Posted January 31, 2015
Just wondering;
suppose, they send of a new unmanned space probe of which they are sure it will reach a recently discovered alien civilization at some point in the near future.
They hold a global vote in which everyone can pick up to 3 pieces of music which will be recorded, and put in the probe to represent humanities sublime/unique musical tradition to the aliens.
if you would like to share which three pieces would have your vote if this scenario would occur...?
Also, I am very interested in music, I have never had any formal education in it (though I'm trying to learn about it myself), but it is a fierce passion of mine, and I'm sure that if we ever find we share the stars with another intelligent species, our music will be something truly distinct that sets us appart from the mobs of vogons/turians/eldar/younameits.
what is your viewpoint on music? Do you think we humans are unique in our creation of it, and the way we experience it? This is a slightly philosophical question, but I find it rather fascinating to think about, and I would love to get to know other peoples's viewpoints on this matter.
As far as I'm concerned these pieces would be put into the probe:
Alfred Schnittke: Choir concerto
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGc-Tu_1yGw
(If you don't feel like listening to all of it, you should skip to 10:00 and listen up to 11:15, it nearly makes me weep)
Vasily Kalinnikov: Symphony No. 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVakXOkE2G4
This is my favourite pre-Soviet Russian composer. Listen ahead and find out why...
Matthijs Vermeulen: Symphony No. 2 "prelude a une nouvelle journee"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-U1nT3OoOQ
This is the greatest Dutch Composer I know (and I looked up a lot of them out of curiosity, my being belgian).
He is an avant garde composer of the early interbellum-cold world war period, and if you are as much into this kind of stuff as I am, you really should look him up. to people who don't fully appreciate it; Yes, it is a bit extreme and you have to get into this kind of stuff to be able to fully get to grips with it, but I find it to be an incredibly evocative piece and very fun to listen to. You really should clench your teeth and listen past the first few minutes, the middle piece is softer.
15:20 onwards for example somehow reminds me of the Sacre Du printemps, but I find this to be slightly better actually, it has something throbbing through it along with the notes which I simply can't put my finger on, but which really appeases me. And if you like his music, spread the word a bit; this genius is virtually unknown :(
Here are two pieces which I took into consideration, but which narrowly didn't make the cut:
Kurt Atterberg: Symphony No. 6 "Dollarsymphony"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ySSn7UFxQA
Oh my, the melody at 2.00 and onwards...It makes my hearth melt. The final (third) movement is equally joyfull.
Carl Nielsen: Symphony No. 4 "The Inextinguishable"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niF6Y7ZNqys
(great piece all the way through, but I can imagine it wouldn't be enjoyable if you aren't into music from this symphonies's time. Still, I think it's a great symphony, and Nielsen a great composer)
So, go ahead! I'm curious ;p
suppose, they send of a new unmanned space probe of which they are sure it will reach a recently discovered alien civilization at some point in the near future.
They hold a global vote in which everyone can pick up to 3 pieces of music which will be recorded, and put in the probe to represent humanities sublime/unique musical tradition to the aliens.
if you would like to share which three pieces would have your vote if this scenario would occur...?
Also, I am very interested in music, I have never had any formal education in it (though I'm trying to learn about it myself), but it is a fierce passion of mine, and I'm sure that if we ever find we share the stars with another intelligent species, our music will be something truly distinct that sets us appart from the mobs of vogons/turians/eldar/younameits.
what is your viewpoint on music? Do you think we humans are unique in our creation of it, and the way we experience it? This is a slightly philosophical question, but I find it rather fascinating to think about, and I would love to get to know other peoples's viewpoints on this matter.
As far as I'm concerned these pieces would be put into the probe:
Alfred Schnittke: Choir concerto
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGc-Tu_1yGw
(If you don't feel like listening to all of it, you should skip to 10:00 and listen up to 11:15, it nearly makes me weep)
Vasily Kalinnikov: Symphony No. 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVakXOkE2G4
This is my favourite pre-Soviet Russian composer. Listen ahead and find out why...
Matthijs Vermeulen: Symphony No. 2 "prelude a une nouvelle journee"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-U1nT3OoOQ
This is the greatest Dutch Composer I know (and I looked up a lot of them out of curiosity, my being belgian).
He is an avant garde composer of the early interbellum-cold world war period, and if you are as much into this kind of stuff as I am, you really should look him up. to people who don't fully appreciate it; Yes, it is a bit extreme and you have to get into this kind of stuff to be able to fully get to grips with it, but I find it to be an incredibly evocative piece and very fun to listen to. You really should clench your teeth and listen past the first few minutes, the middle piece is softer.
15:20 onwards for example somehow reminds me of the Sacre Du printemps, but I find this to be slightly better actually, it has something throbbing through it along with the notes which I simply can't put my finger on, but which really appeases me. And if you like his music, spread the word a bit; this genius is virtually unknown :(
Here are two pieces which I took into consideration, but which narrowly didn't make the cut:
Kurt Atterberg: Symphony No. 6 "Dollarsymphony"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ySSn7UFxQA
Oh my, the melody at 2.00 and onwards...It makes my hearth melt. The final (third) movement is equally joyfull.
Carl Nielsen: Symphony No. 4 "The Inextinguishable"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niF6Y7ZNqys
(great piece all the way through, but I can imagine it wouldn't be enjoyable if you aren't into music from this symphonies's time. Still, I think it's a great symphony, and Nielsen a great composer)
So, go ahead! I'm curious ;p