Music Inspired by 2001

On the Christmas Day of 1968, I was twelve years old.  2001: A Space Odyssey had been released at the beginning of the year, and I'd seen it with my big sister.

For my birthday a couple of months ago, my wonderful parents had given me an actual stereo record player -- separate speakers and all -- and I'd had great (and probably annoying) fun by playing the OST album for 2001 over and over.

Well, in the record bin at Montgomery Ward at Christmastime, I found this follow-up (or tie-in, or "cash-in") record.  And I immediately snapped it up for the $1.98 purchase price.

What's interesting to me is that it seems to be duo-labeled.  It is not "Music inspired by 2001 Volume Two," as the label proclaims.  It is the ONLY record released by MGM of "music inspired by 2001."  Or alternatively, it's the 2001 soundtrack "Volume Two."

Anyway, it has some music from the film, and more in imitation of the mix of romantic / clashingly modern music heard in the film.

This track list contains the liner note comments:

1. Richard Strauss – Also Sprach Zarathustra
This selection composed by Richard Strauss is heard at the opening of the motion picture “2001: A Space Odyssey” Karl Böhm conducts the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.
2. Leo Delibes – Coppélia
(This) was composed by Leo Delibes and conducted by Herbert von Karajan and the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. As in the film. Mr. von Karajan’s performance conveys the feeling of the graceful rocket ships speeding through space.
3. György Ligeti – Lontano
Ligeti’s contribution to the music in “2001:” was very important. This selection, which does not appear in the film, was conducted by Ernest Bour and the Südwestfunk Orchestra.
4. Anton Webern – Entflieht Auf Leichten Kähnen
Written by one of the innovators of modern music with words by Stefan George. It is performed by Clytus Gottwald and the Stuttgart Schola Cantorum, whose performances also appeared in the motion picture.
5. Richard Strauss – Waltzes From Der Rosenkavalier
Karl Böhm conducts the Berlin Philharmonic. Again, spacious music for outer space.
6. Richard Strauss – Thus Sprach Zarathustra (Part 2)
Additional exciting music from Richard Strauss symphonic poem from the original recording by Karl Böhm and the Berlin Philharmonic.
7. György Ligeti – Volumina
Performed by organist Karl-Erik Welin. This impressive Ligeti music gives the feeling of rushing through space.
8. Aram Khachaturian – Berceuse
From Khachaturian’s “Gayne Ballet Suite.” This was conducted by Gennadi Rozhdestvensky and the Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra. Both the conductor and the composer were well represented in the motion picture.
9. György Ligeti – Requiem
This is another part of Ligeti’s "Requiem,” a portion of which appeared in the original film. This, however, is performed by the Hessian Symphony Orchestra conducted by Michael Gielen.
10. Charles Gounod – Margarethe
Charles Gounod’s music by the Radio-Symphony orchestra of Berlin and conducted by Ferenc Fricsay, also gives impressions of graceful objects speeding through space to the accompaniment of graceful music.

Listen to the music, Dave.