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AAS DPS 2008: A symphonic solar system

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What a treat last night. A massive combination of the student symphony orchestras from Cornell and nearby Ithaca College performed Gustav Holtz' “The Planets”, set to an impressive slideshow of planetary images from the last quarter century. I went with my uncle, a space geek who ended up becoming one of Ithaca's orthodonists (he always brags about doing Steve Squyres' kids), and we got two of the last seats in the the balcony of Bailey Hall.

While “The Planets” was thoroughly enjoyably, I was chilled by a special opener, the world premiere of a percussive piece called “Anillos”, Spanish for “Rings”. Music professor Roberto Sierra composed the spooky piece, with its unnerving xylophone swells and timpanic thunder, with images from the Cassini-Huygens mission in mind. It's amazing how visuals can inform your aural experience, and vice versa. I had always thought of Saturn as one of the most regal of planets: the crown prince to Jupiter's king. After “Anillos”, I think of Saturn as the most menacing. The image that sends chills down my spine after the jump: a Cassini pic taken from Saturn's lonely backside, the eclipsed sun nothing but a backlight.

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Posted by Eric Hand on October 12, 2008
Categories: American Astronomical Society | | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

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Comments

Interesting, maybe there is a relationship between creation and music :)

Posted by: islam islami sohbet | October 12, 2008 06:50 PM

AAS DPS 2008: A symphonic solar system nice post interesting...

Posted by: busby seo test | November 3, 2008 06:13 AM

This post is really interesting. AAS DPS 2008: A symphonic solar system is a great share.

Posted by: Web Conferencing | March 16, 2009 10:09 AM

Interesting, maybe there is a relationship between creation and music....

Posted by: turk forum | March 21, 2009 12:16 PM

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