Star Trek Season 1 Theme Songs

Discussion in 'Visual Arts' started by Benjamin Edge, Aug 3, 2015.

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  1. Benjamin Edge

    Benjamin Edge Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Milwaukie, OR, US
    For those of you who followed the series on NBC, can anyone actually remember which versions of the theme music were heard on which episodes?

    For example, "Where No Man Has Gone Before" (meaning the 3rd episode of season 1 in NBC order, not the unaired 2nd pilot) is the only version to have the original Alexander Courage version of the title theme which has him playing electric violin on the parts where Loulie Jean Norman would sing for the season 2 and 3 themes. This version was recorded August 19, 1966 during the sessions for the first NBC episode "The Man Trap." Regarding the 2nd unaired pilot to share the title "Where No Man Has Gone Before," an entirely different theme song was used during screening but was rejected in favor of the first theme when NBC finally aired it as the 3rd episode.

    This was then replaced by the version re-arranged and conducted by Fred Steiner, which now has a cello playing (presumably by Steiner) the lead lines. This version was scored September 20, 1966 during sessions for the episodes "The Corbomite Maneuver," "Balance of Terror" and "What Are Little Girls Made Of?" In NBC order it was first heard on the two-part episode "The Menagerie," which incorporated numerous footage from the first unaired pilot episode "The Cage."

    "The Cage," which did not officially air in its original form until 1988 (and which was available on VHS two years before then), had its version of the familiar theme tune featuring Loulie Jean Norman's distinctive soprano over a mixture of instruments including muted trumpet, flute, vibraphone and organ. Ms. Norman was brought back for the season 2 theme at the behest of series creator Gene Roddenberry.

    ~Ben
     
    MikaelaArsenault likes this.
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