star trek theme music instrument

Theme from Star Trek

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The "Theme from Star Trek " (originally scored under the title "Where No Man Has Gone Before" [1] and also known informally as the " Star Trek Fanfare ") is the instrumental theme music composed for Star Trek: The Original Series by Alexander Courage . First recorded in 1964 , it is played in its entirety during the opening title sequences of each episode. It is also played over the closing credits, albeit without its signature opening fanfare.

During the opening credits, the theme's opening fanfare is accompanied by the now-famous "Space: the final frontier" monologue spoken by William Shatner (with the exception of the pilot episodes, " The Cage " and " Where No Man Has Gone Before "). Throughout the opening credits, the theme is punctuated at several points by the USS Enterprise flying towards and past the camera. These "fly-bys" are accompanied by a "whoosh" sound effect created vocally by Courage himself. (Documentary: Music Takes Courage: A Tribute to Alexander Courage )

• 1 Conception and original use
• 2 Vocalization and lyrics
• 3 Later use
• 4 Other recordings and uses
• 5 External link

Conception and original use [ ]

Creator Gene Roddenberry originally approached composer Jerry Goldsmith to write the theme for Star Trek . Goldsmith, however, had other commitments and instead recommended Alexander Courage. ( Star Trek: The Motion Picture (The Director's Edition) commentary)

Courage was not a science fiction fan, referring to the genre as "marvelous malarkey." He thus saw the theme he was writing as "marvelous malarkey music." Courage composed, orchestrated and conducted the theme in one week. He drew inspiration from a Richard A. Whiting song he heard on the radio as a child called "Beyond the Blue Horizon". This song had a drawn-out tune with a steady, fast-paced beat underneath it, which Courage emulated when composing the theme. (Documentary: Music Takes Courage )

The theme used in " The Cage " – the unaired first pilot – featured a wordless melody line by soprano Loulie Jean Norman supported by electronic underpinnings. When a second pilot was ordered and the series was picked up, Norman's vocalizations were dropped from the theme.

The first season of The Original Series used two versions of the theme. On the original NBC and syndicated runs, five episodes – "Where No Man has Gone Before", the second pilot, along with " The Man Trap ", " Charlie X ", " The Naked Time ", and " Mudd's Women " – used a mixed electronic/orchestral arrangement for the opening credits, with the main melody line created electronically and accompanied by more traditional instrumentation, including a flute and an organ for both the opening and closing themes. When the series was remastered for video in the early 1980s, only "Where No Man Has Gone Before" retained this version of the theme over both the opening and closing credits, while the opening was restored to the other four episodes and placed on five others when the series was remastered again for DVD release. The closing credits for the other nine episodes, however, used a version that had only an orchestral arrangement. The mixed arrangement was first heard on " The Corbomite Maneuver " (the tenth episode aired, although it was the second episode produced), after which the show opened with the orchestral-only arrangement.

Vocalization and lyrics [ ]

For the second and third seasons , Loulie Jean Norman's wordless accompaniment was re-added to the theme. However, Norman's voice was made more prominent than it was for "The Cage".

When originally written (and as heard in "The Cage"), Courage had Norman's vocalizations and the various instruments mixed equally to produce a unique sound. According to Courage, however, Gene Roddenberry had it re-recorded with Norman's accompaniment at a higher volume above the instruments, after which Courage felt the theme sounded like a soprano solo. Roddenberry's version can be heard during the opening credits of each episode in the second and third seasons; Courage's version is heard during the closing credits.

Further souring the relationship between Roddenberry and Courage, Roddenberry wrote lyrics to the theme without Courage's knowledge – 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 commented that he believed Roddenberry's conduct was unethical, to which Roddenberry responded, " Hey, I have to get some money somewhere. I'm sure not going to get it out of the profits of Star Trek . " [2] Although the lyrics were never included on the series, they have been printed in several "TV Theme" songbooks over the years.

