2001: A Space Odyssey (soundtrack) Like North's score, Cordell's work was recorded at the now demolished Anvil, Denham studios. "2001" is particularly remembered for using pieces of Johann Strauss II's best-known waltz, "The Blue Danube", during the extended space-station docking and Lunar landing sequences. This is the result of the association that Kubrick made between the spinning motion of the satellites and the dancers of waltzes. It also makes use of the opening from the Richard Strauss tone poem "Also sprach Zarathustra" performed by the Vienna Philharmonic conducted by Herbert von Karajan. The use of Strauss's "Zarathustra" may be a reference to the theme of
2001: A Space Odyssey (score) exist outside the action, while uplifting it. With regard to the space docking sequence, Ebert stressed the peculiar combination of slowness and majesty resulting from the choice of Strauss's "Blue Danube" waltz, which brought "seriousness and transcendence" to the visuals. Speaking of the music generally, Ebert wrote: 2001: A Space Odyssey (score) The "2001: A Space Odyssey" score is an unused film score composed by Alex North for Stanley Kubrick's 1968 film, "." In the early stages of production, Kubrick had commissioned noted Hollywood composer Alex North, who had written the score for "Spartacus" and also worked on "Dr. Strangelove",