Song Clearance Sheet
3 sources citedAlso Sprach Zarathustra
Classical1890s82BPM
C majKey
More around 80 BPM → · More in C major → · More “Public Domain” →
Tempo/key via GetSongBPM →
Algorithmically estimated; acoustic-era recordings are a documented hard case for automated tempo/key detection.
The verdict
Public Domain
In the public domain — but check the Rights Status below; a specific host's copy can carry its own caveat.
Who you need to ask
The composer — Richard Strauss (1896) — public domain
Imslp → · checked Jul 2026
Has it been reused?
Extensively — globally famous via Kubrick’s “2001: A Space Odyssey” (1968), and endlessly parodied in film.
Do they allow reuse?
The composition is public domain — free to use; only a specific recording/edition would carry its own rights.
Rights Status
Licenses explained →Public domain is not one blanket badge — each source can carry its own caveat
The compositionRichard Strauss (Op.30, 1896; died 1949)
Public domain — directly confirmedThe original composition and 1896 first edition are public domain worldwide, per IMSLP’s explicit Public Domain tags (US: published pre-1928; EU/Canada: author died 1949, 70+ years). Verified directly per this catalog’s rule, not inferred from the death date alone.
Cultural Impact
Documented covers, adaptations, and cultural echoes — each with a real, dated source
A global cultural touchpoint via Kubrick
Became globally famous through Kubrick’s “2001: A Space Odyssey” (1968), especially the “Dawn of Man” sequence — so associated with space that the BBC used it during live Apollo moon-mission coverage.
ScreenRant · read it →
Endlessly parodied
Referenced across film, largely comedic parodies of Kubrick’s use: “Zoolander” (2001), “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” (2005), “The Big Bus” (1976), and “Barbie” (2023), which opens with a parody of the “Dawn of Man” sequence.
ScreenRant · read it →
Can You Use It for Free?
How to check PD →Is it public domain?Yes
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Page history · 2 updates
Jul 2026Page created — full research (Research Queue Batch 8)
Jul 2026BPM/Key pending the automated GetSongBPM/Deezer pass