You may remember that “Reach for the Stars” was played on Mars in August and transmitted to earth. Well, I have a heads up now on an even more exciting event.
Canadian astronaut, Chris Hadfield, left our planet in the Soyuz Capsule on Dec. 19 to be Canada’s first ISS commander. On Christmas Day he sent us a song written by his brother, recorded from space, and played by Chris on a Larrivee P-01 guitar which was delivered to the space station in 2002. He plans to record an entire album in zero gravity. However, before he does that, in collaboration with Ed Robertson of Bare Naked Ladies, Chris Hadfield is writing music and lyrics for “Is Someone Singing?” a special song we will hear in a May 13 CBC performance, “From Space to Earth.” Chris will perform from the ISS, 370 km. above us, while Ed will join a youth choir here on Earth. At 2 p.m Atlantic, many thousands of students and teachers across our nation will be singing the same song at the same time with Ed and Chris.
In the meantime, CBC’s blog will keep us updated with videos, photos and interviews. CBC will also publish the completed song in March so students, teachers, and any of us who want to, can learn it for the special day. In addition, the Coalition for Music Education’s Music Monday website will have translations and arrangements we can download.
Since its beginning in 2005, Canada’s Music Monday has inspired people worldwide to unite in song. On the first Monday every May thousands of students and educators in their own communities sing the same song at the same time to celebrate the beauty of music and the positive impact music education has on our lives
This is the first time the CSA and CBC have partnered in a Music Monday celebration and it promises to be an experience Canadians will remember and cherish. “Fill the Skies with Music” is the theme and mandate of 2013's Music Monday, and already we can hear it - the harmony of the spheres.
writerinresidence.1@gmail.com
Jacqueline Warlow, a retired educator, lives in Dartmouth. Mother of three and grandmother of six, she is a freelance writer and a “People With Tales” storyteller.
