An orchestral trip through the moons of our solar system
This month’s episode of Physics World Stories features an interview with composer Amanda Lee Falkenberg with music from her The Moons Symphony. Her creation takes listeners on an epic journey through the science and stories of the moons of our solar system.
The seven-movement symphony dramatizes the geophysical features of Io, Europa, Titan, Enceladus, Miranda and Ganymede, before turning to our own Moon for a two-part finale. In creating the work, Australian-born Falkenberg immersed herself in the scientific research and consulted many scientists and astronauts.
The Moons Symphony performed by the London Symphony Orchestra is available now via Signum Records.
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1 00:00:05,005 --> 00:00:06,135 - Physics world. 2 00:00:06,985 --> 00:00:09,375 Hello and welcome to the Physics World Stories podcast. 3 00:00:10,115 --> 00:00:13,015 I'm Andre Gluster. And this is Enceladus, 4 00:00:13,435 --> 00:00:16,295 the fourth movement from the Moon Symphony from 5 00:00:16,355 --> 00:00:18,335 Amanda Lee Falkenberg. 6 00:00:26,795 --> 00:00:30,575 The Moon Symphony is an orchestral trip through the science 7 00:00:30,915 --> 00:00:33,775 and stories of the moons of our solar system. 8 00:00:40,075 --> 00:00:43,935 Taking listeners on a tour of Io Euro Roper Titan 9 00:00:44,595 --> 00:00:47,455 and Seuss Miranda Gade 10 00:00:47,795 --> 00:00:52,655 before turning to our own moon, where you'll also find 11 00:00:53,165 --> 00:00:54,175 resting on the surface. 12 00:00:54,795 --> 00:00:57,775 The sheet music of this very simple, 13 00:01:20,615 --> 00:01:24,075 it is all the work of Amanda Lee Falkenberg. 14 00:01:27,435 --> 00:01:29,795 - I have been in the musical world since I was two 15 00:01:29,795 --> 00:01:33,475 and a half years old, playing the piano, um, at that age 16 00:01:34,015 --> 00:01:36,475 and pretty much devoted the next two decades 17 00:01:36,895 --> 00:01:40,795 to really trying to perfect the craft, um, learn a lot 18 00:01:40,795 --> 00:01:44,515 of the literature, piano concertos competitions at 19 00:01:44,595 --> 00:01:47,835 Tedford's, uh, performance degree at the Conservatorium 20 00:01:47,855 --> 00:01:49,075 of Music in Adelaide. 21 00:01:49,655 --> 00:01:53,555 Um, and that's really the point at which my curiosity 22 00:01:53,695 --> 00:01:55,195 for composing started to kick in. 23 00:01:55,815 --> 00:01:59,715 And, um, I started composing music for ballet studios 24 00:02:00,095 --> 00:02:03,555 and, um, that I launched a, a three part CD on that. 25 00:02:03,575 --> 00:02:06,275 And I felt that really the visual world was 26 00:02:06,325 --> 00:02:08,235 where I was mostly interested in. 27 00:02:08,495 --> 00:02:13,395 Um, and then I got an appointment, uh, to be the pianist 28 00:02:13,395 --> 00:02:14,475 with Australian Ballet Company. 29 00:02:15,175 --> 00:02:18,155 And we were, uh, it was a very busy full-time job. 30 00:02:18,535 --> 00:02:21,835 Um, we were doing amazing productions like coming to Bana, 31 00:02:22,015 --> 00:02:23,955 and I was obviously at the piano with the, um, 32 00:02:24,165 --> 00:02:26,075 balls on stage, and they were doing these new concepts 33 00:02:26,075 --> 00:02:30,075 and oh, I just honestly wanted nothing more 34 00:02:30,075 --> 00:02:31,835 to be involved in that creative process. 35 00:02:31,895 --> 00:02:34,755 And I thought, there's no way I'm gonna be able to access 36 00:02:34,985 --> 00:02:37,035 that dream if I'm sitting here behind this piano. 37 00:02:37,615 --> 00:02:39,715 So I resigned and it was quite a 38 00:02:39,715 --> 00:02:41,115 big decision, as you can imagine. 39 00:02:41,695 --> 00:02:43,795 Um, there three full-Time Peanut, and I was one of them. 40 00:02:43,975 --> 00:02:47,715 Um, but I really was so curious, Andrew, to see 41 00:02:47,935 --> 00:02:50,235 how far I could take my creativity. 42 00:02:50,695 --> 00:02:52,875 And so for the next two decades, um, 43 00:02:53,105 --> 00:02:56,235 I've really just been writing for films and television 44 00:02:56,495 --> 00:03:00,885 and, um, just doing lots of, of piano concertos 45 00:03:00,885 --> 00:03:01,965 and concert hall music 46 00:03:02,065 --> 00:03:06,385 and just so inspired by visual, the visual landscape. 47 00:03:06,645 --> 00:03:09,385 And, um, yeah, it was through my piano concerto 48 00:03:09,385 --> 00:03:11,425 that I discovered these incredible moons 49 00:03:11,525 --> 00:03:12,905 of our outer solar system. 50 00:03:13,125 --> 00:03:15,145 And oh my goodness, 51 00:03:15,145 --> 00:03:16,945 that was like a lightning bolt moment in 52 00:03:17,145 --> 00:03:18,345 my creative career, <laugh>. 53 00:03:18,645 --> 00:03:20,465 And I actually had another project I was going 54 00:03:20,465 --> 00:03:22,625 to launch into, but then I found these moons 55 00:03:22,625 --> 00:03:24,865 and I'm like, no, I'm putting that project to the side. 56 00:03:25,125 --> 00:03:27,985 And, um, I think that is the most exciting 57 00:03:28,405 --> 00:03:31,505 and fulfilling, uh, project to date. You 58 00:03:31,745 --> 00:03:34,305 - Discovered them via piano concerto, 59 00:03:34,665 --> 00:03:35,665 - <laugh>. 60 00:03:35,865 --> 00:03:37,705 I know, I need to give some context there. 61 00:03:38,245 --> 00:03:42,785 Um, I was, um, I was, uh, in between projects 62 00:03:43,205 --> 00:03:46,745 and, um, you know, the, the advice from John Williams is, 63 00:03:46,805 --> 00:03:49,505 you know, when you've got some time on your hand, you know, 64 00:03:49,505 --> 00:03:50,705 and you need to com you wanna compose 65 00:03:50,705 --> 00:03:52,145 something, what do you love? 66 00:03:52,845 --> 00:03:54,785 And that I thought, well, what do I love? 67 00:03:54,885 --> 00:03:56,145 I'm like, I love Full Moon. 68 00:03:56,145 --> 00:03:57,425 So I'm like, I'm just gonna write a piano 69 00:03:57,425 --> 00:03:58,505 concerto about Full Moon. 70 00:03:58,525 --> 00:04:00,665 So I did, it was called Crossing the Crescent Moon, 71 00:04:01,245 --> 00:04:03,025 and it was more of an abstract piece. 72 00:04:03,205 --> 00:04:04,345 Um, living in Dubai, 73 00:04:04,345 --> 00:04:05,825 you're seeing crescent moons everywhere. 74 00:04:05,925 --> 00:04:09,425 And anyway, so it was the last, I had two more minutes 75 00:04:09,425 --> 00:04:10,185 to write at the piano 76 00:04:10,185 --> 00:04:11,585 concerto, and I thought, you know what? 77 00:04:11,605 --> 00:04:14,665 I'm just going to explore, um, some of the sort 78 00:04:14,665 --> 00:04:19,305 of the traditional, um, theories behind, uh, crescent moons 79 00:04:19,305 --> 00:04:21,985 or just explore some of the, the literature out there. 80 00:04:22,125 --> 00:04:25,105 And I was just doing two couple of hours of research on it. 81 00:04:25,325 --> 00:04:27,865 Um, and then all of a sudden I stumbled across this website 82 00:04:27,865 --> 00:04:32,785 that said 10 of the weirdest moons of our solar system. 83 00:04:33,405 --> 00:04:37,625 And I went, hang on a second. What <laugh> what? 84 00:04:37,815 --> 00:04:39,505 There's like more moons. I mean, house. 85 00:04:39,705 --> 00:04:42,545 I really gotta know that there are all these dynamic worlds 86 00:04:42,545 --> 00:04:44,665 out there when I was buried in music books 87 00:04:44,665 --> 00:04:47,025 and piano, uh, crafting my piano skills. 88 00:04:47,045 --> 00:04:51,125 So, um, anyway, I just went, whoa, 89 00:04:51,455 --> 00:04:53,645 these moons need music. 90 00:04:54,505 --> 00:04:57,285 And then I'm like, hang on, these moons need emotion. 91 00:04:57,585 --> 00:05:01,365 And being a film composer, I'm very aware of the power 92 00:05:01,425 --> 00:05:03,485 of music to help amplify them. 93 00:05:03,565 --> 00:05:04,845 I kind of felt sorry for them, Andrew. 94 00:05:04,865 --> 00:05:06,965 I'm like, here are these amazing worlds 95 00:05:06,965 --> 00:05:08,645 of trapped in a vacuum of space. 96 00:05:08,675 --> 00:05:10,525 Like space I know I could do something for. 97 00:05:10,565 --> 00:05:11,605 I kind of felt sorry for them. 98 00:05:11,625 --> 00:05:13,485 It was really weird experience <laugh>. 99 00:05:14,105 --> 00:05:17,325 And, um, and that's when I set about the project. 100 00:05:17,625 --> 00:05:21,205 It was literally seven years ago, uh, October, 2017, 101 00:05:22,025 --> 00:05:26,165 and, um, set out to put their world into music, 102 00:05:26,985 --> 00:05:30,605 um, and through the ways I know best. 103 00:05:30,785 --> 00:05:33,605 And so I was really drawing upon the aesthetics 104 00:05:33,605 --> 00:05:35,405 of their world to start with. 105 00:05:35,985 --> 00:05:38,085 But then I started stumbling across all 106 00:05:38,085 --> 00:05:41,245 of this incredible science that they've been, uh, able 107 00:05:41,265 --> 00:05:44,045 to establish from, you know, these incredible missions 108 00:05:44,045 --> 00:05:47,205 of Voyager and Pioneer and et cetera, et cetera. 109 00:05:47,305 --> 00:05:51,005 And I just, I just realized one day I'm like, 110 00:05:51,005 --> 00:05:53,365 there's no way I could ignore this science. 111 00:05:53,465 --> 00:05:55,885 And so I'm like, what if I employed a choir 112 00:05:56,505 --> 00:05:58,845 to sing the science so that 113 00:05:58,845 --> 00:06:01,565 that way it could even give more outreach and relevance 114 00:06:01,665 --> 00:06:04,085 and communicate their incredible worlds 115 00:06:04,085 --> 00:06:05,685 to a larger audience. 