Tonic Jukebox History
WEEK 60 - Into Space
Since 2011, May the 4th has been known across Star Wars Fandom as Star Wars Day. It was chosen due to the pun 'May The Fourth be with You' (May the force be with you). So this week we are boldly going where no Jukebox has gone before. You will experience close encounters of many kinds. Full speed ahead Mr Sulu. (Yes, I know that's Star Trek.)
Monday May 3
Also sprach Zarathustra
Also sprach Zarathustra (Thus Spoke/Spake Zarathustra) is a tone poem by Richard Strauss, composed in 1896 and inspired by Friedrich Nietzsche's philosophical 1883-1885 novel Thus Spoke Zarathustra. The initial fanfare, titled Sunrise in the composer's programme notes, became well known after its use in Stanley Kubrick's 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey.
Zarathustra (a.k.a. Zoroaster) was an ancient Iranian prophet (spiritual leader) who founded what is now known as Zoroastrianism.
Opening Fanfare (2 mins)
(note that the start of the piece is very quiet)
Although the Fanfare is today's offering, you might be interested in what comes after.
Full work (33 mins)
Tuesday May 4 (Star Wars Day)
Star Wars is an American epic space opera media franchise created by George Lucas, which began with the eponymous 1977 film and quickly became a worldwide phenomenon. The franchise has been expanded into various films and other media, including television series, video games, toys, novels, comic books, and theme park attractions. In 2020, its total value was estimated at US$70 billion. It has been well documented that the link with Star Wars was one of the factors that saved the LEGO company from total disaster in the 1990s.
Obviously we could not play the main theme as we did that in week 36. Although similar, this is the Finale from The Rise of Skywalker.
Performance (11 mins)
Wednesday May 5
Le voyage dans la lune (Overture)
Le voyage dans la Lune (A Trip to the Moon) is an 1875 opera by Jacques Offenbach. It is loosely based on the 1865 novel From the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne. Jacques Offenbach (1819 – 1880) was a German-born French composer. He was born in Cologne, the son of a synagogue cantor though he later converted to Roman Catholicism. He is remembered for nearly 100 operettas and his opera, The Tales of Hoffmann. He was a powerful influence on later composers of the operetta genre, particularly Sir Arthur Sullivan. Thanks to Bryan for suggesting this one.
Performance (7 mins)
Thursday May 6
Dr Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme broadcast by BBC One since 1963. The programme depicts the adventures of a Time Lord called 'the Doctor', an extraterrestrial being who appears to be human. The Doctor explores the universe in a time-travelling space ship called the TARDIS. Its exterior appears as a blue British police box, which was a common sight in Britain in 1963 when the series first aired. With various companions, the Doctor combats foes, works to save civilisations and helps people in need.
Original theme music (2 mins)
2021 theme music (1/2 min)
Title sequences through the ages (1963-2018, 11 mins)
Friday May 7
Space Oddity
Space Oddity is a song written and recorded by English singer-songwriter David Bowie (1947-2016). It was first released on 11 July 1969. It became one of Bowie's signature songs. Inspired by Stanley Kubrick's film 2001: A Space Odyssey, with a title that plays on the film's title, the song is about the launch into space of Major Tom, a fictional astronaut, and was released during a period of great interest in space flight. The United States' Apollo 11 mission would launch five days later and would become the first manned Moon landing another five days after that.
The recording I have chosen was filmed at the Marquee Club in 1973. At that time the club was located at 90 Wardour Street. Our family shop was just a few doors down at 118 Wardour Street. Recently I found out that Tonic member and active Jukeboxer Daphne Burman ran a printing business with her husband just round the corner. Big universe but small world.
Performance
I have to confess that David Bowie is not really my thing but I thought some of you might expect me to include it.
So for those who are not keen on Bowie I offer you the theme from one of my favourite TV shows (and books) concerning the Galaxy.
