To Carl Sagan...

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5billionyearslater

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A few days ago I composed a new work for Brass Band entitled "The Pale Blue Dot" and I have dedicated it to the late Carl Sagan. You can listen to it by clicking the link below... (It's an electronically-produced version; i.e. not live instruments)<br /><br />http://www.devilishpublishing.com/pd_xt/d0718.swf<br />
 
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enigma10

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I'm sure you're really good at what you do, and i have no desire to be offensive, but that piece induces images of the inside of a funeral home. I found it mildly depressing. I often felt Carl Sagan would have been more of a new age/ambient space music lover. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em>"<font color="#333399">An organism at war with itself is a doomed organism." - Carl Sagan</font></em> </div>
 
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5billionyearslater

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I think you may have completely missed the point of this piece of music.<br /><br />Sure, the piece is not bouncy and happy but this would induce the wrong image. I wanted the piece to instill a bit of humility by writing in a rather reflective style.<br /><br />When we speak of the pale blue dot (planet earth), we are really saying that we aren't as important as some would think in the vastness of the universe and that is why I chose this rather low-key tone for the piece.<br /><br />By the end I would hope that the big textures are lifting your soul and create an imagery of the great big universe and how such a humbling experience it is to be a human being on planet earth, this tiny pale blue dot orbiting an ordinary star in an ordinary galaxy in an ordinary place in the universe.<br /><br />And..... I hope that the "Keep looking up" phrase is envoked in the imagery also.<br /><br />I wouldn't normally reply to critique in this way, however I think you completely mis-read the piece and what it stands for.<br /><br />To make you bop-along would not be true to the ethic of the pale blue dot. I was inspired to write this piece after watching a video on YouTube, which you can view here:<br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47EBLD-ISyc<br /><br />Watch it and forever feel humbled.
 
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enigma10

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Oh. I think i got the picture. After all, what other place can you feel the weight of mortality more than the inside of a funeral home. That sense, that feeling, i got, so the piece succeeded in this aspect.<br /><br /> It should be noted that the work itself is put together very well, but for me, did not convey the picture you wished to paint. Sorry. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em>"<font color="#333399">An organism at war with itself is a doomed organism." - Carl Sagan</font></em> </div>
 
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alokmohan

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Carl Sagan’s Life and Legacy as Scientist, Teacher, and Skeptic<br />In this new remembrance of Carl Sagan, who died ten years ago, a noted planetary scientist and colleague (and former student of Sagan) recalls Sagan’s immense contributions to planetary research, the public understanding of science, and the skeptical movement. <br /><br />DAVID MORRISON <br /><br /><br /><br />--------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br />Carl Sagan was the world’s best-known scientist in the late twentieth century, serving as our guide to the planets during the golden age of solar system exploration. He was both a visionary and a committed defender of rational scientific thinking. Sagan died on December 20, 1996, while only 62, and he has been greatly missed in the decade since. In addition to my own knowledge and insights about his scientific and skeptical contributions, I have made extensive use of the two excellent narrative biographies by William Poundstone (1999) and Keay Davidson (1999). Poundstone is stronger on Sagan’s science, Davidson on his personal history. Neither, however, emphasizes his role as a skeptic. <br /><br />Sagan was propelled on his academic and public careers by enormous talent, good luck, and an intensely focused drive to succeed. His lifelong quest was to understand the universe, especially our planetary system, and to communicate the thrill of scientific discovery to others. A natural teacher, he loved to explain things and never made a questioner feel stupid for asking. Although Sagan had broad intellectual interests, his pursuit of his career left little time for other activities: he did not play golf or follow sports, take up cooking or photography, sing or play a musical instrument, or join a church or synagogue. His first two wives complained that he devoted insufficient time to his marriages or his children (Davidson 1999). He focused on his career goals, and the world was enriched thereby. <br /><br />Ma
 
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enigma10

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sure. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em>"<font color="#333399">An organism at war with itself is a doomed organism." - Carl Sagan</font></em> </div>
 
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enigma10

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of course. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em>"<font color="#333399">An organism at war with itself is a doomed organism." - Carl Sagan</font></em> </div>
 
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pocket_rocket

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Interesting piece. Did you do that using midi sequencer? It was very majestic, though I sort of agree with Enigma on the depressing idea. But then again, depressing and majestic are only a hair apart, plus I like sad music.<br />Just my opinion, but I think some moog synth sounds might help convey what you're reaching for.<br />Good job on the score though, and I liked the 5/4 feel to it.
 
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5billionyearslater

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Thanks for the comments.<br /><br />Unfortuntely there are no Moog synths in a Brass Band.<br /><br />I scored it for a real live Brass Band to play but for now it exists in this MIDI performance.
 
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enigma10

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uh ho, the wrath of the other half hath arrived.<img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em>"<font color="#333399">An organism at war with itself is a doomed organism." - Carl Sagan</font></em> </div>
 
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5billionyearsearlier

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here's what someone else who knows what they are talking about had to say about James' piece on the Future Producers forum........<br /><br />"Say, McFadyen... I know what this title suggests. I saw the photo "The Pale Blue Dot" of our earth and was overcome with the expansiveness of our universe once again. It is hard to believe that Voyager is still active.<br /><br />On topic: I like the melody that I'm initially hearing. It's very thoughtful and slow moving, which eludes to the qualities of the photo in the title. Then you've got some absolutely gorgeous trumpet sections resounding in a quieted, but triumphant fanfare.<br /><br />The music remains quiet for the most part until the melody returns for the ultimate fanfare. The music is rejoicing, and I really felt uplifted. HOLY cow, what a changeup in the modulation of the key.<br /><br />This is one of your better compositions to date. I would LOVE to hear an actual brass band perform this."<br /><br />....
 
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enigma10

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In other words,Conform or be assimulated.<img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em>"<font color="#333399">An organism at war with itself is a doomed organism." - Carl Sagan</font></em> </div>
 
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enigma10

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<img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <br /><br />I know better than to argue with a lady. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em>"<font color="#333399">An organism at war with itself is a doomed organism." - Carl Sagan</font></em> </div>
 
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sponge

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Hi 5billionyearsearlier<br /> youre a bit of a cradle snatcher arent you, 10 billion years difference, some might say that it is inappropriate of you.<img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em><u>SPONGE</u></em></p> </div>
 
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enigma10

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*sniff*<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />*sniff*<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />...you smell that?<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />o.0<br /><br /><br /><br />... it smells like doom.<br /><br /><br /><br /><i><font color="blue">Disclaimer:</font>Never ask a lady her age, but more importantly, never implicate her as being too old for something.</i><img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em>"<font color="#333399">An organism at war with itself is a doomed organism." - Carl Sagan</font></em> </div>
 
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sponge

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<img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> my bad <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em><u>SPONGE</u></em></p> </div>
 
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