BLOG

MUSIC

ABOUT

 facebook.png twitter1.png youtube1.png myspace1.png flickr.png instantencore_tmw.png
Skip to Content Skip to Navigation

Christopher Tucker: Blog/Journal

Westbrook and Tucker pay tribute to NASA's Space Shuttle Program

 Posted on September 27, 2011 with 55 comments


In addition to the comments made in the video blog, I am excited that permission has been given to utilize Space Shuttle launch sounds in the piece. I have already begun work today on charting the opening of the piece which will contain a music quote from Richard Strauss' "Also Sprach Zarathustra," known to movie lovers as the opening to "2001: A Space Odyssey." It'll be a development of the first three pitches; simple, yes, but effective. The first 30 seconds of the piece will begin with the quietest moments of the piece and finish with the loudest sounds of the piece. After that, who knows. I'm launching this piece into the atmosphere!...

Westbrook Intermediate School Band kids, comment below with your Space Shuttle stories.

Thanks for your input.
- CT

====================================================

UPDATE #1 (OCTOBER 17, 2011)

When I woke up this morning, I was pleasantly surprised to see the comments from this blog post "skyrocket" from 11 to 55. Hello kids! Thanks for all the great comments and stories.

To update all of you, I have begun to score sections of the piece for full band. It is all coming along really well. Trumpets, prepare to blow air through your horn after removing your mouthpieces. Percussion, it's time to learn how to bow a tam-tam (percussion 4 will get this part). Flutes, have you ever produced a "jet whistle?" You need to figure it out (check out http://www.johnmcmurtery.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=25:jet-whistle&catid=5:other-techniques&Itemid=8).

Some questions were asked in the comments.
(Q) What will the length be? • (A) I'll never actually know the length until it is all said and done, but I do have an agreed target of 3-4 minutes. I am on pace though for 4-5 minutes as my pieces tend to go long sometimes.
(Q) Will I incorporate the historic space race with Russia? • (A) No. Although that time features a lot of great history to mark musically, this piece will focus on the legacy of the Space Shuttle program.

Also, while I am composing the piece, think about possible titles. I'll inquire later when I complete the piece mid-November.

All the best, CT.

====================================================

Anthony Cianchetti

October 17, 2011

I just want to say that being the first person ever to play a piece is a big deal to me. Last year, I was in the second band, but I am now in the top. I am the Top Band's only Baritone Sax, so I will be the only one playing my part. I imagine, years from now, sitting with a kid of mine who plays Bari looking at the band music Mr. Brockway has assigned, and bragging "This part was written specifically so I could play it". I was wondering how much the piece would reflect the space race between us and the U.S.S.R. Perhaps referencing the "do it bigger than theirs!" trend. No matter what, this is fla-out coll.

Chris Layden

October 17, 2011

Mr. Tucker,
Thank you so much for composing this piece for Westbrook band. I am a saxophonist and very excited about the experience of paying tribute to NASA through music. NASA is a very important part of Houston and our school, and I am looking forward to honoring it.

Thanks,
Christopher Layden

David Courteau

October 17, 2011

Thanks for supporting our band and creating a piece for our 2012 Honor Band! I can't wait to see what you have in store for us. I'm David Courteau, I play the oboe and had the priveledge to play in Westbrook's Adv. Band last year! Thanks again :D

Allison Morreale

October 17, 2011

Thank you so much for your time you have put into making this wonderful piece of music. The video you have uploaded was very helpful to us to understand how this piece is going to go along. It helped us prepare for the journey ahead of us. Thank you again for doing this for our band. :)

Jessica Go

October 17, 2011

Thanks so much Mr.Tucker for writing a NASA composition just for us! I can't wait to play the piece when you're done. I'm in 7th grade and play percussion and I'm super exited to see what you come up with. I don't have any relatives that work for NASA, but I do have several friends with NASA connections. I think NASA has progressed so much from when it started and I know they have found so many new incredible things. Sorry I don't have any specific references but I just want to thank you again for your time. :)

Adrienne Courteau

October 17, 2011

Hi, my name's Adrienne and I play French Horn. I actually wasn't a member of the Honor Band last year but my twin brother, David Courteau, was and he plays oboe. I'm very excited for having the oppurtunity to experience playing the music that Westbrook's band played last year and being able to be in advanced band this year. I think that the piece about the space shuttle that was presented to the band was very intriguing and I hope to see several more videos like the previous one. We all appreciate your work and efforts!

