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US 'space symphony' puts stunning NASA images to music
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In front of an NASA image projected on a screen, National Philharmonic Music Director and Conductor Piotr Gajewski rehearses “Cosmic Cycles, A Space Symphony“ by composer Henry Dehlinger, at Capital One Hall in Arlington, Virginia, on May 11, 2023. (AFP/Mandel Ngan)
I
t could be the ultimate blend of art and science -- a new seven-suite "space symphony" inspired and illustrated by NASA's latest mind-boggling images.
The world premiere outside Washington last week of "Cosmic Cycles" showcased vivid imagery compiled by the US space agency alongside the first-ever public performance of the music.
Henry Dehlinger, the symphony's American composer, describes it as "almost like a total artwork."
"It's not just music, it's not just visuals -- it's not a score for a film either," the 56-year-old told AFP before the concert.
"It's more of an immersive experience that encapsulates both visuals and sound."
A similar effort was undertaken over a century ago by English composer Gustav Holst -- but when he wrote his famous ode to "The Planets," much in astronomy remained only theoretical.
Since then, humans have walked on the Moon, sent roving research labs to Mars and probed across the solar system with powerful telescopes allowing us to peer billions of light-years away.
