Task 8: Golden Record Curation Assignment

*** As a music educator this assignment was extremely interesting! I spent hours listening to the playlist on repeat. There is a small bias for symphonic works on my list***

J.S. Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 in F, First Movement
Mozart: The Magic Flute, Queen of the Night Aria
Beethoven: Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, First Movement
Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring, Sacrificial Dance
Guan Pinghu: Flowing Streams (Chinese Zither)
Blind Willie Johnson: Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground
Valya Balkanska: Izlel e Delyo Haydutin (Bulgarian Folk Song)
Glenn Gould: Prelude and Fugue in C Major from The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book II
Solomon Islands: Panpipes and Ocarina Ensemble
Chuck Berry: Johnny B. Goode

Justification:

During the curation, I prioritized pieces that exemplify the rich diversity of musical styles around the world, allowing future potential extraterrestrial listeners to appreciate the breadth of musical expression across different cultures and timeless historical periods. By incorporating classical masterpieces, traditional folk melodies, and significant recordings from various eras, I tried to foster a comprehensive understanding of the global musical landscape (a snapshot). Another focus during the selecting records was to showcase the distinct instrumentation, timbres and musical intricacies that can transcend cultural boundaries. I wanted to create a picture of unique sounds and pitches we consider music on Earth. It is important to acknowledge that this selection provides only a glimpse of the diverse world of music, as its richness exceeds the limitations of any single compilation. Each piece represents a fraction of our deep musical history.