Planetarium

Who doesn't enjoy a trip to the planetarium? We lean back, the lights go down, the stars light up the sky, and we learn about the stars, planets, and mysteries of our universe. It's awe inspiring and surreal in the best possible way!

John has called the style of this song "Space Rock" – and it fits! We loaded it with many sound effects (whooshes, flybys, cinematic booms, etc.) as well as ethereal "ahs" and synth work that make the listener want to look to the heavens. That's the goal of this song – to take the listener (and performer) on a journey that inspires curiosity, study, and the imagination. Of course, none of this would make a difference without our stellar musicians (see what we did there?) who make these tracks really sing.

The piano carries the themes of the song, from the intro to the recapitulation in measure 25, and then the majestic progression that begins in bar 34. This will most likely challenge your singers as the melody is syncopated and rangey with wide intervals. But as usual we've got your back by having a guide melody synth throughout, as well as the piano playing much of the melody. Using the full performance version could also aid in reinforcement for younger performers. While the optional part 2 is truly optional, those lovely harmonies really add to the song so we hope you will try them. It should be noted that the top line of this song is always the melody. You will find a rehearsal track for part 2 as well as an accompaniment version minus all the spacey sound effects on our web site.

This song is perfect for International Astronomy Day, National Space Day, Global Astronomy Month, or any occasion that encourages the study of the heavens. It's also a great song for cross curricular studies, so be sure to talk with your fellow teachers who might be interested in a trip to the planetarium.