A violin solo from outer space

A violin solo from outer space

News

norman lebrecht

September 15, 2024

US astronaut Sarah Gillis took her violin into outer space, beyond the pull of gravity.

So how does she play weightless?

Report here:

Comments

  • Margaret Koscielny says:

    Maybe, this will inspire others to conflate musical ability with intellectual and scientific achievements, thus restoring some respect for classical musicians.

    It’s no accident that many doctors are also musicians. It takes intelligence to be a musician.

    • fierywoman says:

      And if I remember correctly, more than 50% of Nobel Prize winners played music during their childhood — and many still play.

  • Peter San Diego says:

    A pity about the inanity of the journalists and editors of the news item. Ms. Gillis seems highly accomplished in her profession and avocation, and the idea of being accompanied by an international youth orchestra was wonderful.

    • Tiredofitall says:

      There is no bad publicity. Would you rather it not be covered at all? The journalists are covering for a broad audience, not for Slipped Disk commenters.

      Brava, Ms. Gillis!

      • Peter San Diego says:

        Good point, but better would still be better, especially the chance to hear more than a second or two of uninterrupted performance.

  • Gustav Speed says:

    CBS news so consider the source before trusting the report.

  • Violinist says:

    Just don’t tell RyanAir or United…

  • Byrwec Ellison says:

    Truly astonishing playing when you realize that the microgravity environment of orbit is physically (as in Newtonian physics) equivalent to being in free-fall. Her bow control, the quality of her tone and the assurance of her fingering in some very high-register passage work point to an accomplished player, both on earth and now in the exosphere.

    • Woman conductor says:

      She comes from a musical family and had great teachers and opportunities from a young age in Boulder, Colorado. She did this with a 3/4 bow, but I’m unsure why. Space? (argh!). It was so moving (literally and emotionally) to hear her with ensembles around the globe, including from Brazil and Haiti, though the LA orchestra was clearly mission control.

  • Andrew Hodges says:

    How on earth does she compensate for lack of gravity working on the bow without altering her right hand bow hold?

  • Petros Linardos says:

    I generally agree with all the positive comments about the astronaut’s skill, connecting music making and learning with other achievements in general and science in particular, etc. So I would hate to partly spoil the beautiful story. And yet I couldn’t help marveling how polished and well coordinated the entire performance sounded. Things go wrong even with best of the best. Is it possible that they used a soundtrack? If so, it may feel like a letdown. And yet the many positives about this story may make it worthwhile.

    • M2N2K says:

      Agreed. The official NASA video of the performance is still available on YouTube and it looks to me very likely that the audio portion of her playing was recorded before the flight. Nevertheless it was a fine idea and a rather exciting result.

      • Petros Linardos says:

        Possibly more than her violin part. The transitions between groups were seamless. The ambient acoustics were quite homogeneous. There was no single glitch in global telecommunications. It was too good to be true, no matter how inspiring.

  • Guest Conductor says:

    Video unavailable.

    • M2N2K says:

      The official NASA video (look for “space symphony starlink demo” is still available on YouTube and it shows the entire performance.

  • zandonai says:

    space travel has gone from a noble pursuit for mankind to a musical farce.

  • Sisko24 says:

    Did NASA make her buy an extra seat for her fiddle? Or was she forced to store it in the baggage compartment? I understand some low-cost air carrier has filed a complaint of unfair competition with the FAA…..

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