116 00:06:06,155 --> 00:06:11,005 Obviously it compounded <laugh> my, um, my, um, job as, um, 117 00:06:11,005 --> 00:06:12,205 composer here, but I, 118 00:06:12,205 --> 00:06:14,565 there was just no way I couldn't include it into 119 00:06:14,565 --> 00:06:15,605 the, into the project. 120 00:06:16,325 --> 00:06:19,285 - Absolutely. Does the aesthetic translation into music, 121 00:06:19,345 --> 00:06:20,445 can you tell me a bit about that 122 00:06:20,445 --> 00:06:22,045 before we move into the science? Yeah, 123 00:06:22,285 --> 00:06:25,205 - I guess like for me, um, I'm very visual 124 00:06:25,265 --> 00:06:27,485 and I think that's why I started in the ballet studios. 125 00:06:27,685 --> 00:06:31,925 I was looking at how the movement, the porta bra, whatever, 126 00:06:32,065 --> 00:06:34,565 um, the movement of the dancer 127 00:06:35,225 --> 00:06:39,005 and how I felt music could help 128 00:06:40,145 --> 00:06:42,315 them in that exercise, in that training. 129 00:06:42,385 --> 00:06:46,235 Just 'cause I've just been immersed with the world of music 130 00:06:46,295 --> 00:06:48,675 for so many years and I was so curious about 131 00:06:48,855 --> 00:06:50,555 how you could join the forces. 132 00:06:50,665 --> 00:06:53,915 Like, it's just a massive collaborative effort really. 133 00:06:54,135 --> 00:06:58,075 And, and, and I find it fascinating using the texture 134 00:06:58,175 --> 00:07:02,235 of music to try and conjure visuals. 135 00:07:02,455 --> 00:07:04,355 Um, and I, and as, 136 00:07:04,375 --> 00:07:07,115 and especially being a, a composer of the orchestra, I mean, 137 00:07:07,115 --> 00:07:08,835 you've got so much more access to color 138 00:07:09,015 --> 00:07:12,315 and texture, more so than just a piano per se. 139 00:07:13,215 --> 00:07:15,275 And, uh, I felt when, again, 140 00:07:15,275 --> 00:07:16,795 when I was stumbling across the science, and, 141 00:07:16,815 --> 00:07:19,835 and that's a background I didn't never really come from, 142 00:07:20,615 --> 00:07:23,155 and so I'm like, oh my goodness, here's my chance 143 00:07:23,295 --> 00:07:26,515 to really delve into the science a world that 144 00:07:27,155 --> 00:07:28,475 I was never exposed to. 145 00:07:28,635 --> 00:07:30,075 I was so busy with theater 146 00:07:30,255 --> 00:07:32,315 and music, I just didn't have the bandwidth 147 00:07:32,415 --> 00:07:36,435 to put a science topic into my, you know, 148 00:07:36,575 --> 00:07:37,595 bag of study. 149 00:07:38,375 --> 00:07:40,675 And I'm like, oh my goodness, here's my chance. 150 00:07:40,695 --> 00:07:43,075 And it was always quite a, they always sort of seemed 151 00:07:43,095 --> 00:07:45,235 as separate worlds, and I thought, here's my chance 152 00:07:45,415 --> 00:07:46,995 to bridge them together as well. 153 00:07:47,735 --> 00:07:52,595 So yes, in terms of like the aesthetics of, you know, pro, 154 00:07:52,665 --> 00:07:55,075 okay, so the, and a probably a good word to introduce 155 00:07:55,075 --> 00:07:56,715 to you is programmatic. 156 00:07:57,375 --> 00:07:59,595 Uh, it's a word that we use in music 157 00:08:00,135 --> 00:08:02,955 to help convey the music, a musical narrative 158 00:08:03,015 --> 00:08:04,235 or a physical narrative. 159 00:08:04,815 --> 00:08:08,715 And Beethoven was amazing at programmatic 160 00:08:08,715 --> 00:08:09,835 elements in his music. 161 00:08:10,495 --> 00:08:11,995 Um, and so a lot of 162 00:08:12,775 --> 00:08:15,115 the musical elements are driven programmatically 163 00:08:15,175 --> 00:08:17,595 to help convey the scripts of the science. 164 00:08:35,015 --> 00:08:36,075 AMI is a mood of Jupiter. 165 00:08:36,075 --> 00:08:37,715 It's the biggest moon in our solar system, 166 00:08:37,775 --> 00:08:39,435 and there is some phenomenal science 167 00:08:39,545 --> 00:08:41,235 happening at this world. 168 00:08:41,415 --> 00:08:45,235 And, um, I was fortunate enough to, um, consult with, um, 169 00:08:45,385 --> 00:08:48,795 Jean, who is a co-investigator on both the Juice mission 170 00:08:48,855 --> 00:08:51,875 that's heading out there, um, that's essa 171 00:08:51,895 --> 00:08:53,795 and of course, um, rope Clipper Mission. 172 00:08:54,015 --> 00:08:56,165 Um, it's launching in October this year. 173 00:08:56,625 --> 00:09:00,125 So I had some pretty heady conversations with him, um, 174 00:09:00,455 --> 00:09:03,125 about all the science that they're discovering out there. 175 00:09:03,425 --> 00:09:06,805 And I absolutely really wanted to inject 176 00:09:06,805 --> 00:09:08,445 that into this moon, just partly 177 00:09:08,445 --> 00:09:11,445 because they do have access to, to knowing what's going on 178 00:09:11,505 --> 00:09:13,325 as opposed to something like Europa, 179 00:09:13,325 --> 00:09:14,805 they're still trying to figure it out. 180 00:09:15,425 --> 00:09:16,565 Um, I mean, 181 00:09:16,625 --> 00:09:19,925 the Galileo mission certainly revealed enormous amount about 182 00:09:19,925 --> 00:09:21,525 the oceans, and that's a whole other thing 183 00:09:21,525 --> 00:09:22,525 through the magnetometer, 184 00:09:22,525 --> 00:09:24,085 but we're talking about Gamine right now, 185 00:09:24,145 --> 00:09:25,285 so I'll stay on track. 186 00:09:25,825 --> 00:09:27,045 But there's, um, all sorts 187 00:09:27,045 --> 00:09:29,045 of magnetic reconnections going on. 188 00:09:29,305 --> 00:09:33,325 Uh, there's a aurora belts that they've discovered as well 189 00:09:33,325 --> 00:09:34,965 because of the fact that it's, 190 00:09:34,965 --> 00:09:36,725 it's got its own magnetic field. 191 00:09:37,145 --> 00:09:39,765 The charge plasma that's happening at ome, 192 00:09:40,155 --> 00:09:42,165 it's all about magnetic field lines, 193 00:09:42,545 --> 00:09:45,725 and the protons are excited and they, they collide 194 00:09:45,725 --> 00:09:47,165 and they, and they explode. 195 00:09:47,625 --> 00:09:50,965 And in the actual music, ADEs are very fun. 196 00:09:51,145 --> 00:09:52,685 It starts off quite celebratory 197 00:09:53,025 --> 00:09:57,685 and it really wants to convey all this fun sort of 198 00:09:58,325 --> 00:09:59,445 magnetic field line activity. 199 00:09:59,465 --> 00:10:02,365 And so you'll hear like, there's a moment in the base 200 00:10:02,855 --> 00:10:06,085 where I'll do a, what we call a pix carto, um, 201 00:10:06,085 --> 00:10:08,245 which the barock, uh, technique 202 00:10:08,245 --> 00:10:09,965 where you'll pull the string away 203 00:10:10,145 --> 00:10:12,925 and you'll snap back on the p um, on the fingerboard, 204 00:10:13,185 --> 00:10:14,925 and it gives quite a metallic sound. 205 00:10:15,585 --> 00:10:17,725 And of course that's sort of, I'm like, okay, I've gotta put 206 00:10:17,725 --> 00:10:20,685 that in to sort of, you know, emulate that activity. 207 00:10:21,635 --> 00:10:23,645 Also, there's, uh, there's a lot of, um, collision 208 00:10:23,645 --> 00:10:26,405 with these, um, protons that are colliding. 209 00:10:26,425 --> 00:10:30,005 And so there's like this random, um, base note 210 00:10:30,005 --> 00:10:32,605 that comes from the trombone in the middle of a passage 211 00:10:32,865 --> 00:10:35,445 to sort of, yeah, just sort of convey a bit of the chaos. 212 00:10:35,625 --> 00:10:39,245 And, um, so, so there's that kind of thing that I try 213 00:10:39,245 --> 00:10:43,005 to draw upon as much as possible to convey, you know, 214 00:10:43,105 --> 00:10:46,325 the science in, in especially for that particular, um, 215 00:10:46,715 --> 00:10:47,885 narrative for 216 00:11:21,705 --> 00:11:22,705 - That's amazing. 217 00:11:22,705 --> 00:11:23,765 I mean, you've not just gone, 218 00:11:24,065 --> 00:11:25,645 I'm just gonna write some things about the moons. 219 00:11:25,785 --> 00:11:26,885 I'm gonna go and talk to the people 220 00:11:26,945 --> 00:11:29,565 who literally know the most about these things in order 221 00:11:29,565 --> 00:11:30,605 to write about the moons. 222 00:11:30,995 --> 00:11:32,725 - Yeah, and I mean, I'm a teacher at heart. 223 00:11:32,845 --> 00:11:34,805 I have a boutique piano school over here, 224 00:11:35,025 --> 00:11:39,365 and I have always, I mean, I've just, I feel like many 225 00:11:39,365 --> 00:11:41,565 of us are just so curious about life, 226 00:11:41,905 --> 00:11:44,765 and I felt that here was an opportunity to, yeah, 227 00:11:44,765 --> 00:11:47,365 like you said, just not paint a wallpaper 228 00:11:47,625 --> 00:11:49,085 for something that you're interested in. 229 00:11:49,105 --> 00:11:52,165 I'm like, no, here's a chance to really explore. 230 00:11:52,165 --> 00:11:56,245 Like I said, how far can you really take the curious nature 231 00:11:56,385 --> 00:11:57,885 of, of a creative person? 232 00:11:58,705 --> 00:12:01,765 And that's why I started, what actually happened, um, 233 00:12:01,765 --> 00:12:05,365 Andrew is I started researching alone, um, 234 00:12:05,625 --> 00:12:09,005 the initially, and I turned to my husband at some point. 235 00:12:09,025 --> 00:12:12,285 I'm like, hang on a second, like this website saying that, 236 00:12:12,345 --> 00:12:13,845 and this website saying that. 237 00:12:13,845 --> 00:12:17,125 And there was conflict in what I was researching, 238 00:12:17,225 --> 00:12:21,205 and I said to my husband, like, gosh, I need to consult 239 00:12:21,205 --> 00:12:22,805 with a, a, a moons expert. 240 00:12:22,925 --> 00:12:24,885 I mean, I didn't know they were called planetary scientists 241 00:12:24,885 --> 00:12:27,685 back then, but anyway, I'm just like, and moon expert. 