2001 Space Odyssey and the real song behind it.

[Cockgun]

The song 2001 Space Odyssey was a title song from the Stanley Kubeck movie of that same name. But the real music is from the Tone Poem written by the German composer Richard Strauss known as Also spracht Zarathustra (Thus spake Zarathustra), with the exact piece of music being the opening tune known as Sunrise. I have known this for many years but never knew what Zarathustra actually said until today. The statement was espoused by a German philosopher, Friedreich Nietzsche, and was published in volumes between 1883 and 1885. Needless to say, it is very complex and well documented on the internet and in the minds of some, it takes aim at religion and other forms of belief. This is a controversial subject, such as the "death of God", so I have included the AI version of the discussion such that each can develop their own idea of interpretation:


Also sprach Zarathustra" means "Thus Spoke Zarathustra" and refers to both Friedrich Nietzsche's philosophical novel and Richard Strauss's symphonic poem inspired by it. The work explores philosophical concepts like the "death of God" and the need for humanity to overcome itself and become the Übermensch (overman), urging individuals to find their own meaning and values rather than blindly following institutions or conventional morality.


In Nietzsche's Book

• Meaning:
  Nietzsche uses Zarathustra to advocate for self-overcoming and the creation of new values, especially after the concept of a "dead God" removes the foundation for traditional morality.
  
  
• • Themes:
    Key ideas include the "will to power" as a fundamental human drive, the importance of individual responsibility for one's fate, and the ascent to the Übermensch, a higher state of being.
    
  • Structure:
    It's a philosophical novel with poetic prose, featuring the invented sayings of Zarathustra.
    

In Strauss's Music

• • Connection to the Book:
    .
    Richard Strauss's tone poem is based on Nietzsche's novel, though he stated he didn't intend to musically portray the philosophical work itself but rather use it as inspiration.
    
  • Famous Theme:
    .
    The famous opening fanfare, titled "Sunrise" by Strauss, became widely known through its use in Stanley Kubrick's film 2001: A Space Odyssey.
    
  • Cultural Impact:
    .
    The music's powerful and recognizable theme has been adopted in popular culture, even becoming the intro music for Elvis Presley's shows.
    

The Significance

• • Challenging Norms:
    Both the book and the music are considered groundbreaking, with Nietzsche challenging religious and scientific ideas and Strauss creating a powerful musical representation of the human struggle to find meaning in a world without traditional structures.
    
  • Individualism:
    The core message is an emphasis on the individual's power to create their own values and transcend limitations to achieve personal growth and evolution.

 

[Gamecock Jacque]

Godless Europeans.

 

[HI Cock1]

Zarathustra is well-known (in philosophical cirlcles) as saying, "God is dead!" What Nietsche meant - in the late 19th Century - was that reason, science, and secularism had overtaken the importance of the church in society.

The revolutions in the late 18th century and mid-19th century were led by secularists - not Christians as is often thought. For example, none of the founding fathers of the U.S. were Christians. They were deists - believing in God as a "master watch-maker" rather than the father of a mystical Jesus. John Adams is the one possible exception.