2001: A Space Odyssey | Soundtrack Suite (Alex North) [Rejected Score]

Interesting stuff. If it weren't for the decision for Kubrick to use the other music, I don't know if I'd be exposed to Penderecki or Ligeti at the time...

Spartacus in space!

Now I hear this, I think it might have been an inspiration for John Williams AI soundtrack...

I am so glad Kubrick didn't use any of this score. 2001 would have dated really badly with this outdated, mediocre music. Kubrick's decision to use pre-existing classical music was a masterstroke of pure genius and what makes 2001: A Space Odyssey feel so timeless.

The beginning is very like to the sounds in "Shoes of the fisherman" I think even it's the same.

you should be fucking euthanised if you think kubrick should have kept this score as part of the film

There's nothing particularly wrong with this score but it is definitely not the right score for 2001. As merrycynic says, it would fit much better in one of those corny adventure movies from the late 1940s/50s. Maybe one set in the jungle (which is what the drums reminded me of) or the desert, where the swooning heroine is kidnapped and the hero resolutely sets his steely jaw, hefts his trusty weapon and heads off to rescue her - maybe with a faithful friend or two at his side - braving wild animals and a host of assorted baddies on the way.

The Strauss and Ligeti pieces just worked better...as much as a fan I am of Alex..I look at this as a grand Alex North symphony.

Beautiful work. I read North was frustrated and angered when Kubrick abandoned his score for Strauss and Ligeti.

A good soundtrack, but not for this film at all. It is odd for the film tone.

it's a good soundtrack, but inadequate to Kubrick's masterpiece. I can't imagine 2001 without Strauss or Ligeti

I like the fluttering rhythm during the Pan Am shuttle's approach and docking with the Orbiter Hilton, but for the rest of the movie, the Kubrick choices are far better.

We all have been conditioned by the original soundtrack. There is a phenomenon about branding a score to a film to the point where no other music can work. If a film has a bad score the music isn't ever branded, but great music is branded and can't be replaced... even with the originally intended score.

Anything would have been better than the music of J.Strauss

The first 2 1/2 minutes was decent and felt similar to the musical score in 2001. But then, it went a whole different direction after that. Kubrick made the right decision to reject this.

Terrible. North is overrated.

I think it was a good choice to not use this score; would’ve dated the movie

2001: A Garden of Personal Mirrors

You can hear Alex trying to appease Kubrick by writing a similar 3 stanzas for the Main Title, each stanza more climactic than the previous and concluded the cue with an organ chord just like the Strauss.

Amazing score. But obviously the pieces by the famous classical masters work better for this film.

The first two minutes forty four is very reminiscent of Kachaturian's "Gayane," which was used for the scene aboard the "Discovery," as (?)Frank Poole is jogging around the circular carousel. As for the rest of this effort, it would have brought the film down from sublime to merely good.

Great Music But Probably Not Right For 2001 A Space Odyssey!🤔🎻📯🎼🎼🎵🎶🦍🦧🦴🦴🧑‍🚀🧑‍🚀🚀🛰🖲💻🌌🌕🌑🇺🇲

I much prefer North's score to Kuprick's [sic intentional] choices, with the exception of Ligeti.

Thank God Kubrick binned it!

Wow, I am stunned that so many people favor the soundtrack as it appeared in the film rather than this alternate - and original - version by Alex North. I think it is quite stunning and would have worked quite well in my opinion. It reminds me a bit of PLANET OF THE APES by Jerry Goldsmith. (I was given this soundtrack by my brother and really liked it. I am listening online today while proofreading work documents.)

God this would have been awful.

It reminds me of Pet sounds.. now what an interesting collaboration that could of been!

Kubrick was nothing if not derivative. Not an original idea in his head. Sir Alex was abused, as were so many who subjected themselves to Stanley.

North worked for two years on thus score and Kubrick's ego didn't allow for him to at least use some of the composer's work. Not to sound sacrilegious but the film to me is quite boring but a technological marvel and would most certainly been enhanced by Mr. North's score.

Nice soundtrack, but I really understand Kubrick choice.

La música que más me impresiona es "Así Habló Zarathustra de Richard Strauss.

So many films of the 60's were blighted by poor soundtracks that were very out of date before they were released- glad 2001 avoided that fate !

I just read MGM forced North on this film,Kubrick's choice was already made for classic pieces, it was dead at birth..

We would ALL think differently if the Alex North musical score had been used.

Some lovely music, just not the drama. Great score for Spartacus II.

This one of the most recognizable soundtracks I've heard in my lifetime. I'm 68 so I've heard a few. By the way, it's really good.

This score sounds like a 'Planet of the Apes' wannabe.

Love this work.
SK made a mistake to go with Blue Danube (though I do like RICHARD Strauss). Also, the recordings they used sound like they were performed by a not-so-good High School orchestra.

2001: An EPCOT Day Pass

That an Alex North score was "rejected' encourages me as a writer, somewhat.

I hear the original 1968 Planet of the Apes.

A thoughtful commentary on the film rather than imitating what was on the screen.

If I’m not mistaken, this score was later used in the critically acclaimed Britney Spears film, Crossroads.

Wow. Glad this was rejected; it is NOT AT ALL suited for 2001. It belongs in "Dragonslayer" or "Planet of the Apes"; something like that.

A soundtrack that seems to me to be very dated for its time and more typical of a commercial product.
Musically, above all, not a masterpiece.
Paradoxically, all the music chosen by Kubrick is older than this but appears more modern.

It is a good score but it is not Strauss and Ligeti. Kubrich should have told him wo a doubt

Alex north User it in the movies "In the Shows of the Fisherman"