242 00:12:28,185 --> 00:12:31,365 And on some of the YouTube channels I was, um, researching, 243 00:12:31,365 --> 00:12:34,085 there was a particular character, I guess you could say. 244 00:12:34,405 --> 00:12:35,605 I didn't know who he was back then, 245 00:12:35,985 --> 00:12:38,565 but he was like dressed up in like Eskimo gear 246 00:12:38,665 --> 00:12:40,565 and talking about this moony roper 247 00:12:40,565 --> 00:12:41,725 that I was about to write for. 248 00:12:42,385 --> 00:12:45,205 And I remember taking a screenshot going, Hmm, I need 249 00:12:45,205 --> 00:12:48,805 to find out where this this person is and write to him 250 00:12:49,345 --> 00:12:50,365 and sort of pick his brain 251 00:12:50,385 --> 00:12:53,085 and see could, if he could, sort of later to rest some 252 00:12:53,085 --> 00:12:55,965 of this conflict that I have about what these numbers are 253 00:12:56,025 --> 00:12:57,085 and et cetera. 254 00:12:57,145 --> 00:13:01,525 So I, um, found out he was from nasa, JPL in California, 255 00:13:02,185 --> 00:13:05,405 and, uh, it was one of these black hole emails, you know, 256 00:13:05,405 --> 00:13:06,765 the ones that you just kind of <laugh>, 257 00:13:07,705 --> 00:13:08,885 you write your little message 258 00:13:09,025 --> 00:13:10,725 and you just send it off into the universe 259 00:13:10,745 --> 00:13:11,805 and you're pretty sure you're never 260 00:13:11,805 --> 00:13:13,005 gonna hear back from it <laugh>. 261 00:13:13,105 --> 00:13:16,045 So, and I, um, anyway, I told him my vision. 262 00:13:16,065 --> 00:13:18,765 At that point, I hadn't even written a note of music, 263 00:13:18,985 --> 00:13:20,965 but I just explained to him the idea 264 00:13:20,965 --> 00:13:23,285 of these moons at a concert that I had in mind 265 00:13:23,465 --> 00:13:26,205 and wanted to just see if he was available 266 00:13:26,305 --> 00:13:28,045 to chat about the characteristics. 267 00:13:28,145 --> 00:13:31,085 And, um, and I just didn't think anything of it. 268 00:13:31,145 --> 00:13:33,965 And seven days later I got a message back from him saying 269 00:13:33,965 --> 00:13:35,485 he'd be happy to talk with me. 270 00:13:35,545 --> 00:13:37,405 My project sounded interesting to him. 271 00:13:38,225 --> 00:13:39,965 And, um, yeah, we've, um, 272 00:13:40,355 --> 00:13:43,525 been in massive contact over the last seven years and, 273 00:13:43,525 --> 00:13:45,045 and he was the one who introduced me 274 00:13:45,045 --> 00:13:49,045 to this whole other swag amazing scientist, lead scientist 275 00:13:49,045 --> 00:13:51,885 of the Cassini mission, like Linda Spilker, um, 276 00:13:52,385 --> 00:13:56,205 and Michelle Doty, uh, the Mag Thomas instrument on, uh, on 277 00:13:56,205 --> 00:13:57,365 that Cassini mission, 278 00:13:57,385 --> 00:13:59,245 who discovered the guys as that in Cellists. 279 00:13:59,345 --> 00:14:02,885 Um, so yeah, so things just sort of snowballed since then. 280 00:14:03,185 --> 00:14:05,405 And, um, I'm so grateful he replied 281 00:14:05,405 --> 00:14:08,565 because, um, I don't think the project would have the 282 00:14:08,565 --> 00:14:12,285 gravitas that it does because of the interactions 283 00:14:12,285 --> 00:14:14,365 and the collaborative, um, efforts 284 00:14:14,825 --> 00:14:19,205 and commitment that I've really wanted to, um, convey, 285 00:14:19,665 --> 00:14:22,245 not just with the music, but when we've done outreach 286 00:14:22,265 --> 00:14:25,045 and we've done, um, public facing events. 287 00:14:25,345 --> 00:14:29,245 Um, it's just so much more impactful having the scientists 288 00:14:29,545 --> 00:14:33,205 and professors share the stage with you to talk the science. 289 00:14:33,745 --> 00:14:38,165 And then I'll come in as the musical communicator of how 290 00:14:38,165 --> 00:14:39,205 that shows up in the music. 291 00:14:39,235 --> 00:14:42,125 It's real, it's quite a fun, um, format. Mm, 292 00:14:42,425 --> 00:14:43,425 - That's great. 293 00:14:43,425 --> 00:14:45,165 But I mean, it seems like, you know, a fair bit about the, 294 00:14:45,225 --> 00:14:46,565 the science these days as well. 295 00:14:46,795 --> 00:14:50,605 Have you found it going in as being part of you now as well 296 00:14:50,605 --> 00:14:51,845 as, you know, part of the music? 297 00:14:52,155 --> 00:14:56,965 - It's, it was quite, um, a Mount Everest climb <laugh>, 298 00:14:58,265 --> 00:15:03,125 but I was committed because I felt that, um, you know, like 299 00:15:03,185 --> 00:15:07,605 before I even, I would write for, um, stage plays 300 00:15:07,865 --> 00:15:10,485 or for feature films, Andrew, I would 301 00:15:11,445 --> 00:15:14,445 absolutely invest in the script, the story, 302 00:15:14,545 --> 00:15:17,325 and I would not go anywhere near writing in music 303 00:15:17,455 --> 00:15:21,525 until I felt that I'd penetrated all of the nuances. 304 00:15:21,665 --> 00:15:25,325 And so it was just that same approach. 305 00:15:26,105 --> 00:15:29,565 Um, but instead of a film script, 306 00:15:30,425 --> 00:15:33,965 it was the si it scripted the science that I had 307 00:15:33,965 --> 00:15:36,325 to make friends with and, you know, 308 00:15:36,345 --> 00:15:38,485 and I was very old fashioned, um, 309 00:15:39,295 --> 00:15:41,165 where I would just like two 310 00:15:41,165 --> 00:15:44,285 to three months just saturate myself in everything 311 00:15:44,355 --> 00:15:48,165 that I could get my hands on and write in pencil and paper. 312 00:15:48,205 --> 00:15:50,925 I mean, I've got books like, like, well, 313 00:15:51,385 --> 00:15:54,485 12 books I think in total, um, cover to cover 314 00:15:54,485 --> 00:15:56,925 of just writing everything that I needed to know 315 00:15:56,985 --> 00:15:59,765 or felt would be a nugget that I could include. 316 00:15:59,805 --> 00:16:01,205 I mean, I couldn't include everything obviously, 317 00:16:01,225 --> 00:16:02,725 so I just sort of hand pick. 318 00:16:03,465 --> 00:16:06,365 So, um, it, but it just, it was fun. 319 00:16:06,635 --> 00:16:11,085 Like, it was just really joyful to be exposed to these 320 00:16:11,815 --> 00:16:16,025 incredible minds of these amazing, 321 00:16:16,865 --> 00:16:19,985 brilliant people doing mind blowing missions 322 00:16:20,005 --> 00:16:21,185 to our outer solar smoke. 323 00:16:21,185 --> 00:16:22,625 Why wouldn't I get excited about that? 324 00:16:22,625 --> 00:16:26,265 And so it was just sort of many layers of inspiration, 325 00:16:27,005 --> 00:16:28,025 hugely collaborative, 326 00:16:28,405 --> 00:16:32,145 and I just felt so privileged to be able to have access 327 00:16:32,165 --> 00:16:36,065 to them, and I really wanted to make sure that their time is 328 00:16:36,165 --> 00:16:39,145 so limited, and I wanted to be really respectful about 329 00:16:39,145 --> 00:16:40,305 that. Have 330 00:16:40,305 --> 00:16:41,745 - You got feedback from them? 331 00:16:41,925 --> 00:16:43,545 You know, when they've listened to the music, 332 00:16:43,575 --> 00:16:44,625 what do they say about it? 333 00:16:44,815 --> 00:16:47,105 - Well, oh gosh, that was, yeah, it would, 334 00:16:47,255 --> 00:16:50,695 what would happen is I would penetrate the science 335 00:16:50,715 --> 00:16:52,655 and then just triple check a few things with them. 336 00:16:52,655 --> 00:16:56,615 Like for instance, like moon io I, um, consulted 337 00:16:56,615 --> 00:16:58,575 with Ashley Davies from nasa, JPL, 338 00:16:58,665 --> 00:17:00,095 who's volcanologist expert. 339 00:17:01,075 --> 00:17:05,555 Um, and he's been such a wonderful companion, 340 00:17:05,575 --> 00:17:06,675 um, on this journey as well. 341 00:17:06,745 --> 00:17:09,515 They all have been, um, I mean, he, he would come 342 00:17:09,515 --> 00:17:12,915 to London Imperial College events that I have given and, 343 00:17:12,915 --> 00:17:16,955 and help convey the, the science of, um, moon io. 344 00:17:17,895 --> 00:17:20,995 But what would happen is I'd, you know, again, spend two 345 00:17:20,995 --> 00:17:23,435 to three months researching, then I'd go into the studio. 346 00:17:23,615 --> 00:17:25,635 It would be quite a big deal to then convey 347 00:17:25,665 --> 00:17:26,915 into a musical landscape. 348 00:17:27,855 --> 00:17:32,515 And then after that, actually, Andrew, I would go back into, 349 00:17:32,895 --> 00:17:34,275 uh, once I'd finished the music 350 00:17:34,375 --> 00:17:37,675 and was, it was I felt that it was sounded inevitable. 351 00:17:38,135 --> 00:17:41,635 It felt inevitable, I'd actually then go into the libretto 352 00:17:41,635 --> 00:17:43,755 writing the libretto that would come actually 353 00:17:43,755 --> 00:17:45,115 after I'd composed the music. 354 00:17:45,855 --> 00:17:46,955 And I love that part. 355 00:17:46,975 --> 00:17:49,845 It was like an a, BA science started it, then the music, 356 00:17:49,995 --> 00:17:52,005 then I went back to my science books 357 00:17:52,905 --> 00:17:56,005 and had them all laid out in front of me and would sit 358 00:17:56,005 --> 00:17:58,565 and with my headset and listen to what I'd composed, 359 00:17:59,665 --> 00:18:01,965 and then I'd write the phrases 360 00:18:02,435 --> 00:18:04,445 that would bridge back to the science. 361 00:18:04,745 --> 00:18:07,445 But I had to put a poetic lens on it 362 00:18:07,565 --> 00:18:09,885 because this is, you know, sort of theater after all, 363 00:18:09,905 --> 00:18:11,765 and it can't be too sciencey sy 364 00:18:12,185 --> 00:18:13,845 and I, I love that part as well. 365 00:18:13,905 --> 00:18:15,365 I'm like, I can't really say that word, 366 00:18:15,425 --> 00:18:17,085 but I mean, maybe I could sort of, you know, 367 00:18:17,085 --> 00:18:20,045 and that's why I had to then put on this poetic hat to sort 368 00:18:20,045 --> 00:18:23,205 of soften the science, if you like, um, so 369 00:18:23,205 --> 00:18:26,085 that it's theatrical lens that we're experiencing as opposed 370 00:18:26,085 --> 00:18:27,605 to sitting in a science classroom. 