Having familiarized myself with all 27 pieces of music on the Golden Record, I have chosen the following 10 musical pieces from it:
- Java, court gamelan, “Kinds of Flowers,” recorded by Robert Brown. 4:43
- Australia, Aborigine songs, “Morning Star” and “Devil Bird,” recorded by Sandra LeBrun Holmes. 1:26
- Mozart, The Magic Flute, Queen of the Night aria, no. 14. Edda Moser, soprano. Bavarian State Opera, Munich, Wolfgang Sawallisch, conductor. 2:55
- Peru, panpipes and drum, collected by Casa de la Cultura, Lima. 0:52
- Stravinsky, Rite of Spring, Sacrificial Dance, Columbia Symphony Orchestra, Igor Stravinsky, conductor. 4:35
- China, ch’in, “Flowing Streams,” performed by Kuan P’ing-hu. 7:37
- “Dark Was the Night,” written and performed by Blind Willie Johnson. 3:15
- Azerbaijan S.S.R., bagpipes, recorded by Radio Moscow. 2:30
- Japan, shakuhachi, “Tsuru No Sugomori” (“Crane’s Nest,”) performed by Goro Yamaguchi. 4:51
- “Melancholy Blues,” performed by Louis Armstrong and his Hot Seven. 3:05
I considered cultural and musical significance of each piece of the music that I selected. Ensuring a diverse representation of different cultures, time periods, and musical styles was crucial for me. This helped to provide a broad and inclusive representation from different parts of the world. I also assessed the emotional impact of each piece, considering how it might resonate with listeners from diverse backgrounds. Pieces that could evoke strong emotions or tell compelling stories were given higher priority.