Composer Alexander Courage who wrote the soaring theme for the "Star Trek" TV series in the 1960s and was an Emmy Award-winning, Oscar-nominated arranger, has died. He was 88Courage, who had been in declining health since 2005, died May 15 at an assisted-living facility in Pacific Palisades, said his step-daughter, Renata Pompelli
He worked as an orchestrator on film musicals like "My Fair Lady," "Hello, Dolly! "Doctor Dolittle" and "Fiddler on the Roof" -- as well as for original films-working with two of my favorite film music composers-John Williams and Jerry Goldsmith including "The Poseidon Adventure," "Jurassic Park," Basic Instinct," Sleeping with the Enemy" Rudy, L.A. Confidential and "The Mummy.
""He made a very big contribution to the musical life of Hollywood from the end of the second World War to recent years," Williams told The LA Times on Thursday.
"He was known to most musicians in the community as having been one of the architects of what we used to refer to as the MGM sound, which meant that most of the musical films from MGM had a particular style of orchestration, which was an extension and development of what was done in the theater in the 1920s," Williams added.
His contributions to Trek are immeasurable and its that stirring theme that will always be with me...
The recently released complete score for Superman IV: The Quest for Peace adapted and conducted by Courage at the request of Williams is a true gift. Courage was able to honor Williams and his themes-while making it sound fresh not an easy feat...
I know Courage has been ill....Still it's a very sad day indeed...
Thank You Mr Courage...for setting Trek on the right musical course...
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