371 00:18:28,625 --> 00:18:29,925 And that was really fun. So 372 00:18:30,115 --> 00:18:32,445 what I would do then is craft my poetry 373 00:18:33,025 --> 00:18:34,965 and actually send that to them first. 374 00:18:37,045 --> 00:18:40,145 And so for the case of Ashley, I mean, I've been 375 00:18:40,145 --> 00:18:42,585 around him at events, at conferences that I've gone 376 00:18:42,585 --> 00:18:45,985 to speak at, and he's been, um, sort of introducing me 377 00:18:45,985 --> 00:18:47,385 to other scientists at those events. 378 00:18:47,385 --> 00:18:50,145 And he'd say, I remember the first time Amanda sent me her 379 00:18:50,285 --> 00:18:55,105 poetry for io, the, my hair stood up on the back of my arm 380 00:18:55,245 --> 00:18:57,265 and, and just got goosebumps all over me. 381 00:18:57,265 --> 00:18:59,145 And I'm like, well, I had hadn't even shared 382 00:18:59,145 --> 00:19:00,265 the music with him at that point. 383 00:19:00,885 --> 00:19:02,905 So, I mean, so that was sort of the, and, 384 00:19:02,905 --> 00:19:07,705 and yes, it was just so joyful involving them and, 385 00:19:07,725 --> 00:19:11,505 and, and interacting at every point, every junction 386 00:19:12,065 --> 00:19:13,065 milestone of the creative process. 387 00:19:13,285 --> 00:19:16,725 So I wanted to really, you know, really get across 388 00:19:16,725 --> 00:19:17,925 that this is collaborative and, 389 00:19:17,925 --> 00:19:19,405 and this is not, I'm just gonna, you know, shut the door 390 00:19:19,405 --> 00:19:21,045 and, you know, never speak to you again. 391 00:19:21,085 --> 00:19:25,245 I wanted to feel invested and a huge, and, 392 00:19:25,265 --> 00:19:26,805 and part of this journey. 393 00:19:26,875 --> 00:19:29,085 Like, it's not just, I mean, I'm just, 394 00:19:29,565 --> 00:19:31,245 I feel like a puppet on a string sometimes. 395 00:19:31,345 --> 00:19:32,005 I'm just sort of like 396 00:19:32,005 --> 00:19:33,445 manipulating this, that, and the other. 397 00:19:33,585 --> 00:19:38,125 But there is this massive spaceship of people like, 398 00:19:38,425 --> 00:19:42,085 uh, that are involved in the nuances of why 399 00:19:42,085 --> 00:19:44,845 and how the symphony is what it is today. 400 00:19:45,225 --> 00:19:46,805 - You said you wanted to bring science 401 00:19:46,865 --> 00:19:49,325 and then the arts together, science and music together. 402 00:19:50,125 --> 00:19:52,725 I can see the excitement with which you talk about the moons 403 00:19:53,025 --> 00:19:56,125 and I, I know from knowing scientists 404 00:19:56,125 --> 00:19:57,805 and how excited they get about music, 405 00:19:58,235 --> 00:20:01,085 that this is just such a great project to do 406 00:20:01,085 --> 00:20:02,925 that mixture of science and the arts. 407 00:20:03,065 --> 00:20:07,115 - Oh, and you know, the timing of this, uh, 408 00:20:07,835 --> 00:20:09,395 question Andrew could not be better 409 00:20:09,395 --> 00:20:11,635 because literally just last week, and, 410 00:20:11,695 --> 00:20:13,475 and I'm pleased that we are scheduled this podcast 411 00:20:13,475 --> 00:20:16,355 because I have to kept mom about it for so long. 412 00:20:16,855 --> 00:20:21,765 But I'm happy to say that this very, uh, uh, 413 00:20:22,405 --> 00:20:26,925 question you, you ask, um, is about to be 414 00:20:27,565 --> 00:20:28,965 realized on stage at one 415 00:20:28,965 --> 00:20:32,085 of the most famous music festivals in the world in Chicago, 416 00:20:32,725 --> 00:20:35,725 Renia, with one of the most, um, prestigious orchestras, 417 00:20:35,975 --> 00:20:37,485 which is Chicago Symphony. 418 00:20:38,185 --> 00:20:41,325 And, um, basically Marin Op, 419 00:20:41,345 --> 00:20:45,485 who also recorded the album in London back in 2022, 420 00:20:46,225 --> 00:20:48,765 she got to experience the scientists 421 00:20:49,225 --> 00:20:50,965 during the recording session, Andrew, 422 00:20:50,965 --> 00:20:54,045 because they, most of them flew over to be part of 423 00:20:54,045 --> 00:20:55,045 that massive milestone. 424 00:20:55,145 --> 00:20:56,405 And it's just like a space launch. 425 00:20:56,405 --> 00:20:58,205 Like I'd go and be part of their space launch. 426 00:20:58,555 --> 00:21:00,205 They came over to the musical launch. 427 00:21:00,505 --> 00:21:01,965 So, I mean, this is just how, you know, 428 00:21:02,805 --> 00:21:05,445 virtuous this circle is of science and music 429 00:21:05,625 --> 00:21:08,245 and commitment we are to, to both worlds. 430 00:21:08,245 --> 00:21:11,125 So they flew over, including my astronaut friend, um, 431 00:21:11,125 --> 00:21:13,565 Nicole Stott, who I consulted with for the seventh movement. 432 00:21:14,145 --> 00:21:16,965 So we, I literally had this, I mean, 433 00:21:17,005 --> 00:21:19,245 I didn't really make a big deal of it at the time, 434 00:21:19,465 --> 00:21:23,705 but little did I realize Marin was quite, quite, 435 00:21:24,205 --> 00:21:25,745 you know, really enjoyed. 436 00:21:26,005 --> 00:21:27,785 Um, she really enjoys projects 437 00:21:27,785 --> 00:21:29,665 that are quite multidimensional like this. 438 00:21:30,245 --> 00:21:32,105 And so as it turns out, just 439 00:21:32,105 --> 00:21:34,465 before we're about to do a take for one of the movements 440 00:21:34,465 --> 00:21:37,425 with the London Symphony Orchestra, she would say, Amanda, 441 00:21:37,425 --> 00:21:38,705 do you wanna get one of the scientists up 442 00:21:38,705 --> 00:21:40,905 to have two minutes to talk about the moon 443 00:21:40,925 --> 00:21:42,865 before they played, to give them some inspiration? 444 00:21:43,165 --> 00:21:46,745 So there they were on the podium, um, standing in front of, 445 00:21:46,845 --> 00:21:49,545 you know, the London Symphony Orchestra to explain some 446 00:21:49,545 --> 00:21:51,385 of the characteristics of the moon they're about to play 447 00:21:51,605 --> 00:21:55,225 and the joy and the, the curiosity. 448 00:21:55,765 --> 00:21:57,745 And, um, we, we've got it all on camera. 449 00:21:58,005 --> 00:22:01,185 Um, and the feedback we also received was, was just 450 00:22:01,725 --> 00:22:05,025 so delightful, um, that they genuinely, 451 00:22:05,165 --> 00:22:09,385 the musicians genuinely were quite awestruck by, you know, 452 00:22:09,385 --> 00:22:12,105 having this knowledgeable scientists there to help anchor 453 00:22:12,925 --> 00:22:14,945 the, the situation from provide context. 454 00:22:15,685 --> 00:22:18,105 So Marin was sort of witness to just sort of like, 455 00:22:19,305 --> 00:22:21,825 I guess you could say, a bit of a test run of how science 456 00:22:21,845 --> 00:22:25,905 and music can interact and, and these worlds can overlap. 457 00:22:27,085 --> 00:22:29,425 And so, you know, two years down the track, 458 00:22:30,275 --> 00:22:31,305 she's got an opportunity 459 00:22:32,025 --> 00:22:34,585 'cause she's chief curator for the r Near Music Festival. 460 00:22:34,605 --> 00:22:37,825 And as part of their breaking barriers, um, theme this year, 461 00:22:38,405 --> 00:22:42,105 the Moon Symphony is going to be centerpiece of that event, 462 00:22:42,445 --> 00:22:44,625 um, played by the Chicago Symphony. 463 00:22:44,655 --> 00:22:47,225 It's going to be a suite of, of the Moon Symphony. 464 00:22:47,225 --> 00:22:49,145 So it won't be with choir, it'll be just, um, 465 00:22:49,305 --> 00:22:52,065 a shortened version, but enough, it's like 22 minutes 466 00:22:52,065 --> 00:22:55,305 of music to, to convey the characteristics of these worlds. 467 00:22:55,725 --> 00:23:00,145 And we are having many auxiliary events where this, I've, 468 00:23:00,145 --> 00:23:03,305 I've got roles, I've got an amazing, um, roster 469 00:23:03,445 --> 00:23:06,465 of scientists, Zippy Turtle, who's lead scientist, 470 00:23:06,465 --> 00:23:08,105 the Dragon find mission back to Titan. 471 00:23:08,275 --> 00:23:10,305 She's gonna be involved Michelle Doty, 472 00:23:10,675 --> 00:23:13,065 who's basically Megaton instrument found the guise is on 473 00:23:13,205 --> 00:23:15,465 and seller, she's flying over from the UK 474 00:23:15,565 --> 00:23:16,945 to be part of the auxiliary event. 475 00:23:17,455 --> 00:23:22,145 Yeah. So we are going to be public facing, um, audiences in, 476 00:23:22,165 --> 00:23:23,665 in Chicago summer this year. 477 00:23:24,325 --> 00:23:27,945 Um, but we've been doing this at Imperial College, um, uh, 478 00:23:28,005 --> 00:23:29,465 uh, for a couple events, um, 479 00:23:30,005 --> 00:23:32,905 and one coming up again actually, um, in June this year. 480 00:23:32,925 --> 00:23:36,425 And so we've, we've seen the impact from the audience 481 00:23:36,645 --> 00:23:37,985 and the students and, 482 00:23:38,805 --> 00:23:42,825 and I think just the, uh, just the nature of, um, music 483 00:23:42,965 --> 00:23:45,160 and science sharing sentence stage like this 484 00:23:45,225 --> 00:23:48,125 and to, you know, as, as it was pointed out to me, um, 485 00:23:48,485 --> 00:23:51,435 CB Turtle, um, you know, she said, Amanda, 486 00:23:51,465 --> 00:23:53,835 this is this outreach that you are doing. 487 00:23:54,315 --> 00:23:57,355 I mean, this is for these outer solar system explorations. 