Mars Symphony is a symphony of science celebrating the past, present and future of the red planet, unfolded through the universal language of music. It is the sequel project to Black Hole Symphony, a collaboration between the Museum of Science, Boston and Multiverse Concert Series.
Phase 1 of the project took place in August 2023, premiering two movements of music in a historic orchestral concert in the Blue Wing of the Museum of Science, performed by the Firebird Pops Orchestra and Multiverse Soloists. In Phase 2, the project will move to the planetarium, premiering in the Charles Hayden Planetarium Boston in 2024 before embarking on national tour.
Phase 1 Photos
The Music
Mars Symphony is composed by David Ibbett, whose score reveals the music of the red planet by transforming its natural sounds into Martian synths. Audiences are immersed in the rush of Mars’ winds, dust devils, and seismic rumbles, joined by orchestral melodies driven by the geography (areography) and light spectra from the Red Planet. The music sonifies research provided by a science team from NASA’s JPL, the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and ETH Zurich, incorporating cutting-edge audio and data from the Perseverance Rover and Webb Space Telescope, presented live by science communicator Paul Sutter.
Through its unique blend of live music and science research, Mars Symphony charts an interplanetary journey through the past, present, and future of the Red Planet.