Music In Space

In 1977, spacecraft Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 were sent out into space to explore Jupiter and Saturn. Both spacecraft carry a golden phonograph record that contains various pieces of information about Earth. This record contains primarily music (27 total songs), but also greetings (in 55 different languages), pictures from Earth, and sounds of Earth (like crickets, volcanoes). Of course, I find interest in the idea that music is housed on the spacecraft.

What songs were picked to be part of this space project?
Here is a link to the listing:

List of Music on Voyager

Blind Willie Johnson, Chuck Berry, and Louis Armstrong. These are the three songs of "popular music" included on the golden record. There is a fair amount of classical music (Bach, Beethoven, Stravinsky), as well as global folk music (Peru wedding song, Aborigine songs). I suppose it is an interesting question to ask yourself. What songs should go on the spacecraft? Undoubtedly, NASA wanted to put together a diverse and representative collection of music. I have to say I'm a bit concerned when an alien life form comes across this selection. No Beatles? So few women? I'm just thinking that by 1977 there were quite a few songs/styles that seem to be left off of this list. Perhaps it is the issue of high art versus popular culture- in that those putting together the space mix tape tried to put together a listing that would impress even the most intelligent life form in space.

Hear more about this process at this NPR site.

I adore the fact that music was deemed as having lasting value, coming from a universal language. To think of this music traveling through space amazes me. To wonder about an alien life form playing the golden record astounds me. Currently Voyager 1 is farther from Earth than any other human-made object. It is speculated that it will be around 40,000 years before the spacecraft (and music) make a close approach to any other planetary system. So, although I might have some issue with songs that were left off the mix tape, I must say the image of an alien life form listening to Armstrong's Melancholy Blues is undoubtedly a perfect introduction to the idiosyncrasies of living on Earth.