488 00:23:57,355 --> 00:23:59,675 It takes, you know, seven, eight years for these missions 489 00:23:59,675 --> 00:24:04,075 to reach, um, the planetary systems to conduct the science. 490 00:24:04,495 --> 00:24:07,235 She said the age in which that you are presenting, which is, 491 00:24:07,235 --> 00:24:10,915 you know, this kiss age three, um, students, you, 492 00:24:11,025 --> 00:24:12,995 it's the perfect age to get them interested 493 00:24:12,995 --> 00:24:15,915 because then they can start aligning their subjects 494 00:24:15,975 --> 00:24:18,315 that's going to be, you know, conducive 495 00:24:18,375 --> 00:24:22,835 to lending themselves to planetary post-docs, you know, 496 00:24:22,835 --> 00:24:26,395 when they need, uh, students to help them go through the, 497 00:24:26,575 --> 00:24:27,915 you know, the data that this, 498 00:24:27,915 --> 00:24:30,115 these spacecrafts are gonna be sending back to earth. 499 00:24:30,215 --> 00:24:32,595 So she's saying that the time span is actually really good 500 00:24:32,595 --> 00:24:35,715 for outer solar system planetary missions for 501 00:24:35,715 --> 00:24:39,955 what you're trying to inspire in those outreach, um, events. 502 00:24:40,095 --> 00:24:41,675 So yeah, 503 00:24:41,675 --> 00:24:43,875 and so this will be the first time, Andrew, 504 00:24:43,875 --> 00:24:48,475 that we will have a 15,000, um, audience capacity 505 00:24:49,255 --> 00:24:51,675 to, I mean, we've just been doing private events, um, 506 00:24:51,735 --> 00:24:53,195 and we did one of the great Hall 507 00:24:53,195 --> 00:24:55,395 of Imperial College back in December, 2022 508 00:24:55,455 --> 00:24:56,715 to a packed house, 509 00:24:56,835 --> 00:24:59,875 I might say actually tickets sold out in five hours 510 00:24:59,925 --> 00:25:01,315 after they were released to the students. 511 00:25:01,455 --> 00:25:04,595 So there's, there was a quite a, um, an interest in 512 00:25:04,695 --> 00:25:08,955 and, um, in the type of elements that we were going 513 00:25:08,975 --> 00:25:10,835 to showcase and roll out. 514 00:25:10,855 --> 00:25:14,395 And so I think the combination, um, has so far worked. 515 00:25:14,395 --> 00:25:16,035 It'll be interesting to see how it's received in 516 00:25:16,035 --> 00:25:17,235 Chicago. Yeah, 517 00:25:17,415 --> 00:25:21,075 - No, I mean, you've got your music being recorded performed 518 00:25:21,075 --> 00:25:24,195 by the LSO and soon to be Chicago as well. 519 00:25:24,195 --> 00:25:26,795 What, how does that feel to have your music performed 520 00:25:26,815 --> 00:25:29,435 by these, you know, well, world beating orchestras? 521 00:25:29,575 --> 00:25:34,125 - Oh, it is, you know, the power of the vision, 522 00:25:34,745 --> 00:25:36,885 you know, people followed a made up mind. 523 00:25:37,025 --> 00:25:39,325 My mind was always made up that I wanted no one 524 00:25:39,325 --> 00:25:42,165 but Marin op to conduct this symphony, 525 00:25:42,265 --> 00:25:46,365 and I just would never let that not be part 526 00:25:46,365 --> 00:25:48,965 of the vision no matter what, you know, COVID 527 00:25:49,305 --> 00:25:51,605 and sort of other events, like her diary wasn't lining up 528 00:25:51,605 --> 00:25:55,485 with LSO, it was like looking for months for a while 529 00:25:55,485 --> 00:25:56,965 that she was not gonna be conducting. 530 00:25:57,865 --> 00:26:01,805 And so, but, uh, you know, when the, when the email did come 531 00:26:01,805 --> 00:26:04,325 through, it came through Covid because her schedule was 532 00:26:04,325 --> 00:26:06,005 completely wiped out, as you can imagine. 533 00:26:06,185 --> 00:26:08,685 So she came back into the project, we had to set new dates, 534 00:26:09,505 --> 00:26:13,285 she was back on, and, um, I mean, that was just such a 535 00:26:14,025 --> 00:26:17,525 dreamy part of the project to have her, um, 536 00:26:17,555 --> 00:26:20,365 leading our space mission, if you like. 537 00:26:21,025 --> 00:26:23,845 Um, but yes, I mean, I've been living with electronic score 538 00:26:23,905 --> 00:26:25,845 for, at that 0.5 years, 539 00:26:26,655 --> 00:26:29,995 and then to have the life breed from the LSO players, um, 540 00:26:30,065 --> 00:26:32,115 back in May, 2022 was, 541 00:26:33,055 --> 00:26:35,515 and then to have the scientists though, sitting either side 542 00:26:35,515 --> 00:26:38,515 of me, you know, here I was with my, I I wanted them to have 543 00:26:38,515 --> 00:26:40,755 that experience showing in the musical score 544 00:26:41,565 --> 00:26:42,595 Maren right in front of us. 545 00:26:43,345 --> 00:26:46,165 And I would point to where we were at 546 00:26:46,165 --> 00:26:48,085 that moment as it was being recorded. 547 00:26:48,165 --> 00:26:50,605 I mean, I, I knew that they would not know necessarily 548 00:26:50,605 --> 00:26:52,685 what was going on, but you know what, Andrew, 549 00:26:52,785 --> 00:26:54,245 it was almost like a payback time 550 00:26:54,395 --> 00:26:58,085 because they would send their, um, their project, um, 551 00:26:58,315 --> 00:27:00,805 there's their science research page, um, papers, 552 00:27:01,105 --> 00:27:02,805 and I wanted them to, I'm like, send it to me. 553 00:27:03,305 --> 00:27:04,445 And of course I'd read them 554 00:27:04,445 --> 00:27:06,005 and, you know, that was quite heavy. 555 00:27:06,185 --> 00:27:10,325 It was com pretty heavy, the formulas and all the data and, 556 00:27:10,385 --> 00:27:12,685 and, but I would dutifully read them. 557 00:27:13,185 --> 00:27:16,525 And, um, but yeah, my, my eyes would glaze over a fair bit. 558 00:27:16,525 --> 00:27:19,965 And there was this one part of their, the research paper, 559 00:27:20,095 --> 00:27:22,685 which is called Plain English Summary, 560 00:27:22,955 --> 00:27:24,445 that was always my favorite part, <laugh>, 561 00:27:24,445 --> 00:27:26,485 because I'm like, okay, I get that <laugh> 562 00:27:27,355 --> 00:27:28,485 reading further though, 563 00:27:28,505 --> 00:27:30,325 but it was just fun to be around 564 00:27:31,135 --> 00:27:32,685 their minds and not really knowing. 565 00:27:32,705 --> 00:27:34,445 And that's, I guess that's why I wanted 566 00:27:34,445 --> 00:27:37,045 to be seated right in the middle of them, have the score, 567 00:27:37,045 --> 00:27:40,725 because I'm like, this surely must feel like how I've felt 568 00:27:41,275 --> 00:27:44,365 when they, I look at their formulas and I'm like, oh gosh. 569 00:27:44,905 --> 00:27:47,845 But that's where the respect kind of settles in, 570 00:27:48,065 --> 00:27:50,125 and you're just so committed 571 00:27:50,125 --> 00:27:52,285 to each other's worlds from that perspective. 572 00:27:52,465 --> 00:27:54,365 You just wanna try and get as close as you can. 573 00:27:54,365 --> 00:27:55,365 Well, at least that's what I've tried 574 00:27:55,365 --> 00:27:56,525 to do with the symphony. 575 00:27:57,425 --> 00:27:59,565 And so there we were sitting side by side 576 00:27:59,705 --> 00:28:02,805 and then having this, this music brought to life. 577 00:28:25,515 --> 00:28:28,055 Oh, it was, it was just magical. 578 00:28:28,195 --> 00:28:31,495 And yet, you know, that was just a recording, Andrew, I am 579 00:28:31,495 --> 00:28:35,455 yet to experience for the first time a live performance. 580 00:28:35,515 --> 00:28:38,455 So I can't even answer that question right now, um, 581 00:28:39,035 --> 00:28:41,415 if the truth be told, because it, it's going 582 00:28:41,415 --> 00:28:43,455 to be happening on the 26th of July this year. 583 00:28:43,635 --> 00:28:46,575 So, but to to end that first rehearsal, we're going to have, 584 00:28:46,595 --> 00:28:50,995 um, live plasma, um, screens. 585 00:28:51,105 --> 00:28:54,115 They've got plasma screens all over the lawns, um, 586 00:28:54,175 --> 00:28:55,555 and it will be in the pavilion. 587 00:28:56,135 --> 00:29:00,275 Um, and so I'm currently just finessing some, some videos 588 00:29:00,345 --> 00:29:02,835 that will accompany, um, the music, which will be, 589 00:29:03,295 --> 00:29:06,395 so it'll be some very space immersed, uh, experience, 590 00:29:06,395 --> 00:29:07,475 hopefully for the audience. 591 00:29:07,855 --> 00:29:10,235 And then, yeah, to hear the live music performed 592 00:29:10,235 --> 00:29:13,075 by Chicago Symphony Marin conducting. 593 00:29:13,135 --> 00:29:16,955 And we are gonna be given, um, at a 10 minute intro, um, 594 00:29:17,775 --> 00:29:21,355 on stage myself, um, Nicole Scott, the astronaut, 595 00:29:21,355 --> 00:29:23,835 and, um, very lucky NASA scientist as well, 596 00:29:24,015 --> 00:29:26,035 to talk about the mission, um, 597 00:29:26,055 --> 00:29:27,395 to give some context to the audience. 598 00:29:27,735 --> 00:29:29,155 Um, yeah, 599 00:29:29,255 --> 00:29:33,555 and I think just setting the stage of why we've done 600 00:29:33,555 --> 00:29:36,235 what we have, I, and I, I think Marin is very, 601 00:29:36,975 --> 00:29:38,395 is very much on a mission to make sure 602 00:29:38,395 --> 00:29:41,325 that the audience are really clear about just 603 00:29:41,425 --> 00:29:45,405 how much science and investment both the science 604 00:29:45,425 --> 00:29:48,445 and the musical world have come together for 605 00:29:48,555 --> 00:29:50,885 what they're about to experience. Yeah, 606 00:29:51,445 --> 00:29:52,445 - Absolutely. 607 00:29:52,445 --> 00:29:52,765 So Nicole Scott is 608 00:29:52,905 --> 00:29:54,845 of course the first artist in space, right? 