,this was great.....it would have vworked just as well...wow

[MuizeekPhanahtic]

What a chilling, interesting & unique presentation to watch. I found myself riveted all the way through. Of course it was bound to come off as a shock, either positive or negative. To me, I recognize the fact that Alex North was gifted score maker for his time & his sonic images have left lasting legacies on viewers. Not to mention that Kubrick & him had worked together before ("Spartacus"). I liked this experience; it was a cinematic impression of wonder. Interesting to hear the contrast.

[jedidarrick]

@cyberlarry7 Alan Silvestri also became part of this exclusive club. His scores for Pirates of the Caribbean and Mission: Impossible got tossed away. The only difference is that while Alan Silvestri's rejected scores were boring, here it sounds like Alex North incorporated some of Also Sprach Zarathustra to make a good, yet Hollywoodish, opening theme. However, there is no doubt about it. Kubrick made the right choice.