“texts are not simply “delivery systems” of “facts.” They are the simultaneous results of political, economic, and cultural activities, battles, and compromises. They are conceived, designed, and authored by real people with real interests. They are published within the political and economic constraints of markets, resources, and power (Luke, 1988, pp. 27-29).”
Music Digital Text from Earth
As I remember listening to the Voyager’s Golden Record, I decided to organize the song list into categories. I am sure origination went into the digital scientific information, which included Earth’s Music. From the music information genre, I decided to write about the songs I chose as being my selection. Looking at the classical music genre, I can see that change can be seen and heard as it becomes popular if extraterrestrials found these copper-plated discs thousands of years ago. They would note different types of instruments and compositions of Earth’s music that would represent the history of humanity as they continue to create music text and how technologically it did change over time.
| Song Information | Genre | Length | Digital Source | Media Site & Text |
| Bach, The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2, Prelude and Fugue in C, No.1. Glenn Gould, piano. | Classical | 4:48 | Video | YouTube URL: https://youtu.be/cyXwwcgozTw
Quick Facts: Bach wrote out the music himself rather than leaving it to a copyist. It is the only one in the six collections with four movements (Wikimedia Foundation, 2021) Key: F major Instruments used: Natural horns Why did I choose this song? First, listening to the horn and visualizing its unique design that looks like the ear’s cochlea is a powerful instrument. In this composition, the instrument is played simple, with manageable technical notes. It is an instrument also heard in jazz music. |
| Bach, Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 in F. First Movement, Munich Bach Orchestra, Karl Richter, conductor.
|
Classical | 4:40 | Video | YouTube URL: https://youtu.be/qTpCD2Xvh_s
Key: F major Instruments used: Trumpet, recorder, oboe, violin Why did I choose this song? I also really like the sound of the trumpet and what stood out for me in this composition was how complex it sounds with the quick changes that made it sound like such a difficult instrument to play, at least in this music by Bach. |
| Bach, “Gavotte en rondeaux” from the Partita No. 3 in E major for Violin, performed by Arthur Grumiaux. | Classical | 2:55 | Video | YouTube URL: https://youtu.be/zrDxGY4lYHc
Key: G major Instruments used: 3 violins, 3 violas, 3 cellos and harpsichord Why did I choose this song? This composition has a single violin, a complex instrument to make. For example, there is much engineering and planning that goes into creating a violin. Then, from the type of wood, they would use to make that soothing sound. |
| Beethoven, Fifth Symphony, First Movement, the Philharmonia Orchestra, Otto Klemperer, conductor. | Classical | 7:20 | Video | YouTube URL: https://youtu.be/9MO5XcNH8Eg
Quick Facts: This song is considered one of the cornerstones of western music. It is a four-movement composition (Wikimedia Foundation, 2021). Key: C Minor Instruments used: Piano Why did I choose this song? The piano playing in this song is powerful that if one were to mimic it, learning the piano technique would require a skill. |
| Holborne, Paueans, Galliards, Almains and Other Short Aeirs, “The Fairie Round,” performed by David Munrow and the Early Music Consort of London | Classical | 1:17 | Video | YouTube URL: https://youtu.be/_oQJ7GkpxOg
Quick Facts: This song was chosen to represent human culture (Wikimedia Foundation, 2021) Why did I choose this song? This piece, I believe, combines sounds using different instruments that complement each other in rhythm and sound. |
| “Dark Was the Night,” written and performed by Blind Willie Johnson.
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Gospel Blues | 3:15 | Video | YouTube URL: https://youtu.be/V8AuYmID4wc
Quick Facts: Johnson’s demonstrates a self-taught bottleneck slide guitar and picking style accompanied by his vocalizations of humming and moaning (Wikimedia Foundation. (2010, May 31). Why did I choose this song? Although few words are said, the music and voice are just a great illustration of how a piece can communicate emotion; I can hear the pain in this song. |
| Mexico, “El Cascabel,” performed by Lorenzo Barcelata and the Mariachi México. | Folk | 3:14 | Video | YouTube URL: https://youtu.be/kkKxN9QJ2wI
Quick facts: This version is a Mexican mariachi band (Wikimedia Foundation, 2021) Why did I choose this song? First, I love the voice changing; this song demonstrates the complexity and evolution of using instruments with lyrics. Second, this non-Western piece shows how humans worked together to create music and practice the parts and vocals in less modern society.
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| Azerbaijan S.S.R., bagpipes, recorded by Radio Moscow. | Folk | 2:30 | Video | YouTube URL: https://youtu.be/kVRdEvdovgk
Quick Facts: Lomax was the individual that sought to include ethnic music even at the expense of Western classical music for the Voyager’s Golden Record (Saylor, 2014) Instruments used: bagpipes Why did I choose this song? What an incredible instrument the bagpipes. This particular instrument, for me, reaches to my very heart no matter the notes or songs it plays.
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| Peru, panpipes and drum, collected by Casa de la Cultura, Lima. | Melancholy Blues | 0:52 | Video | YouTube URL: https://youtu.be/ZRAXUFN_3qc
Instruments used: panpipes Why did I choose this song? First, the wind instrument, however simple it looks in its design, I am sure there are many intricacies in creating panpipes. Second, it’s another of my favourite wind instruments that sound like it’s trying to tell me a story.
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| “Johnny B. Goode,” written and performed by Chuck Berry.
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Rock-and-roll | 2:38 | Video | YouTube URL: https://youtu.be/Qz126SNxAts
Quick Facts: It is one of the most identifiable songs in the history of popular music and first “song ever written about how much money a musician could make by playing the guitar” (Wikimedia Foundation, 2021) Why did I choose this song? This music shows the advancements with the aid of technology to mix and synthesize music. The electric guitar is blazing, and the lyrics are catchy. |
References
Luke, A. (1988). Literacy, textbooks and ideology. Philadelphia: Falmer
Saylor, N. (2014, January 30). Alan Lomax and the Voyager Golden Records. Alan Lomax and the Voyager Golden Records | Folklife Today. Retrieved November 1, 2021, from https://blogs.loc.gov/folklife/2014/01/alan-lomax-and-the-voyager-golden-records/.
Wikimedia Foundation. (2010, May 31). Dark was the night, Cold was the ground. Wikipedia. Retrieved November 1, 2021, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_was_the_Night,_Cold_was_the_Ground.
Wikimedia Foundation. (2021, October 6). Mariachi. Wikipedia. Retrieved November 1, 2021, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mariachi.
Wikimedia Foundation. (2021, October 19). Symphony no. 5 (Beethoven). Wikipedia. Retrieved November 1, 2021, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symphony_No._5_(Beethoven).
Wikimedia Foundation. (2021, October 23). Johnny B. Goode. Wikipedia. Retrieved November 1, 2021, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_B._Goode.
Wikimedia Foundation. (2021, November 1). Brandenburg Concertos. Wikipedia. Retrieved November 1, 2021, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandenburg_Concertos#History.
Neill McCallum
November 19, 2021 — 4:10 pm
Hello Susana,
It was very interesting to see how your choice of music factored in the specific instruments. I learned quite a bit about the music and yourself by reading the descriptors you have included for each song. I think it would certainly be helpful for the aliens that uncover this music to have a video or image of what the people and instruments look like that are creating the sound. I think listening to these songs alone leaves out many aspects of the text such as the language of musical notes, the movements of the human body to play the instruments, the emotional connection that the music can make for humans…etc.
susana burgos-sewlal
November 30, 2021 — 6:54 pm
I agree Neill with your thoughts on including a video. Adding visual components brings the text to life.