2001: A Space Odyssey (soundtrack) 2001: A Space Odyssey (soundtrack) 2001: A Space Odyssey is a soundtrack album to the , released in 1968. The soundtrack is known for its use of many classical and orchestral pieces, and credited for giving many classical pieces resurgences in popularity, such as Johann Strauss II's 1866 Blue Danube Waltz, Richard Strauss' symphonic poem "Also sprach Zarathustra" (inspired by the writings of Friedrich Nietzsche), and György Ligeti's "Atmosphères". The soundtrack has been re-issued multiple times, including a 1996 version and a digitally remastered version in 2010. From very early in production, Kubrick decided that he wanted the film to
2001: A Space Odyssey (soundtrack) It is subsequently heard when an ape first learns to use a tool, and when Bowman is transformed into the Star-Child at the end of the film. "Zarathustra" thus acts as a bookend for the beginning and end of the film, and as a motif signifying evolutionary transformations, first from ape to man, then from man to Star-Child. This piece was originally inspired by the philosopher Nietzsche's book of the same name which alludes briefly to the relationship of ape to man and man to Superman. "The Blue Danube" appears in two intricate and extended space travel sequences as well