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - TV Theme
Weekend May 8/9
Star Trek theme
Star Trek is an American science-fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry that follows the adventures of the starship USS Enterprise (NCC-1701) and its crew. It's mission, which started in 1966, has always been 'to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilisations, to boldly go where no man has gone before'.
Performance (4 mins)
Also sprach Zarathustra
Also sprach Zarathustra (Thus Spoke/Spake Zarathustra) is a tone poem by Richard Strauss, composed in 1896 and inspired by Friedrich Nietzsche's philosophical 1883-1885 novel Thus Spoke Zarathustra. The initial fanfare, titled Sunrise in the composer's programme notes, became well known after its use in Stanley Kubrick's 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey.
Zarathustra (a.k.a. Zoroaster) was an ancient Iranian prophet (spiritual leader) who founded what is now known as Zoroastrianism.
Opening Fanfare (2 mins)
(note that the start of the piece is very quiet)
Although the Fanfare is today's offering, you might be interested in what comes after.
Full work (33 mins)
Tuesday May 4 (Star Wars Day)
Star Wars is an American epic space opera media franchise created by George Lucas, which began with the eponymous 1977 film and quickly became a worldwide phenomenon. The franchise has been expanded into various films and other media, including television series, video games, toys, novels, comic books, and theme park attractions. In 2020, its total value was estimated at US$70 billion. It has been well documented that the link with Star Wars was one of the factors that saved the LEGO company from total disaster in the 1990s.
Obviously we could not play the main theme as we did that in week 36. Although similar, this is the Finale from The Rise of Skywalker.
Performance (11 mins)
Wednesday May 5
Le voyage dans la lune (Overture)
Le voyage dans la Lune (A Trip to the Moon) is an 1875 opera by Jacques Offenbach. It is loosely based on the 1865 novel From the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne. Jacques Offenbach (1819 – 1880) was a German-born French composer. He was born in Cologne, the son of a synagogue cantor though he later converted to Roman Catholicism. He is remembered for nearly 100 operettas and his opera, The Tales of Hoffmann. He was a powerful influence on later composers of the operetta genre, particularly Sir Arthur Sullivan. Thanks to Bryan for suggesting this one.
Performance (7 mins)
Thursday May 6
Dr Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme broadcast by BBC One since 1963. The programme depicts the adventures of a Time Lord called 'the Doctor', an extraterrestrial being who appears to be human. The Doctor explores the universe in a time-travelling space ship called the TARDIS. Its exterior appears as a blue British police box, which was a common sight in Britain in 1963 when the series first aired. With various companions, the Doctor combats foes, works to save civilisations and helps people in need.
Original theme music (2 mins)
2021 theme music (1/2 min)
Title sequences through the ages (1963-2018, 11 mins)
Friday May 7
Space Oddity
Space Oddity is a song written and recorded by English singer-songwriter David Bowie (1947-2016). It was first released on 11 July 1969. It became one of Bowie's signature songs. Inspired by Stanley Kubrick's film 2001: A Space Odyssey, with a title that plays on the film's title, the song is about the launch into space of Major Tom, a fictional astronaut, and was released during a period of great interest in space flight. The United States' Apollo 11 mission would launch five days later and would become the first manned Moon landing another five days after that.
The recording I have chosen was filmed at the Marquee Club in 1973. At that time the club was located at 90 Wardour Street. Our family shop was just a few doors down at 118 Wardour Street. Recently I found out that Tonic member and active Jukeboxer Daphne Burman ran a printing business with her husband just round the corner. Big universe but small world.
Performance
I have to confess that David Bowie is not really my thing but I thought some of you might expect me to include it.
So for those who are not keen on Bowie I offer you the theme from one of my favourite TV shows (and books) concerning the Galaxy.
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - TV Theme
Weekend May 8/9
Star Trek theme
Star Trek is an American science-fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry that follows the adventures of the starship USS Enterprise (NCC-1701) and its crew. It's mission, which started in 1966, has always been 'to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilisations, to boldly go where no man has gone before'.
Performance (4 mins)