Earth's Mixtape: The Voyager Interstellar Record

In 1977 NASA launched Voyager I and II into the cosmos.  Commissioned to first pass through our solar system and then to space beyond (into which it passed in 1989) the twin crafts were equipped with antennas and detection instruments charged with collecting and transmitting data.  In addition to these astrophysical objectives, the mission's project teams also seriously considered the question: what if extraterrestrial beings encounter the spacecrafts?

In response to this question, the mission assembled a team led by astro-laureate and visionary, Carl Sagan.  The team composed upon an etched golden record, a compilation of life on earth - images of animals, of men and women, buildings, trees - spoken introductions from world leaders, including President Carter - the sounds of whales and birds - and a compilation of music.  Engineers attached the record to the exterior of the crafts along with visual instructions on how to play it via the turntable and stylus also included.

Photo courtesy of the Kennedy Space Center Photo Archive.
http://images.ksc.nasa.gov/photos/1977/captions/KSC-77P-0196.html

In his account of the music's selection Dr. Sagan wrote, "We are feeling creatures.  However our emotional life is more difficult to communicate particularly to beings of different biological make-up.  Music, it seemed to me was at least a credible attempt to convey human emotions."   As a music lover, this is a wonderful notion - that music can both describe our human "placeness" (Earth, and the various regions of it that we inhabit or that inspire us) as well as our humanity itself.

The music the team selected was:

·      Bach, Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 in F. First Movement, Munich Bach Orchestra, Karl Richter, conductor. 4:40

·      Java, court gamelan, "Kinds of Flowers," recorded by Robert Brown. 4:43

·      Senegal, percussion, recorded by Charles Duvelle. 2:08

·      Zaire, Pygmy girls' initiation song, recorded by Colin Turnbull. 0:56

·      Australia, Aborigine songs, "Morning Star" and "Devil Bird," recorded by Sandra LeBrun Holmes. 1:26

·      Mexico, "El Cascabel," performed by Lorenzo Barcelata and the Mariachi México. 3:14

·      "Johnny B. Goode," written and performed by Chuck Berry. 2:38

·      New Guinea, men's house song, recorded by Robert MacLennan. 1:20

·      Japan, shakuhachi, "Tsuru No Sugomori" ("Crane's Nest,") performed by Goro Yamaguchi. 4:51

·      Bach, "Gavotte en rondeaux" from the Partita No. 3 in E major for Violin, performed by Arthur Grumiaux. 2:55

·      Mozart, The Magic Flute, Queen of the Night aria, no. 14. Edda Moser, soprano. Bavarian State Opera, Munich, Wolfgang Sawallisch, conductor. 2:55

·      Georgian S.S.R., chorus, "Tchakrulo," collected by Radio Moscow. 2:18

·      Peru, panpipes and drum, collected by Casa de la Cultura, Lima. 0:52

·      "Melancholy Blues," performed by Louis Armstrong and his Hot Seven. 3:05

·      Azerbaijan S.S.R., bagpipes, recorded by Radio Moscow. 2:30

·      Stravinsky, Rite of Spring, Sacrificial Dance, Columbia Symphony Orchestra, Igor Stravinsky, conductor. 4:35

·      Bach, The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2, Prelude and Fugue in C, No.1. Glenn Gould, piano. 4:48

·      Beethoven, Fifth Symphony, First Movement, the Philharmonia Orchestra, Otto Klemperer, conductor. 7:20

·      Bulgaria, "Izlel je Delyo Hagdutin," sung by Valya Balkanska. 4:59

·      Navajo Indians, Night Chant, recorded by Willard Rhodes. 0:57

·      Holborne, Paueans, Galliards, Almains and Other Short Aeirs, "The Fairie Round," performed by David Munrow and the Early Music Consort of London. 1:17

·      Solomon Islands, panpipes, collected by the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Service. 1:12

·      Peru, wedding song, recorded by John Cohen. 0:38

·      China, ch'in, "Flowing Streams," performed by Kuan P'ing-hu. 7:37

·      India, raga, "Jaat Kahan Ho," sung by Surshri Kesar Bai Kerkar. 3:30

·      "Dark Was the Night," written and performed by Blind Willie Johnson. 3:15

·      Beethoven, String Quartet No. 13 in B flat, Opus 130, Cavatina, performed by Budapest String Quartet. 6:37 My book takes particular interest with Johnson's "Dark Was the Night, Cold the Ground," an instrumental, blues-spiritual that ruminates on the windy desolation of the central Texas plains. When thinking on Sagan's record I always wonder what music I'd add to such a project.  Scott Joplin's "The Entertainer" would likely find a way onto the compilation, if for no other reason than to instruct some far off life form on human frivolity and joy.  Terry Riley's "In C" would too - I'm not sure why.... What music would you add?