“Space Symphony” NASA Pictures sets to music

Premiere of a movie cosmic cyclesDescribed by American composer Henry Dillinger as Almost complete artworkwhich was held last week in Washington, and is being broadcast in full on NASA’s YouTube channel (A new window).

It’s not just music, it’s not just pictures, he told AFP before the first concert. It’s more of an immersive experience.

Technology in the service of art

Similar efforts were made more than a century ago by the English composer Gustav Holst with his famous work planets (1918). But at that time, in astronomy, there was still a lot to discover.

Since then, we’ve walked on the moon, sent rovers to Mars, and launched incredibly powerful telescopes into space.

photo cosmic cycles It was selected by the US space agency and organized into seven short films, which served as inspiration for Henry Dillinger.

I almost pushed myself to remember that this wasn’t science fiction, but real scienceHe said.

Piotr Gajewski, Musical Director and Bandleader National Orchestrain Maryland, he explained that NASA was at the center of the operation.

Instead of presenting them with a work of music and pasting pictures on it, they started putting together videosstarting of their best workIt is to explain.

For Cessler Valley, of NASA’s Goddard Space Center, the result is up to the challenge. It’s an adventure I’ve never seen beforeMr. Sessler, 64, told AFP.

Symphony in seven parts

The symphony begins, in seven movements, at the heart of the solar system, with our sun – images of its swirling surface, and explosions that hurl particles into the void of space.

The next two movements focus on the study of our planet, especially through photographs taken by astronauts in orbit.

Also appearing throughout the show’s run: Great set of data visualizationsWade Sessler explains. those in ocean currents, for example, They look like Van Gogh’s paintings when moved. The colors are beautiful, you see patterns you weren’t aware of before.

The fourth segment on the moon is followed by images of every planet in the solar system – including images of the surface of Mars taken by the robots sent there.

The symphony even looks at asteroids, before the majestic finale, about nebulae and black holes.

reality force

It was decided not to fully sync the music and videos, but it should be done More flexibleDivision Commander Piotr Gajewski explained. This approach allows him to create Different times for each show.

Knowing that these images and space missions are real is amazing to the public, according to Wade Sisler, in the digital age where You can produce anything with AI.

People care about the real results, and they say to themselves, “Wow, we really saw that asteroid.”He said.

According to Piotr Jajewski, the grandiose beauty of these images makes them ideal companions for orchestral works.

What makes us suddenly emotional when we hear one type of music, or proud when we hear another? Asked. It’s a big puzzle, and of course space is the other big puzzle, so they complement each other really well.