The Life and Times of G21.5-0.9
a collaboration between Pedro Graterol and Emily Zhang
medium: viola, electronic instruments, voice
“What is the life cycle of a star? Most people don't think of stars as truly alive... but we know that they shine, and that our Sun has created all the life we know of. Let's return the favor to the stars and give them some life. A star was conceived in a nebula, when hydrogen gas was squeezed and spun together by gravity. When the hydrogen gas got condensed and hot enough, nuclear fusion began. And the star was born. They'll stay alive as long as this nuclear fusion continues in their core, converting their hydrogen into helium and creating the same bright, hot energy that gives us life”. - Emily Zhang
This piece tries to narrate with music the life cycle of a star! The narrator, in this case voiced by Emily Zhang, paints the picture of how a star is born, how it enters old age and how it dies. Musical elements performed by the viola imitate that in music. The piece also explores what makes G21.5-0.9 unique!
“What is the life cycle of a star? Most people don't think of stars as truly alive... but we know that they shine, and that our Sun has created all the life we know of. Let's return the favor to the stars and give them some life. A star was conceived in a nebula, when hydrogen gas was squeezed and spun together by gravity. When the hydrogen gas got condensed and hot enough, nuclear fusion began. And the star was born. They'll stay alive as long as this nuclear fusion continues in their core, converting their hydrogen into helium and creating the same bright, hot energy that gives us life”. - Emily Zhang
This piece tries to narrate with music the life cycle of a star! The narrator, in this case voiced by Emily Zhang, paints the picture of how a star is born, how it enters old age and how it dies. Musical elements performed by the viola imitate that in music. The piece also explores what makes G21.5-0.9 unique!
Pedro was born in Maracaibo, Venezuela. He began playing the viola in the El Sistema in Maturin under the instruction of Dalia Garcia, where he performed in several ensembles. In 2013, he was selected to play with the National Children Orchestra of Venezuela, performing at the Salzburg Festival with Sir. Simon Rattle and in Caracas with Maestro Gustavo Dudamel (current conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. After he moved to the U.S., he began attending the Colburn School and studied with Gina Coletti. Pedro later helped establish an “El Sistema” inspired program in Anchorage, Alaska, and performed in both the All-State and All-Northwest Orchestras. At the national level, he was a member of the National “Take a Stand” Orchestra, formed by members of Sistema inspired programs around the country performing in both Aspen, Colorado, and Los Angeles, California. He has worked with Rey Cantor, Thomas Wilkins, Robert Spano and Maxim Eshkenazy. Pedro is currently studying with Victoria Gunn and pursuing a double major in music and political science at Linfield College. Pedro is very excited to have collaborated with Emily Zhang on this project and looks forward to more collaboration between science and art.
Twitter: @pedrofromvzla Instagram: @pgraterol email: [email protected] |
Emily is a junior in Columbia College majoring in astrophysics and is currently the senior advisor for BlueShift. She is interested in both high-energy and particle astrophysics and has previously worked on projects involving supernova remnants (this one), active galactic nuclei, and pulsars. Arts & Astro is one of her favorite events of the year and she is so excited it's still continuing despite COVID-19!
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