Music is such an interesting way to represent and memorialize humanity and human values. While I may not be very musically inclined, I like what Timothy Ferris said about how music is for the listener to find something rewarding and meaningful (as cited in Taylor, 2019). In this sense, it is a personal experience. I picked the following 10 songs to align with the project’s original message of peace and joy:
1. Bach, Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 in F. First Movement, Munich Bach Orchestra, Karl Richter, conductor – 4:40
- I picked quite a few of the instrumental tracks because they transcend language. As Timothy Ferris said in the Twenty thousand hertz podcast, having arrangements based on mathematical foundations may be easier for aliens to make sense of it. I think this is also a really good representation of humanity and how we can come together to enjoy timeless pieces of classical music despite our differences.
2. Java, court gamelan, “Kinds of Flowers,” recorded by Robert Brown – 4:43
- I also really like this track because the lyrics name different flowers and how they symbolize a spiritual or philosophical state. This showcases how we are attune with nature and beautiful in different ways. The spiritual and philosophical states represent our values and how we strive for inner peace.
3. Senegal, percussion, recorded by Charles Duvelle – 2:08
4. Zaire, Pygmy girls’ initiation song, recorded by Colin Turnbull – 0:56
5. Australia, aboriginal songs, “Morning Star” and “Devil Bird,” recorded by Sandra LeBrun Holmes – 1:26
6. Mexico, “El Cascabel,” performed by Lorenzo Barcelata and the Mariachi México – 3:14
- This track reminds me of music played at festivities and parties. It encourages a joyful and celebratory mood and represents the simple and pure importance of happiness. I picked this track because it felt like a celebration of life.
7. “Johnny B. Goode,” written and performed by Chuck Berry – 2:38
- This song is very different from all the other tracks as it is the only rock song on the record. I decided to pick this genre for its uniqueness but also for the upbeat melody and infectious cheerfulness. I’m starting to see a trend in how I pick the tracks as I deviate more towards songs with a positive and uplifting message.
8. New Guinea, men’s house song, recorded by Robert MacLennan – 1:20
9. Japan, shakuhachi, “Tsuru No Sugomori” (“Crane’s Nest”), performed by Goro Yamaguchi – 4:51
10. Bach, “Gavotte en rondeaux” from the Partita No. 3 in E major for Violin, performed by Arthur Grumiaux – 2:55
- This was an instant pick for me because it sounded so familiar. I used to play violin in elementary school (and that is the extent of my very limited music knowledge) so classical pieces such as this hold a special place in my heart. I also really like what Timothy Ferris said about how music such as this communicates emotions. As mentioned in the podcast, Einstein’s famous quote “imagination is more important than knowledge” fits well with instrumental pieces like this where it’s open to the listener to imagine what exactly it is trying to convey.
11. Mozart, The Magic Flute, Queen of the Night aria, sung by Edda Moser, Bavarian State Opera, Wolfgang Sawallisch, conductor – 2:55
- This is another classic and I really like the dramatic atmosphere as well as the challenging vocals. Rather than representing the ordinary people, this is a great example of what the rare few can accomplish through talent and hard work. I thought this would be a good representation of what humans are capable of.
12. Georgian S.S.R., chorus, “Tchakrulo,” collected by Radio Moscow – 2:18
13. Peru, panpipes and drum, collected by Casa de la Cultura, Lima – 0:52
14. “Melancholy Blues,” performed by Louis Armstrong and his Hot Seven – 3:05
- I like the juxtaposition between the title, which evokes a mood of sorrow, and the upbeat trumpet playing throughout this track. It is as if the artist is trying to act tough despite feeling down. I chose this song as most of my other choices depict happiness and joy. This song seems like a good representation of how humans try to process their negative emotions through music.
15. Azerbaijan S.S.R., bagpipes, recorded by Radio Moscow – 2:30
16. Stravinsky, The Rite of Spring, Sacrificial Dance, Columbia Symphony Orchestra, Igor Stravinsky, conductor – 4:35
17. Bach, The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2, Prelude and Fugue in C, No. 1, performed by Glenn Gould – 4:48
18. Beethoven, Fifth Symphony, First Movement, the Philharmonia Orchestra, Otto Klemperer, conductor – 7:20
- This was another instant pick because of its familiarity. I like the mix of dramatic elements and the light-hearted notes throughout the track. It brought about a sense of nostalgia since this track is used in various contexts and has transcended the boundaries of classical music.
19. Bulgaria, “Izlel e Delyo Haydutin,” sung by Valya Balkanska – 4:59
20. Navajo, Night Chant, recorded by Willard Rhodes – 0:57
21. Holborne, Paueans, Galliards, Almains and Other Short Aeirs, “The Fairie Round,” performed by David Munrow and the Early Music Consort of London – 1:17
- This was another light and joyful tune that made me move to the beat automatically. It creates a vivid image of fairies dancing around a ring without a worry in the world. Although quite short, it was effective in making me feel as if the world is filled with happiness and positivity.
22. Solomon Islands, panpipes, collected by the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Service – 1:12
23. Peru, wedding song, recorded by John Cohen – 0:38
24. China, ch’in, “Flowing Streams,” performed by Kuan P’ing-hu – 7:37
25. India, raga, “Jaat Kahan Ho,” sung by Surshri Kesar Bai Kerkar – 3:30
26. “Dark Was the Night,” written and performed by Blind Willie Johnson – 3:15
- I thought the message from this track was quite important. The song itself talks about enduring a cold night with nowhere to sleep. This is a personal yet universal experience. I think this represents human resilience in the face of hardships. And this is a great representation of this project as well as the creators who had to overcome many technicalities to make this record possible.
27. Beethoven, String Quartet No. 13 in B-flat, Opus 130, Cavatina, performed by the Budapest String Quartet – 6:37
This was a challenging task for me because of my lack of music background. It was hard to choose based on musicality and to try and select a variety of instruments since I could not tell what was being played. At first, I wanted to choose different cultures in order to represent Earth. However, I quickly realized that it would be difficult with just 10 choices. I then decided to take what Timothy Ferris said about music being a personal experience so I simply selected tracks that resonated with me. Whether it be the emotions evoked from the music, or the message the music was trying to convey, I tried to choose tracks that were important to me and that I felt would be important for aliens to experience. I know it sounds pretty ridiculous that we are trying to guess what aliens would understand and enjoy. However, this allowed me to reflect on this week’s question of what should be digitized and how our personal biases severely limit the information that is spread and consumed.
References
Music from Earth. (n.d.). NASA.
Taylor, D. (Host). (2019, April). Voyager golden record. [Audio podcast episode]. In Twenty thousand hertz. Defacto Sound.