Later use [ ]

Portions of the Theme from Star Trek have been used in all 13 Star Trek feature films . Most of the Star Trek films' opening themes start by quoting the opening fanfare from Courage's theme, before seguéing into the film's own theme. However, there are multiple exceptions to this tradition. Star Trek: The Motion Picture did not use the fanfare at all in the opening or closing music, although a subdued version of the Theme from Star Trek was created by Courage at the request of the film's main composer, Jerry Goldsmith . [3] This arrangement of the theme was used for the " Captain's Log " cues. The theme was quoted again in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home , most extensively in the final scenes.

Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country , scored by Cliff Eidelman , broke with the tradition again. The Theme from Star Trek did not appear in the opening music, although it was used towards the end. Star Trek Generations , scored by Dennis McCarthy , on the other hand, did use the fanfare in the opening credits (and extensively throughout the score) but it did not appear until the end of the main title music.

The score for Star Trek , composed by Michael Giacchino , again did not use the fanfare in the opening title music: instead, Giacchino subtly quoted the opening notes and various other Star Trek themes from past films throughout his score. For the end credits, a re-arranged version of the Theme from Star Trek , fully orchestrated and with The Page La Studio Voices accompanying the melody line, was used. This version was also used for the end credits of Star Trek Into Darkness and Star Trek Beyond .

The theme's opening fanfare was adapted by Dennis McCarthy as the opening for the Star Trek: The Next Generation theme (the remainder of which was an adaptation of Goldsmith's theme from Star Trek: The Motion Picture ). Courage's original theme can also be heard in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode " Trials and Tribble-ations ", the Star Trek: Voyager episode " Shattered ", and the Star Trek: Enterprise series finale, " These Are the Voyages... "

Courage's theme was re-recorded for the remastered Star Trek episodes , with Elin Carlson emulating Norman's wordless vocalization.

Star Trek: Discovery composer Jeff Russo included Courage's fanfare at the end of the Discovery main titles. The theme returned in full at the end of the Season 1 finale, " Will You Take My Hand? ", playing over the closing credits after the USS Discovery intercepts a distress call from the USS Enterprise .

In the Star Trek: Strange New Worlds episode " Spock Amok ", at least a portion of the theme became diegetic (heard in the fictional universe) when a few notes of the fanfare could be heard on the PADD used to keep track of tasks for " Enterprise bingo ".

Other recordings and uses [ ]

TOS star Nichelle Nichols recorded a disco version of the theme. However, Nichols used different lyrics than those written by Gene Roddenberry. The late jazz musician Maynard Ferguson and his band also recorded a rendition of the song, a fusion version that was released on his 1977 album Conquistador . Ferguson's version was used as the opening theme for The Larry King Show on the Mutual Radio Network. The satirical rock band Tenacious D and the lounge band Love Jones recorded versions of the theme, as well, using Gene Roddenberry's lyrics.

Roy Orbison was a Star Trek fan and often opened his concerts with his band jamming to theme. [4]

The 1992 Paramount Pictures comedy Wayne's World was the first non- Trek film to use Courage's theme. In the film, the character of Garth Algar (played by Dana Carvey ) whistles the theme while he and Wayne Campbell ( Mike Myers ) lie on the hood of Wayne's car, looking up at the stars. When Garth finishes the tune, he tells Wayne, " Sometimes I wish I could boldly go where no one's gone before. But I'll probably just stay in Aurora. " The theme can also be heard in the films Muppets from Space (1999, starring F. Murray Abraham ) and RV (2006, starring Robin Williams and featuring Brian Markinson ).

At the 2005 Primetime Emmy Awards, TOS star William Shatner and opera 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 2009, the theme was used as the wake-up call for the crew of mission STS-125 aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis .

For the 2021 inauguration of US President Joe Biden , acclaimed cellist Yo-Yo Ma played the fanfare of the theme as a prelude to his performance of another song significant to Star Trek , " Amazing Grace ". [5]

External link [ ]

• Theme from Star Trek at Wikipedia
• 1 Rachel Garrett
• 3 USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-G)

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WATCH: The Surprising Musical Origins of Star Trek’s Theme Song

Beginning with the now-famous monologue by William Shatner, “Space: the final frontier”, the opening notes of Star Trek’s theme song have become ingrained in the minds of fans around the world.

