Spheres of Singing
An Interdisciplinary Conference on Singing _ University of Glasgow _ 28-30 May 2020
Article submission by Academics & Composers
Desired Format of Submission: Lecture Recital (30 min): Performance & Presentation.
Keywords: Musica Universalis, Planetary Astronomy, Menex,
Algorithmic Music, Digital Signal Processing
Title
Music of the Spheres: Merging Astronomy with Music
Pythagoras of Samos (ca. 570 - 495 BC) proposed that the Sun, Moon and planets radiate their own unique hum based on their orbital resonances. According to the ancient philosopher, these sounds are physically imperceptible to the human ear [1]. Plato (ca. 424/423 - 348/347 BC) writes: “ as the eyes, said I, seem formed for studying astronomy, so do the ears seem formed for harmonious motions: and these seem to be twin sciences to one another, as also the Pythagoreans say ” [2]. Thousands of years later, Johannes Kepler (1619) in his final book of Harmonices Mundi explains how the ratio of the perihelion and aphelion velocities of each planet is very nearly equivalent to a consonant musical interval. Kepler related the motions of the planets to musical concepts and concluded that the Solar System sings in a “perfect concord” [3].
Many composers and artists have been inspired by the Universe and our celestial neighborhood. This research - art communication is reviving this concept. Several researchers and artists have previously contributed to the sonification of the present-day celestial mechanics ([4-7]). Nevertheless, no work has been conducted on the sonification of the physical processes that formed the Sun, planets and moons of our Solar System, and their evolution through natural history. Initially, we have reproduced astronomical models [8-10] that simulate the formation and evolution of our Solar System from 4.567 billion years ago (Ga) until present. We obtained (via the NASA Planetary Data System) datasets of the astronomical orbits and physical properties of 8 planets, 5 dwarf planets, and 300 moons, asteroids and comets of our Solar System and transformed them into music by mapping and scaling the data to musical properties (Pitch, Dynamics, Granularity, Reverb amount etc.). A singer was additionally recorded singing only one note. The vocal sample was then multiplied and transposed to match the number of the Solar System objects and their dynamic proportions that were also included in our astronomical simulations. The resulting composition is performed and processed algorithmically using a Max/MSP program [11]. The outcome is a direct musification of the genesis and evolution of our Solar System in the form of a data driven chorale. Our approach suggests that the dynamic evolution of our Solar System produces a mesmerizing musical outcome that can be presented as a musical performance and a scientific contribution.
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