Bill Keveney

USA TODAY

LOS ANGELES – William Shatner’s famed opening narration, “Space: The Final Frontier …,” is imprinted in the popular culture, but the words are inseparable from the musical notes, fanfare and starship "whoosh" that accompany them in Alexander Courage’s Star Trek TV theme.

As the classic science-fiction franchise begins its 50th anniversary celebration, fans will get a chance to enjoy the music that is integral to the Trek films and TV series in Star Trek: The Ultimate Voyage.

Voyage, which opens this weekend in West Palm Beach, Fla., will visit performing arts centers in 100 North American cities in a tour that will run through May. The concerts will feature a symphony orchestra playing the Trek music of Jerry Goldsmith, Gerald Fried, Jay Chattaway, Dennis McCarthy, Mark McKenzie, Cliff Eidelman, Ron Jones and others, accompanied by scenes from the series and films (www.startrekultimatevoyage.com).

It’s safe to say that Trek wouldn’t have boldly gone anywhere without its music. Shatner, whose Captain James T. Kirk is an iconic character, tells USA TODAY that music is “essential” to the franchise's success.

“Music is as much a part of Star Trek as the dialogue and the actors,” says the actor, who appeared in the original series, which premiered in 1966, and in several Trek films. “When great music is written … it's both recognizable, if it were pulled out, but it also should not intrude on your appreciation of what’s going on on the screen.”

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The composers are “enormous talents and (an) enormous aid in making the television show and the movies as popular as they were,” says Shatner, who will not be at the concerts other than his appearance in TV and film scenes accompanying the music. “An enormous and uncredited part of Star Trek’s success is due to the music.”

Justin Freer, who will lead an orchestra that will range from 40 to 90 instruments, said Voyage will present live performances accompanied by screen depictions of pivotal scenes from each Trek TV series,including Kirk’s famous “Risk is our business” speech from Season 2’s Return to Tomorrow and a Captain Archer speech from Star Trek: Enterprise, and the many films.

“We went in and said, ‘What are some of the great, iconic moments? What are some of the things people know? What are some of the things people maybe don’t know so well that come from iconic moments?’ ” Freer says.

Other musical pieces will accompany video montages focusing on such topics as the starship Enterprise, “Close Bonds in Space” and “50 Years of Life Forms.”

Voyage is produced by CineConcerts, which has put on similar events featuring the music of The Godfather and Gladiator. It is part of a celebration plan being orchestrated by CBS Consumer Products to commemorate the golden anniversary of Trek, which was created by the late Gene Roddenberry.

Trek is hardly a museum piece, as another feature film, Star Trek Beyond, is scheduled for release in July, and a new series is planned for CBS's All Access streaming platform in 2017.