The iconic song, written by Alexander Courage in 1964, is played at the opening and closing credits of every episode of the original series and has been reinterpreted in some form for each Star Trek feature film.

In a new video released by Canada’s CBC Music, host Tom Allen explores the connection between the song and some of history’s greatest classical music composers, including Beethoven, Brahms, and Mahler.

Check out the video below.

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• Nov 2, 2023

Star Trek’s Theme Music: Secrets Explained

The theme music for the original Star Trek series is a fantastic masterpiece, reflecting the amazing imagination of its creator, Gene Roddenberry.

Composed by Alexander Courage in 1966, the theme is fifty seconds long and it incorporates a blend of classical orchestration and futuristic sounds.

Brilliantly composed by Courage in only three days, the end result was a beautiful piece that embodies hope and adventure.

Roddenberry played a vital role in shaping the theme and, interestingly, he wrote lyrics for it, although they were never used.

The music not only became synonymous with the series, but also seeped into popular culture, finding its way into countless parodies and media forms.

The composition ingeniously includes the unusual tones of the theremin, an electronic musical device played without human physical contact. A theremin produces sound based on the proximity of the player's hands to its antennas, creating eerie and haunting tones. This innovative inclusion added an element of the unknown, and also perfectly captured the show's futuristic and otherworldly themes.

The haunting celestial vocalizations in the theme were actually sung by a choir, and not made electronically. They create a mysterious quality synonymous with the uncharted territories that the Enterprise explored.

The original Star Trek series theme is a testament to the creative ingenuity of its composer and the visionary spirit of its creator. Its enduring appeal lies in its ability to evoke a sense of mystique and excitement, inviting us on a journey through the universe of imagination.

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You know the reason Gene wrote lyrics to the original theme is because he wanted a cut of the royalties instead of the composer? He was a lot of things, greedy amongst them.

Home / Learn / Theremin FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions About the Theremin

New to the theremin? Here's a list of common questions and answers we've heard over the years to help you get started!

Q: What is a theremin?

The theremin is an electronic musical instrument that is played without being touched. It most often takes the form of a box (wooden is most common) with 2 metal antennas protruding from it. By waving your hands near the antennas, you can control pitch and volume.

Q: How does a theremin work?

The theremin works on the principles of heterodyning and capacitance. When you wave your hands near the antenna, you form a capacitor between your hand and the antenna. A capacitor's properties vary by distance between its two "plates" and by the material between them (in this case, air). The hand/antenna capacitor is part of a circuit known as an oscillator. The output from this oscillator is mixed with the output from a fixed oscillator (one that does not vary), and the difference between the two is extracted. For the volume circuit, this signal is converted to control the loudness of the instrument, and for the pitch circuit, the signal is amplified into the tone you hear.

Q: When was the theremin invented?

The theremin was invented in 1920 by Professor Lev Sergeyvich Termen (whose name was later anglicized to Leon Theremin). It is believed to be one of the very first electronic musical instruments.

Q: Was that a theremin on the Beach Boys song Good Vibrations ?

No! This is a very common myth. In fact, the instrument was custom-built for the Beach Boys by Paul Tanner, and is known as a Tannerin or Electro-Theremin. You can learn more about the Tannerin and how to buy one at Tom Polk's website . 

Q: Did the original Doctor Who theme song use a theremin?

Sorry, also no. The Doctor Who theme was performed by Delia Derbyshire in 1963 using a combination of hand-tuned oscillators and tape loops that we cut and spliced together in a technique known as musique concrete.

Q: Did the original Star Trek theme use a theremin?

No. The original theme was sung by soprano Loulie Jean Norman and was not a theremin. Another variation was performed with a violin.

Q: How do you play the theremin?

The basics are pretty simple. The left antenna controls volume, and the right antenna controls pitch. The closer your hand comes to the volume antenna, the quieter the volume. The closer your hand comes to the pitch antenna, the higher the pitch. The challenge comes in finding the right pitch and holding it steady while producing proper phrasing with your volume hand. It's a bit like patting your head and rubbing your stomach, if your head and stomach were in slight different places every time you tried!