609 00:29:54,995 --> 00:29:58,565 - Yeah. She was, did a us a space walk to fix the, 610 00:29:58,805 --> 00:30:00,085 a Canadian robotic arm. 611 00:30:00,745 --> 00:30:03,045 Can you imagine? And obviously, you know, at, 612 00:30:03,105 --> 00:30:05,045 at one point her mother and, um, 613 00:30:05,385 --> 00:30:07,205 and her husband said to her, you know, 614 00:30:07,235 --> 00:30:08,645 when she was tethered, 615 00:30:08,985 --> 00:30:12,045 she was like the furthest human from our planet earth. 616 00:30:12,125 --> 00:30:14,125 I mean, it was just like compelling what she's done. 617 00:30:14,625 --> 00:30:17,685 But you know, these astronauts, you know, the authority 618 00:30:17,905 --> 00:30:21,645 of astronauts, um, their aura like being 619 00:30:21,645 --> 00:30:24,685 around an astronaut, and people are absolutely, 620 00:30:24,685 --> 00:30:25,885 literally awestruck around them 621 00:30:26,145 --> 00:30:27,805 and obvious for obvious reasons. 622 00:30:27,945 --> 00:30:32,365 So to have her, I mean, she's just been a huge supporter 623 00:30:32,365 --> 00:30:34,005 of this creative process, 624 00:30:34,305 --> 00:30:36,725 and so it's gonna be so wonderful to have her. 625 00:30:37,255 --> 00:30:39,285 She's just, yeah, being on this journey with me 626 00:30:39,355 --> 00:30:40,885 through all shades of the rainbow. 627 00:30:41,305 --> 00:30:43,565 And yeah, I mean, I was even writing 628 00:30:43,565 --> 00:30:44,925 to her yesterday saying, oh, 629 00:30:44,945 --> 00:30:47,685 I'm putting the mood board together for, um, earth Moon, 630 00:30:47,685 --> 00:30:50,605 and I can barely hold it together thinking about, you know, 631 00:30:50,785 --> 00:30:54,165 the, the emotional impact that we really want to make for 632 00:30:54,855 --> 00:30:58,165 earth rise and for people to have this emotional reaction 633 00:30:58,185 --> 00:31:02,525 to the music and Nicole's story about the interconnectivity 634 00:31:02,585 --> 00:31:04,365 of seeing our earth from space. 635 00:31:04,545 --> 00:31:06,125 That's the seventh movement's message. 636 00:31:06,315 --> 00:31:09,685 It's the first six moons are basically the scientific data 637 00:31:09,835 --> 00:31:11,685 told from the stories of space probes. 638 00:31:11,905 --> 00:31:16,005 The seventh movement is the emotional data experienced 639 00:31:16,005 --> 00:31:17,365 through the hearts of astronauts. 640 00:32:02,085 --> 00:32:03,825 And so, you know, to have scientists 641 00:32:03,925 --> 00:32:05,425 and an astronaut involved in 642 00:32:05,425 --> 00:32:06,505 this mission is really important. 643 00:32:12,885 --> 00:32:15,105 - You've got these 12 books of notes, right? 644 00:32:15,175 --> 00:32:17,025 What, can you tell me some of the things 645 00:32:17,025 --> 00:32:18,145 that sprung out at you? 646 00:32:19,095 --> 00:32:21,065 - I've got, I've got examples, right? <laugh>. 647 00:32:22,965 --> 00:32:26,025 So what I'd be sitting, I'd, I'd record my, my Zoom sessions 648 00:32:26,025 --> 00:32:29,185 with like, as I was saying like before, was Jja, um, 649 00:32:30,465 --> 00:32:32,445 and from Michigan University in Ann Arbor. 650 00:32:32,985 --> 00:32:36,245 And, um, I mean, we had like almost an hour solid Skype. 651 00:32:36,245 --> 00:32:38,245 In fact, I think we had two Zoom calls with him, 652 00:32:38,245 --> 00:32:39,650 and I had to record both of them. 653 00:32:39,865 --> 00:32:42,805 And so what I would do, Andrew, right, so I'd, I'd listen, 654 00:32:43,185 --> 00:32:46,605 I'd play back, um, his, his our conversation 655 00:32:47,385 --> 00:32:49,245 and write down everything 656 00:32:49,275 --> 00:32:51,805 that he was telling me about the moon. 657 00:32:52,225 --> 00:32:53,485 And so he was saying things, 658 00:32:53,665 --> 00:32:56,405 he was talking about the alpha wings that the magnetic is, 659 00:32:56,425 --> 00:32:57,805 um, fear of, uh, 660 00:32:58,025 --> 00:33:00,885 GED is very different than other planetary bodies 661 00:33:00,885 --> 00:33:04,125 because it's, um, encased in Jupiter's 662 00:33:04,685 --> 00:33:05,685 enormous magnet sphere. 663 00:33:05,745 --> 00:33:09,325 And so therefore the shape of Ed's, um, 664 00:33:10,315 --> 00:33:12,165 mags sphere is a very different shape than others. 665 00:33:12,195 --> 00:33:14,205 It's, it forms what they call Alvin wings. 666 00:33:15,025 --> 00:33:17,525 And so I'm like, stop, describe what Alpha Wings are. 667 00:33:17,545 --> 00:33:19,445 And of course we had to go into the, the science, 668 00:33:19,505 --> 00:33:22,045 and it was, and anyway, so he talked to me about that and, 669 00:33:22,065 --> 00:33:23,885 and he, he's actually done diagrams. 670 00:33:23,885 --> 00:33:28,045 And so it would be a very literally a hands 671 00:33:28,385 --> 00:33:29,485 on process. 672 00:33:29,845 --> 00:33:34,725 I mean, I'd work with pencils and, and, um, highlighters 673 00:33:34,945 --> 00:33:38,245 and I would just keep writing it out until I understood 674 00:33:38,265 --> 00:33:41,725 to understand it and, um, come at it. 675 00:33:42,045 --> 00:33:44,245 'cause remember I had to sort of then turn it all around 676 00:33:44,345 --> 00:33:46,445 and then come at it through a poetic lens. 677 00:33:46,905 --> 00:33:50,405 So it just felt really important that I, um, just, you know, 678 00:33:51,235 --> 00:33:52,605 just rolled my sleeves up 679 00:33:52,605 --> 00:33:56,125 and just got to used to trying to learn the, the, 680 00:33:56,225 --> 00:33:57,405 the language of this science 681 00:33:57,785 --> 00:34:01,365 and, um, understand, I mean, I didn't even, you know, I had 682 00:34:01,365 --> 00:34:04,685 to learn about magnetic field lines breaking apart. 683 00:34:04,685 --> 00:34:06,885 There's, you know, breaking back together. 684 00:34:07,065 --> 00:34:11,285 And, um, yeah, there, there's also a ro belts at Gmy, 685 00:34:11,285 --> 00:34:12,285 which fascinated me. 686 00:34:12,305 --> 00:34:16,085 So anything that Jji would explain to me, I'll just go, 687 00:34:16,085 --> 00:34:17,605 right, that's gotta go on the symphony. 688 00:34:17,605 --> 00:34:21,005 Okay, let's talk about this. Or, um, also, um, 689 00:34:21,435 --> 00:34:23,125 what else is another or chorus waves. 690 00:34:23,145 --> 00:34:25,405 Yes, chorus Waves at Gmy are a million times 691 00:34:26,165 --> 00:34:27,845 stronger than they are at Jupiter. 692 00:34:28,585 --> 00:34:31,845 Um, and it's just, it's just recent discovery that's come 693 00:34:31,845 --> 00:34:35,765 through and, um, I'm like, oh my goodness, like a word, 694 00:34:35,835 --> 00:34:38,685 like course ways that straddles science 695 00:34:39,025 --> 00:34:41,885 and music, like that was a no brainer that had 696 00:34:41,885 --> 00:34:42,965 to go into the score. 697 00:34:43,625 --> 00:34:45,765 And so, I mean, for that moment, I mean, I, 698 00:34:46,245 --> 00:34:49,685 I give a big Tim solo to sort of, uh, 699 00:34:49,895 --> 00:34:51,845 which is the most powerful instrument of an orchestra 700 00:34:52,305 --> 00:34:55,765 to convey the, the, the drama of this course wave 701 00:34:56,695 --> 00:34:58,965 scientific, um, phenomenon, um, 702 00:34:59,355 --> 00:35:00,685 that they've recently discovered. 703 00:35:00,685 --> 00:35:04,645 So it's just sort of, yeah, it was just completely, yeah, 704 00:35:04,665 --> 00:35:08,085 it was really head, like head and hands on. 705 00:35:08,345 --> 00:35:11,885 Um, and yeah, it was, I loved it. 706 00:35:12,045 --> 00:35:15,805 I abs I mean, every chapter of this process, 707 00:35:16,845 --> 00:35:18,805 learning the learning, the science, the research 708 00:35:19,465 --> 00:35:21,165 has just been so joyful 709 00:35:21,345 --> 00:35:23,365 and, um, such an exhilarating journey. 710 00:35:23,545 --> 00:35:27,485 And, and I, I think that's where I really wanted to hope 711 00:35:27,485 --> 00:35:32,045 that the music would also convey all of those ingredients, 712 00:35:32,045 --> 00:35:35,805 those emotional ingredients of joy, curiosity, respect 713 00:35:35,825 --> 00:35:37,005 and commitment. 714 00:35:37,085 --> 00:35:38,965 And, um, just wanting 715 00:35:38,965 --> 00:35:40,525 to have a good time hanging out 716 00:35:40,525 --> 00:35:42,045 with science and music. Did you 717 00:35:42,135 --> 00:35:43,605 - Write Gunny made first? 718 00:35:43,945 --> 00:35:45,845 Did you write IO first? How did that 719 00:35:45,845 --> 00:35:46,845 - Work? 720 00:35:46,845 --> 00:35:48,405 Oh, that's a really interesting question. Okay. 721 00:35:48,685 --> 00:35:51,845 I actually started writing Europa first 722 00:36:07,395 --> 00:36:10,005 Because that was the science that was coming up the most. 723 00:36:10,065 --> 00:36:12,205 That's the biggest, you know, that is NASA's 724 00:36:13,155 --> 00:36:15,005 multi-billion dollar mission right now. 725 00:36:15,425 --> 00:36:17,165 Um, about to launch in October this year. 726 00:36:17,425 --> 00:36:20,405 So that was obviously coming up more in my investigation. 727 00:36:20,405 --> 00:36:22,285 So I'm like, but I don't even know, at the time, 728 00:36:22,425 --> 00:36:25,165 I'd selected these moons that io 729 00:36:25,275 --> 00:36:27,125 that they were planning this spacecraft launch. 730 00:36:27,665 --> 00:36:31,165 And when I did discover it, I turned to my husband like, 731 00:36:31,165 --> 00:36:32,805 oh my goodness, they're sending in a 732 00:36:32,805 --> 00:36:34,205 spacecraft out to Europa. 733 00:36:34,225 --> 00:36:36,685 I'm like, we need a concert to have 734 00:36:36,685 --> 00:36:37,765 for that moment, <laugh>. 