One of the initial challenges in selecting music from the Golden Record was shifting my mindset from choosing wedding music (as I’ve been curating playlists for my upcoming wedding) to selecting music that was diverse, culturally significant and features a variety of instruments. I decided to choose pieces that were diverse, culturally significant, and showcased a variety of instruments. Initially, I found some of the initial tracks off-putting, but I realized they were chosen to reflect a rich cultural diversity. While I tried to include music from various parts of the world, I noticed that though “Johnny B. Goode” and “Navajo Night Chant” are both from America, they represent different styles and genres of music.

From the chosen selection, I noticed that many pieces were instrumental. The Golden Record had a relatively smaller inclusion of vocal performances. I find that voices, each with their own genres and tones, are irreplaceable in music. There are numerous singers around the world who are each renowned for their distinctive voices! Certain voices have the ability to infuse music with deep meaning and evoke emotional experiences for listeners.

Here is my selection of 10 curated pieces from the Golden Record:

1. Bach, Violin Partita No. 3, BWV 1006: Gavotte en Rondeau
2. “Melancholy Blues,” performed by Louis Armstrong and his Hot Seven.
3. Australia, Aborigine songs, “Morning Star” and “Devil Bird,” recorded by Sandra LeBrun Holmes.
4. Navajo Indians, Night Chant, recorded by Willard Rhodes.
5. ”Johnny B. Goode”, recorded and performed by Chuck Berry
6. Bulgaria, “Izlel je Delyo Hagdutin,” sung by Valya Balkanska. Holborne, Paueans, Galliards, Almains and Other Short Aeirs,
7. “The Fairie Round,” performed by David Munrow and the Early Music Consort of London.
8. China, ch’in, “Flowing Streams,” performed by Kuan P’ing-hu.
9. Senegal, percussion, recorded by Charles Duvelle.
10. Japan, shakuhachi, “Tsuru No Sugomori” (“Crane’s Nest,”) performed by Goro Yamaguchi.

• ETEC 540