Galaxy of Sound
for women choir and Synthesizer
Galaxy of Sound was commissioned by the Mississauga Choral Society with the intent to select photos from NASAʼs impressive collection of space and space exploration to use as a source for music and text. After a challenging process of winnowing the photos down to eight and including one of the aurora borealis by professional photographer Steven Mongeau, these final selections were shown to school children from the Peel School District who were asked to write the poems which would then serve as the text for each of the nine sections of Galaxy of Sound. The young poetsʼ imaginative responses to this collection of photos is an integral aspect of the composition. As the composer, it was my task to set these poems in music and create a Galaxy of Sound that sonically reflects the beautiful images. Early on in the creative process, it occurred to me that synthesizer would provide a more appropriate sonic accompaniment for the women choristers than the piano. With encouragement by Mervin Fick and with the assistance of the MCS accompanist David Murrell, this may be one of the first combinations of womenʼs choir with synthesizer. In addition, I composed an introduction for each of the nine sections to serve as a musical backdrop for the reading of each poem with the projection of the photograph. This is followed by the musical performance. D.M. Rainbow Laser Chantel (age 9) A Lonely Night Co-written by Emma (age 11) and Rhea (age 11) Space Explorer Harmony (age 8) Space Jesse (age 10) The Grand Nebula Co-written by Sebi, (age10) and Sharanga (age 10) The Milky Way Galaxy Gabriella (age 11) The Red Eye Hannah (age 11) Green Kite of Light Maya (age 11) Ready Vitasta (age 11)