Task 8

I found it very challenging to curate the list of songs down to ten. It was overwhelming to decide on the parameters and criteria which would hypothetically remove songs from the Voyager spacecraft. I asked myself, “if I could hear songs from another form of life, what would I want those songs to tell me?” My answer is, I want songs that tell me what their life, culture and planet are currently like. For example, I want to know what is happening now, not who is a historical figure (that can come later). Therefore, I often picked songs that were recorded or composed on a more recent date. I also picked songs that I believe were more embedded in identity. For example, the Peru wedding song would represent a very important ceremony for individuals, whereas Mozart may have appealed to a certain demographic and have a strong connection to entertainment rather than ceremonial culture. I am very aware that many would disagree with what I have just said.

First, I attempted to find the recorded or composed date of the songs. My findings are below. This was surprisingly challenging.

  • Bach, Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 in F. First Movement, Munich Bach Orchestra, Karl Richter, conductor. 4:40 Composed around 1721
  • Java, court gamelan, “Kinds of Flowers,” recorded by Robert Brown. 4:43 Composed around 1971
  • Senegal, percussion, recorded by Charles Duvelle. 2:08 Recorded in the 1960’s
  • Zaire, Pygmy girls’ initiation song, recorded by Colin Turnbull. 0:56 Recorded 1961
  • Australia, Aborigine songs, “Morning Star” and “Devil Bird,” recorded by Sandra LeBrun Holmes. 1:26 Recorded 1958
  • Mexico, “El Cascabel,” performed by Lorenzo Barcelata and the Mariachi México. 3:14 Performed sometime in the early 19th century
  • “Johnny B. Goode,” written and performed by Chuck Berry. 2:38 Recorded 1958 
  • New Guinea, men’s house song, recorded by Robert MacLennan. 1:20 Unable to find recording/composed date
  • Japan, shakuhachi, “Tsuru No Sugomori” (“Crane’s Nest,”) performed by Goro Yamaguchi. 4:51 Recorded 1969
  • Bach, “Gavotte en rondeaux” from the Partita No. 3 in E major for Violin, performed by Arthur Grumiaux. 2:55 Sometime in the 17th century
  • Mozart, The Magic Flute, Queen of the Night aria, no. 14. Edda Moser, soprano. Bavarian State Opera, Munich, Wolfgang Sawallisch, conductor. 2:55 Composed 1791
  • Georgian S.S.R., chorus, “Tchakrulo,” collected by Radio Moscow. 2:18 Unable to find recording/composed date
  • Peru, panpipes and drum, collected by Casa de la Cultura, Lima. 0:52 Unable to find recording/composed date
  • “Melancholy Blues,” performed by Louis Armstrong and his Hot Seven. 3:05 Recorded 1927
  • Azerbaijan S.S.R., bagpipes, recorded by Radio Moscow. 2:30 Unable to find recording/composed date Stravinsky, Rite of Spring, Sacrificial Dance, Columbia Symphony Orchestra, Igor Stravinsky, conductor. 4:35 First performed in 1913
  • Bach, The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2, Prelude and Fugue in C, No.1. Glenn Gould, piano. 4:48 Released 1973
  • Beethoven, Fifth Symphony, First Movement, the Philharmonia Orchestra, Otto Klemperer, conductor. 7:20 Originally recorded 1808
  • Bulgaria, “Izlel je Delyo Hagdutin,” sung by Valya Balkanska. 4:59 Best guess is from the 70’s to 90’s
  • Navajo Indians, Night Chant, recorded by Willard Rhodes. 0:57 Recorded between 1939 and 1952
  • Holborne, Paueans, Galliards, Almains and Other Short Aeirs, “The Fairie Round,” performed by David Munrow and the Early Music Consort of London. 1:17 Best guess around late 19th century, early 20th century.
  • Solomon Islands, panpipes, collected by the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Service. 1:12 Unable to find recording date
  • Peru, wedding song, recorded by John Cohen. 0:38 Unable to find recording date
  • China, ch’in, “Flowing Streams,” performed by Kuan P’ing-hu. 7:37 Best guess in 1st half of 20th century
  • India, raga, “Jaat Kahan Ho,” sung by Surshri Kesar Bai Kerkar. 3:30 Early 20th century
  • “Dark Was the Night,” written and performed by Blind Willie Johnson. 3:15 Recorded 1927
  • Beethoven, String Quartet No. 13 in B flat, Opus 130, Cavatina, performed by Budapest String Quartet. 6:37 Early 19th century

My List

  1. Java, court gamelan, “Kinds of Flowers,” recorded by Robert Brown
  2. Senegal, percussion, recorded by Charles Duvelle
  3. Senegal, percussion, recorded by Charles Duvelle
  4. Zaire, Pygmy girls’ initiation song, recorded by Colin Turnbul
  5. Australia, Aborigine songs, “Morning Star” and “Devil Bird,” 
  6. “Johnny B. Goode,” written and performed by Chuck Berry
  7. Japan, shakuhachi, “Tsuru No Sugomori” (“Crane’s Nest,”) performed by Goro Yamaguchi.
  8. Bach, The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2, Prelude and Fugue in C, No.1. Glenn Gould, piano
  9. Bulgaria, “Izlel je Delyo Hagdutin,” sung by Valya Balkanska
  10.  Navajo Indians, Night Chant, recorded by Willard Rhodes.