735 00:36:38,245 --> 00:36:40,045 I mean, I hadn't even written any music at that point, 736 00:36:40,145 --> 00:36:43,885 but I'm like, wow, we need, you know, I mean, I think 737 00:36:43,885 --> 00:36:46,125 that the exciting thing about having a science-based 738 00:36:46,125 --> 00:36:48,165 symphony is that you're reaching a demographic 739 00:36:48,165 --> 00:36:50,525 that perhaps you wouldn't otherwise be at 740 00:36:50,525 --> 00:36:51,805 a target and vice versa. 741 00:36:52,745 --> 00:36:57,365 So anyway, um, so I just started writing for Europa purely 742 00:36:57,365 --> 00:36:58,685 because of, from that perspective. 743 00:36:58,865 --> 00:37:02,045 But, um, and then the, the next sequence was I went 744 00:37:02,105 --> 00:37:06,885 to Incel, then I went to Titan, Miranda, um, 745 00:37:07,085 --> 00:37:10,365 I went to IO then, uh, 'cause I went to nasa, JPO 746 00:37:10,365 --> 00:37:12,645 and presented at the Cassini mission, um, 747 00:37:12,865 --> 00:37:15,085 at the Von Carbon Auditorium. 748 00:37:15,195 --> 00:37:17,645 That was amazing. Had a 20 minute presentation 749 00:37:17,825 --> 00:37:19,645 to all these PI scientists. 750 00:37:19,665 --> 00:37:22,725 It was <laugh> quite a, quite an experience. 751 00:37:22,745 --> 00:37:25,405 But that was when I was able to have like in situ, um, 752 00:37:25,955 --> 00:37:28,245 conversations with the VUL volcanologist expert 753 00:37:28,425 --> 00:37:30,165 and also Linda SPI Spilker. 754 00:37:30,165 --> 00:37:31,405 I was able to sit down with her 755 00:37:31,465 --> 00:37:35,365 and talk about, um, you, um, how they found the plumes at, 756 00:37:35,465 --> 00:37:37,365 uh, at the geysers at Ence. 757 00:37:37,665 --> 00:37:41,685 And that was absolutely phenomenal to be there in person 758 00:37:41,905 --> 00:37:45,645 and just, oh, yeah, it was pretty exciting. 759 00:37:45,705 --> 00:37:48,565 So then I came back, um, to Dubai 760 00:37:48,665 --> 00:37:51,045 and then started composing for io, 761 00:37:51,045 --> 00:37:53,005 which was quite challenging actually. 762 00:37:53,265 --> 00:37:54,565 Um, <laugh>, oh my god. 763 00:37:54,845 --> 00:37:56,645 I mean, we are talking about the most explosive, 764 00:37:57,245 --> 00:37:58,885 volcanic powerful moon in our solar system. 765 00:37:58,885 --> 00:38:00,605 Like, oh my God, what am I gonna do? 766 00:38:00,865 --> 00:38:04,005 So, um, I was quite intimidated we could say that. 767 00:38:04,145 --> 00:38:06,085 And then, so I just sort of got down with it 768 00:38:06,085 --> 00:38:08,165 and got on with it and did my research, 769 00:38:08,185 --> 00:38:10,205 and then it was time to go in and do the music. 770 00:38:10,465 --> 00:38:13,325 And, um, after I'd finished composing it, 771 00:38:13,325 --> 00:38:15,645 it was actually my husband who said, Hey, 772 00:38:16,655 --> 00:38:18,305 this sounds like a first movement to me. 773 00:39:02,155 --> 00:39:03,245 It's so explosive. 774 00:39:03,665 --> 00:39:04,725 It, you know, 775 00:39:05,745 --> 00:39:06,845 and I, I said, 776 00:39:06,845 --> 00:39:08,925 do you wanna consider putting this as your first moment night? 777 00:39:09,915 --> 00:39:11,765 Yeah, you know what, I think I'll, 778 00:39:12,345 --> 00:39:16,325 but the other side to this coin is of the decision is that 779 00:39:17,025 --> 00:39:21,125 the cool thing about programming io first is 780 00:39:21,125 --> 00:39:24,285 that it sets the stage for runaway tidal heating, 781 00:39:24,285 --> 00:39:27,405 which is a, a concept about the new Goldilock zone, which is 782 00:39:28,105 --> 00:39:31,685 why they, they scientists believe that they, 783 00:39:32,075 --> 00:39:34,725 they could be find, they could find microbial life in the 784 00:39:34,725 --> 00:39:39,045 ocean of Europa because of the tidal heating at its core, 785 00:39:39,625 --> 00:39:42,365 and their interaction of salt and oshi water. 786 00:39:42,585 --> 00:39:43,685 Um, and the right, 787 00:39:43,905 --> 00:39:46,205 the new Goldilock zone is basically this idea. 788 00:39:46,225 --> 00:39:50,485 So I felt that having io first, not only do we begin 789 00:39:50,485 --> 00:39:53,605 with a blast, we, um, <laugh>, um, 790 00:39:53,745 --> 00:39:56,845 we also can then convey these really, um, 791 00:39:56,845 --> 00:39:59,365 important concepts moving out in, you know, 792 00:39:59,365 --> 00:40:01,685 as we move out into the other stories of the other moons. 793 00:40:02,085 --> 00:40:04,085 - Brilliant. It's, it is a wonderful, wonderful start. 794 00:40:04,205 --> 00:40:07,205 I just, you know, continues to be brilliant throughout. 795 00:40:07,465 --> 00:40:08,965 Do listeners get in touch with you? 796 00:40:09,235 --> 00:40:13,885 - They do. Um, I, I've got some such incredible, um, 797 00:40:14,965 --> 00:40:18,545 you know, I'm being actually really blown away by how, 798 00:40:20,125 --> 00:40:24,235 uh, yeah, I mean, I think the amount of, okay, 799 00:40:24,235 --> 00:40:27,955 so we've done a lot of outreach events in London, private, 800 00:40:29,015 --> 00:40:33,105 like test beds, just testing audiences out on the concepts. 801 00:40:33,105 --> 00:40:34,785 And this was even before the recording was made, 802 00:40:35,565 --> 00:40:37,785 and the feedback, the reaction that I, that I get, 803 00:40:37,805 --> 00:40:39,105 and often I've shared the stage 804 00:40:39,105 --> 00:40:42,425 with a scientist like I did at an event with Robert Pap, um, 805 00:40:42,765 --> 00:40:46,715 and the audience, I just, you know, 806 00:40:47,545 --> 00:40:50,955 dazzled by having the presence of a scientist that, 807 00:40:51,335 --> 00:40:53,515 you know, potentially could, a mission 808 00:40:53,515 --> 00:40:56,555 that could revolutionize science again in, you know, 809 00:40:56,575 --> 00:40:58,875 by finding microbial life in our solar system. 810 00:40:58,895 --> 00:41:03,845 You know, it's just, and then to have music as a soundtrack 811 00:41:04,585 --> 00:41:07,645 to the science, what I call fact adventures 812 00:41:07,745 --> 00:41:08,925 of our outer solar system. 813 00:41:09,315 --> 00:41:12,525 There's something this is an X factor about, 814 00:41:12,625 --> 00:41:14,405 and I can't, I can't quite put my finger on it, 815 00:41:14,425 --> 00:41:15,885 but, you know, the sort of feedback 816 00:41:15,885 --> 00:41:18,005 that I get from audiences is life changing. 817 00:41:18,225 --> 00:41:21,925 Amanda, oh my, you know, my God, I, I just, you know, it is, 818 00:41:22,165 --> 00:41:24,045 I, the jaws are just, I don't know. 819 00:41:24,125 --> 00:41:28,265 I mean, I'm just, I'm so, you know, you never, you never 820 00:41:28,835 --> 00:41:31,425 exper mean you wanna be happy with your composition, 821 00:41:31,425 --> 00:41:32,665 but you are never sure 822 00:41:32,725 --> 00:41:35,205 how an audience will react or respond. 823 00:41:35,825 --> 00:41:38,845 So I've just been really, um, so grateful 824 00:41:38,845 --> 00:41:41,525 that it's resonated and, you know, and, 825 00:41:41,905 --> 00:41:42,925 and it's not just about, 826 00:41:44,195 --> 00:41:46,005 it's not about the ego of an artist. 827 00:41:46,775 --> 00:41:48,565 We've got a planetary mission here. 828 00:41:48,565 --> 00:41:52,765 Like, we wanna inspire humanity so that, you know, 829 00:41:52,875 --> 00:41:55,045 good things can happen here on planet earth. 830 00:41:55,105 --> 00:41:58,525 And, and, you know, paradigm shifts 831 00:41:58,525 --> 00:42:02,285 and perspective shifts from seeing our planet, the only 832 00:42:02,825 --> 00:42:05,165 planet that supports life in our obvious, there's, 833 00:42:05,165 --> 00:42:08,125 there's just these big overarching themes that just go 834 00:42:08,185 --> 00:42:10,405 beyond the ego of the artist with this. 835 00:42:10,425 --> 00:42:13,005 So I have no problem saying that, you know, 836 00:42:13,035 --> 00:42:15,725 it's been really well received, thank goodness, 837 00:42:16,015 --> 00:42:17,605 thank goodness, you know, 838 00:42:17,605 --> 00:42:21,605 that people then hopefully will be, um, inspired 839 00:42:21,605 --> 00:42:23,285 to do great things themselves. 840 00:42:23,545 --> 00:42:27,245 And yeah, so it's just sort of that sort of virtuous circle 841 00:42:27,585 --> 00:42:30,845 and that we really wanna get across. 842 00:42:30,985 --> 00:42:32,245 And, um, and, 843 00:42:32,245 --> 00:42:34,885 and it's, yeah, it's be, so again, it'll be interesting 844 00:42:34,885 --> 00:42:37,485 to see what the audience reaction in Chicago will be. 845 00:42:37,625 --> 00:42:38,685 - So, I'm sorry I can't be there. 846 00:42:38,845 --> 00:42:41,605 I, what I love about it personally, 847 00:42:41,605 --> 00:42:44,525 because, you know, I've had a love of science 848 00:42:44,585 --> 00:42:48,955 and music for, well, several decades, 849 00:42:49,655 --> 00:42:53,275 and <laugh>, um, I've experienced quite a few, um, 850 00:42:53,305 --> 00:42:55,035 science music crossovers. 851 00:42:55,255 --> 00:42:58,555 And I think sometimes when the science 852 00:42:58,575 --> 00:43:01,075 of music crossover happens, the science 853 00:43:02,485 --> 00:43:05,075 leaks too much into the composition of the, of the music. 854 00:43:05,095 --> 00:43:07,955 And it becomes a bit, you know, 855 00:43:07,955 --> 00:43:09,755 people lean too much on the electronic. 856 00:43:09,825 --> 00:43:11,795 They go a bit bp Boppy. 857 00:43:12,105 --> 00:43:16,915 It's less about composing something wonderful to listen 858 00:43:16,935 --> 00:43:18,235 to, and it's more about 859 00:43:18,785 --> 00:43:21,035 exploring the composition using the music, 860 00:43:21,045 --> 00:43:22,275 which has its place. 