Q: Why do some theremins only have one antenna?

Generally, single antenna theremins only have a pitch antenna. You can see an example of this in the video of Led Zeppelin's Whole Lotta Love.  Single antenna theremins tend to be much less expensive than models with two antennas.

Q: How do I build my own theremin?

Building a theremin is not for the faint-hearted, but it is possible! We have lots of theremin plans available on our schematics page , and you can usually find technical help in our forums . Alternatively, you can find kits for various skill levels (see our theremin store for some examples). You'll need to be comfortable with soldering in either route.

Star Trek Fans Notice First Contact Music Played During A Historic Moment

Star Trek: First Contact has a great score, and it appears to have been played during a modern historical moment.

• Sweden's induction into NATO was marked by the Star Trek: First Contact theme, approved by many as a perfect fit for the occasion.
• The iconic Star Trek theme played at the flag-raising ceremony helped set the tone for the historic event in Sweden's NATO accession.
• Star Trek's music plays a significant role in shaping the franchise's identity, adding emotional depth and cultural resonance to its storytelling.

Star Trek fans were surprised and pleased when they heard the Star Trek: First Contact theme during Sweden's induction into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

On March 7, Sweden officially became a member of NATO, an alliance of countries from Europe and North America committed to defending each other against third-party attacks. Sweden, the newest member, now has equal power in shaping NATO policies and will receive guaranteed support from its allies. In one part of the historic ceremony, Star Trek fans noticed a familiar music -- the Star Trek: First Contact theme.

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Trek Central shared a clip on X, formerly Twitter, taken before the flag-raising ceremony where the Star Trek: First Contact theme by Jerry Goldsmith was played in the background. The event was held at the NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, during Sweden's accession to the alliance earlier this month. It was raining, but the participants remained undisturbed by the weather. The two officials holding the flag stood straight in the rain while waiting for the ceremony to start officially.

The video received several responses from netizens, with many approving the choice of theme. For them, the Star Trek theme was perfect to mark the historic day. One said it was a nice touch to use a theme that highlights the strength and values shared by an interstellar organization. Several agreed, saying that there was no fitting theme for such an alliance that aimed to promote peace. However, several suggested other songs from the franchise like Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' "I'm Ready" by Jess Bush, Celia Rose Gooding, Melissa Navia, Dan Jeannotte, Tom Polce and Kay Hanley, Spock's Arrival and Star Trek: Beyond's Starbase Yorktown theme.

The Star Trek theme NATO played for Sweden's induction is no doubt a great choice. The Federation involves hundreds of planet alliances with the same goal as NATO for mutual scientific and defense benefits. Hence, there is an association making the song a legitimate choice. It was a great pick because the song was played before the flag ceremony, and it set the tone for the program. However, if it was in another scenario where upbeat music was more appropriate, "I'm Ready" would be a great choice. In the song, Bush sings:

This news really changes everything / A distant dream becoming real /

I convinced myself it wasn't happening / And now I'm surprised how good it feels /

I worked so hard for this / And now the fellowship sees me as one of their own /

The sky is the limit, my future is infinite / My possibilities are endless /

I'm ready

Musical themes in Star Trek are not just iconic tunes, they are a significant component of the franchise's identity, helping to shape its story-telling, emotional depth and cultural resonance. The franchise's music has become synonymous with the exploration of space, the spirit of adventure, and the pursuit of a better future. They evoke a sense of wonder, hope and nostalgia and reflect distinct personalities in the arc. For instance, Captain Kirk's theme reflects his boldness and leadership, while the haunting strains of the Enterprise theme capture the ship's majesty and exploration spirit.

Additionally, the adventurous melodies of the main themes, punctuated by soaring crescendos and pulsating rhythms, evoke the thrill of venturing into the unknown. Whether boldly going where no one has gone before or encountering new civilizations, the music serves as a sonic embodiment of these epic journeys.

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