The Well-Tempered Ear

What classical music has Planet Earth sent — or should it send — by rocket into outer space in the search for extraterrestrial life?

By Jacob Stockinger

A loyal reader of The Well-Tempered Ear recently wrote in with a question:

Hi Well-Tempered,

I read about Earth people sending some earth things into space, and I know they sent a classical music piece with it. My question is, what classical music piece was it?

Thanks in advance. 
Good Job!

Thank YOU reader.

The good news is that they sent not just one piece of classical music – but MANY pieces of classical music (though Bach is Big), along with non-classical music, from MANY different eras by MANY different composers and played by MANY different performers.

To the best of my ability, I think I have tracked down the complete list. Here is a link to it:

http://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/spacecraft/music.html

What other pieces of classical music and classical music performances from Earth do you think we should be sending out in our search for other life in other places?

The Ear wants to hear – and maybe so do some space scientists.

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