861 00:43:22,275 --> 00:43:24,035 Don't get me wrong, it totally has its place, 862 00:43:24,175 --> 00:43:27,395 but what you have created is something which is beautiful 863 00:43:27,395 --> 00:43:31,715 to listen to and, um, beautiful in its creation, 864 00:43:32,175 --> 00:43:34,435 in liaison with the science, if you see what I 865 00:43:34,435 --> 00:43:35,435 - Mean. 866 00:43:35,435 --> 00:43:37,875 Thank you so much. And I think I, I, again, 867 00:43:38,545 --> 00:43:41,995 leaning on my background as a film composer, I think that is 868 00:43:41,995 --> 00:43:46,195 where, because motion, that's all that you really, you, you, 869 00:43:46,435 --> 00:43:48,115 I think that's the biggest thing you gotta go 870 00:43:48,115 --> 00:43:52,155 after as to recognize where in a story, 871 00:43:52,935 --> 00:43:54,995 you know, the emotional landscape 872 00:43:55,815 --> 00:44:00,675 and the power of music when you team it up with emotion to 873 00:44:01,505 --> 00:44:03,875 draw people like to manipulate emotions, basically. 874 00:44:04,035 --> 00:44:06,795 I mean, as <laugh> as, as crude as it sounds, 875 00:44:06,895 --> 00:44:10,795 but, you know, if you wanna inspire, you know, positivity 876 00:44:11,055 --> 00:44:14,035 and call to action, that's a great way to do it 877 00:44:14,035 --> 00:44:15,475 through the emotional landscape. 878 00:44:15,695 --> 00:44:19,955 And so I felt I was somewhat in a bit of a, a for 879 00:44:20,555 --> 00:44:24,075 a fortunate position to draw upon my years 880 00:44:24,075 --> 00:44:26,915 as a film composer with my own passions 881 00:44:26,915 --> 00:44:28,995 for these incredible worlds. 882 00:44:29,735 --> 00:44:33,765 And then, you know, long came the scientist element 883 00:44:33,865 --> 00:44:37,525 to it all, which I was absolutely, you know, besotted 884 00:44:37,525 --> 00:44:38,765 with just because it was such a world 885 00:44:38,765 --> 00:44:40,805 that I hadn't been exposed to and I wanted to, 886 00:44:40,805 --> 00:44:43,445 and I knew I, I knew I could, if I had the right team 887 00:44:43,445 --> 00:44:45,285 around me, I knew I could perhaps do something. 888 00:44:45,465 --> 00:44:47,885 And I think the other thing that my husband points out is 889 00:44:47,885 --> 00:44:50,445 that the thing about your symphony, Amanda, he says, 890 00:44:50,785 --> 00:44:53,325 you know, you can just listen to it alone. 891 00:44:53,465 --> 00:44:57,045 You don't have to even think about what the science is, 892 00:44:57,045 --> 00:44:59,525 but if you wanna go under the hood, I mean, that's 893 00:44:59,525 --> 00:45:01,245 what my whole I, I've created a, um, 894 00:45:01,345 --> 00:45:04,605 I'm creating a lunar out, um, outreach program 895 00:45:04,625 --> 00:45:07,245 that's gonna be in con in congen conjunction 896 00:45:07,315 --> 00:45:08,685 with this symphony 897 00:45:08,705 --> 00:45:12,605 and actually Imperial College, um, have, um, uh, 898 00:45:12,665 --> 00:45:15,645 are helping me, um, reach the masses with this lunar, 899 00:45:15,795 --> 00:45:19,845 basically in Ackerman learning under new artistic regimes. 900 00:45:20,385 --> 00:45:22,085 So it's a whole new program of showing 901 00:45:22,105 --> 00:45:23,845 how music can inform the science 902 00:45:23,865 --> 00:45:26,565 and science can inform, you know, so science inform music. 903 00:45:27,195 --> 00:45:28,685 It's just really just a different 904 00:45:30,205 --> 00:45:33,165 paradigm in educational approach. 905 00:45:33,745 --> 00:45:35,245 So this is what we're gonna be sort 906 00:45:35,245 --> 00:45:37,045 of rolling out in Chicago as well. 907 00:45:37,045 --> 00:45:38,605 We're gonna be rolling out in Imperial College. 908 00:45:39,065 --> 00:45:40,645 We have been rolling it out to 909 00:45:40,645 --> 00:45:42,205 and to really great reaction as well. 910 00:45:42,305 --> 00:45:45,925 So as you can imagine, there's a lot of science 911 00:45:46,805 --> 00:45:48,885 embedded in this, which I love, I have to say. 912 00:45:49,465 --> 00:45:52,885 Um, and just so finding all these parallels has been really 913 00:45:53,285 --> 00:45:56,605 a, a great, um, use of, um, my time trying 914 00:45:56,605 --> 00:45:59,885 to make the connection so students can just metabolize 915 00:46:00,265 --> 00:46:04,765 easier by being back to lyrics and music and emotion, 916 00:46:04,945 --> 00:46:07,165 and hopefully it'll penetrate better. Yeah. 917 00:46:07,565 --> 00:46:09,565 - Brilliant, brilliant. There's one other thing I wanted 918 00:46:09,565 --> 00:46:12,925 to ask you about, which is your music being on the moon. 919 00:46:13,145 --> 00:46:16,605 - Oh, <laugh>. Well, okay, 920 00:46:16,945 --> 00:46:18,445 so it's been a long time coming. 921 00:46:18,515 --> 00:46:22,245 That idea was dreamt up, oh goodness me, maybe about 922 00:46:23,315 --> 00:46:24,465 three or four years ago. 923 00:46:24,685 --> 00:46:29,485 Um, okay, so Nicole Stott, it's a husband, Christo 924 00:46:30,155 --> 00:46:33,325 Lone Star, um, obviously he's just, um, 925 00:46:33,545 --> 00:46:35,245 had a successful launch moon launch 926 00:46:35,385 --> 00:46:39,965 and the payload on that, um, was a, 927 00:46:40,345 --> 00:46:43,325 was was some data that was being offered 928 00:46:43,345 --> 00:46:44,605 to some creative artists. 929 00:46:44,745 --> 00:46:47,325 And he approached me about having the conductor score 930 00:46:47,825 --> 00:46:50,685 of the Moon Symphony on the payload. 931 00:46:50,905 --> 00:46:54,685 Um, so yes, the digital, uh, copy of the Moon Symphony, um, 932 00:46:55,105 --> 00:46:57,685 is sitting on the moon right now, which is kind of fun. 933 00:46:58,065 --> 00:47:02,285 But I think Andrew, again, beyond fun, um, I, I've said 934 00:47:02,285 --> 00:47:03,685 to Nicole, like, when she's talking 935 00:47:03,685 --> 00:47:06,045 to the audience in Chicago, you know, 936 00:47:06,505 --> 00:47:09,205 it might be a really helpful thing 937 00:47:09,865 --> 00:47:12,125 to just state that fact. 938 00:47:12,685 --> 00:47:14,565 Actually the music you're hearing tonight is actually on the 939 00:47:14,565 --> 00:47:15,805 moon right now because the whole concept 940 00:47:15,825 --> 00:47:17,765 of the seventh movement is to 941 00:47:18,285 --> 00:47:20,765 transport humanity onto the surface of our moon 942 00:47:21,275 --> 00:47:23,485 looking down onto our planet. 943 00:47:23,625 --> 00:47:25,365 And it's all about perspective shifts 944 00:47:25,365 --> 00:47:26,525 and the overview effect. 945 00:47:26,625 --> 00:47:30,005 And, and so I just think if they can make that connection 946 00:47:30,035 --> 00:47:32,205 that physically they're experiencing the music, 947 00:47:32,265 --> 00:47:34,525 but hang on, we are getting transported 948 00:47:34,525 --> 00:47:35,925 through the vibrations of music, 949 00:47:35,985 --> 00:47:37,925 but actually the score is up there anyway. 950 00:47:38,565 --> 00:47:40,085 I just, I don't know, I just think it's a really 951 00:47:40,085 --> 00:47:41,285 nice sort of overlap. 952 00:47:41,515 --> 00:47:43,805 It's awesome. And that just happened very recently actually, 953 00:47:43,825 --> 00:47:46,365 but it's been a long time coming 'cause it got delayed. 954 00:47:46,505 --> 00:47:48,725 It was meant to be launched, uh, back in December. 955 00:47:48,945 --> 00:47:52,085 And, you know, um, SpaceX has, you know, 956 00:47:52,275 --> 00:47:53,485 lots of things going on right now. 957 00:47:53,545 --> 00:47:56,525 So, but that was really fun, finally, that happened. 958 00:47:56,625 --> 00:47:58,605 Um, yeah, like I said, it's a long time coming, 959 00:47:58,665 --> 00:48:00,765 but it's, it's a pretty cool idea to know 960 00:48:00,765 --> 00:48:01,805 that it's up on the moon. 961 00:48:09,505 --> 00:48:11,765 I'm putting together the video that's going to accompany 962 00:48:11,765 --> 00:48:13,685 that seventh movement right now. 963 00:48:13,905 --> 00:48:16,525 And, um, there are some stunning, uh, 964 00:48:16,835 --> 00:48:18,245 literally got right in front of me, 965 00:48:18,245 --> 00:48:19,285 Andrew, 'cause I'm working on it. 966 00:48:19,285 --> 00:48:22,085 And I'm not talking to you <laugh> I'll, 967 00:48:22,395 --> 00:48:25,485 some stunning images that I'm putting from the, uh, 968 00:48:26,005 --> 00:48:27,205 er <inaudible> orbiter. 969 00:48:27,315 --> 00:48:30,245 There's apps. And so the audience will just begin 970 00:48:30,245 --> 00:48:34,245 with the music and just see these glorious, um, 971 00:48:34,245 --> 00:48:38,365 videos coming back from that, which I think people help sort 972 00:48:38,365 --> 00:48:41,125 of set the mood for that <laugh> for that mood 973 00:48:41,185 --> 00:48:44,405 and set the stage from the science space energy 974 00:48:44,405 --> 00:48:47,405 of the others to, to this more reflective experience. 975 00:48:52,865 --> 00:48:56,685 - Amanda Lee Falkenberg, the Moon's Symphony is recorded 976 00:48:56,705 --> 00:48:58,125 by the London Symphony Orchestra 977 00:48:58,225 --> 00:49:00,325 and is available on Signum records. 978 00:49:01,185 --> 00:49:04,045 I'd like to thank Signum for allowing us to play clips of 979 00:49:04,045 --> 00:49:05,365 that recording on the podcast. 980 00:49:06,025 --> 00:49:08,765 And I'd like to thank Amanda for taking the time out to talk 981 00:49:08,765 --> 00:49:12,125 to me as she prepares for that concert in Chicago. 982 00:49:12,495 --> 00:49:13,525 We'll be back next month 983 00:49:13,525 --> 00:49:15,725 with something else from this wonderful world of physics. 984 00:49:15,985 --> 00:49:19,525 And I'd like to thank you very much for listening. <silence> 985 00:49:24,315 --> 00:49:25,445 - Physics - World.