“Star Trek” Theme Composer Alexander Courage Dies

By Michael Santo
Editor-in-Chief, RealTechNews

This isn’t technically a story on tech, or even on science, but how could I not write about the death of Alexander Courage, composer of the theme of the original Star Trek series (ST:TOS)? He was 88.

Courage died May 15 at the Sunrise assisted-living facility in Pacific Palisades, according to his step-daughter, Renata Pompelli of Los Angeles, who announced his passing on Thursday. He had been in poor health for three years.

He was twice-nominated for an Academy Award, for Best Music, Scoring of Music, Adaptation or Treatment for: Doctor Dolittle (1967) and Best Music, Scoring of Music, Adaptation or Treatment for: The Pleasure Seekers (1964).

He was nominated for Emmys for Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction for: Liberty Weekend (1987) and Outstanding Achievement in Music Composition - For a Series or a Single Program of a Series (First Year of Music’s Use Only) for: Medical Center (1973). He won an Emmy for Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction for: Julie Andrews: The Sound of Christmas (1988).

In an interview for the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation’s Archive of American Television in 2000, Courage said:

“I have to confess to the world that I am not a science fiction fan. Never have been. I think it’s just marvelous malarkey. … So you write some, you hope, marvelous malarkey music that goes with it.”

Courage said he also mouthed the “whooshing” sound heard frequently in the opening theme as the starship Enterprise zooms through the opening credits.

For those of you wondering, it’s true: there were lyrics to the theme; these were written by Gene Roddenberry.

Beyond the rim of the starlight,
my love is wandering in star flight.
I know he’ll find
In star clustered reaches
Love, strange love
A starwoman teaches.

I know his journey ends never.
His Star Trek will go on forever.
But tell him while
He wanders his starry sea,
Remember,
Remember me.

The problem, however, was that Roddenberry wrote the lyrics so that he could claim a 50% share of the music’s performance royalties. Courage was understandably upset at this, and called the behavior unethical.

Roddenberry was quoted as responding, “Hey, I have to get some money somewhere. I’m sure not going to get it out of the profits of Star Trek.”