Original 'Star Trek' composer Alexander Courage dies

Alexander "Sandy" Courage, the man who composed the theme for the original "Star Trek" TV series, died May 15. He was 88.

The Times obituary, written by Dennis McLellan, notes that Courage had been in declining health since 2005. His 54-year career began at CBS Radio in 1946, and through the decades Courage's music could be heard in a string of popular musicals and films, including "Annie Get Your Gun," "Gigi" and "Jurassic Park."

But Courage's best-known work will probably remain the opening them for the 1960s "Star Trek" series, arguably the most recognizable piece of television scoring of all time. Writes McLellan, quoting film music historian John Burlingame :

The eight-note brass fanfare that Courage wrote to herald the starship Enterprise became one of the most familiar musical signatures in TV history.

"I'd argue that it's the most famous fanfare in the world," Burlingame, who teaches film music history at USC, said Thursday. "It's been around 42 years -- and it's all around the world -- and when you hear those eight notes you immediately think of the Enterprise."

Though composer Jerry Goldsmith became associated with the "Star Trek" franchise beginning with the release of the first film in 1979, Courage's original fanfare continued to be linked with the films.

A YouTube clip from the original show is below:

Awhile back, Extended Play chatted with composer Michael Giacchino, who will be scoring the upcoming "Star Trek" film from J.J. Abrams. Giacchino talked briefly about the daunting task of writing music for "Star Trek."