Kelsey Moreland

October 17, 2011

Hello, I am an oboe player in Westbrook's Advanced Band. I am so happy that you put so much effort into composing this piece for us!

David Z.

October 17, 2011

Please say there is a good trumpet part. *praying*

Caleb Drew

October 17, 2011

Dear Mr. Tucker,
Thank you so much for composing a piece for our preformance. I am a tubist in the Westbrook Top Band and I am looking forward to playing your piece. Thanks alot!!!!!
Your Recipient,
Caleb Drew

Claire Nakayama

October 17, 2011

Thank you so much for writing an original piece for our band that hasn't been played before. I'm looking forward to practicing it! :)

Andrew Barrett

October 17, 2011

Hi there. I play bassoon in Westbrook's Honor Band, and I just wanted to thank you for all the time you're investing to compose this piece for us. My dad has worked at NASA for over ten years, so we're deeply appreciative that you're composing a piece that honors the work that he and so many others have done for a long time. Thanks again.

Erica

October 17, 2011

Thank you so much for composing this for us! I think it's so cool that we get to be the first people to ever play this! Thank you for letting us give you input on what we would like in the piece.

Scott Fields

October 17, 2011

I am happy to hear that you are composing a piece about NASA and the space shuttle program. I don't know anybody that was on the shuttle but it still has been close to me so thank you very much.

Alex Love

October 17, 2011

Thank you for writing the song for us. I hope my dad's advice was helpful.

Dylan Capece

October 17, 2011

Thank you for your support we are lucky to have you in our quest for the best. I think the NASA program is great and I can't wait until the piece is done, and thanks for keeping us updated this really helps me understand what is actually going on.

Alex Raterink

October 17, 2011

Thanks so much, I really appreciate you for writing this piece!

Brianna Lombardo

October 17, 2011

I cannot WAIT to see the piece! Thank you so much for doing this for our band, it's greatly appreciated.

Richard Jiang

October 17, 2011

Hi, I am new to advance band and I play percussion. I want to thank you for putting so much effort to this composition. Sadly I don't have any relatives working for NASA.

Emma Mills

October 17, 2011

Thank you for writing this piece for us. I know you could be doing others things in the time it takes you to wirte the music for us, so thank you.

Joey Kastelic

October 17, 2011

I really appreciate the time and effort you've put into composing this piece for our band. It's really exciting to be the first band to be able to perform it. It means a lot to me as a clarinet player in the band to have a piece composed just for our band! I also think it's cool that you dedicated it to the space shuttle program. Again, thanks so much for your time and effort.

Briauna Mckenzie

October 17, 2011

Ever since I was little, space has always been awe-inspiring for me. I am pleased that this piece is about it.Thank you for writing this for our band.

William Li

October 17, 2011

I am really excited about the piece that you are creating for us!!

Sophie Dwyer

October 17, 2011

This is going to be completely awesome, especially if you put lots of good flute, clarinet, and french horn in the piece........someone else in this band also wants good percussion, but I personally don't prefer percussion over french horn. Anyway, you're a total beast(and that's a compliment)for doing this! Thanks

Erin Hartmann

October 17, 2011

I appreciate you writing a piece of music dedicated to one of the most important parts of Houston, NASA/Johnson Space Center. It means a lot to everyone in our community, especially since most of the jobs are now gone. Many people are greatful for this tribute, seeing as how we do not get a space shuttle to stay here now that the program is basically over. Thank you so much!

joshua neubauer

October 17, 2011

how long do you think the peice is going to be

Erick Li

October 17, 2011

Thank you for creating this video, we all love NASA and there are many people that I know that work for NASA.

Anthony Cho

October 17, 2011

I appreciate your considerablke effort you put into our band's most important performance this year. I think it'd be nice to have some great percussion pieces in there. Oh, and please don't make the clarinet part like the trumpoet's part!!!!

Muyan Pan

October 17, 2011

Thankyou very much for making the video; I love NASA and I know alot of people there. i think NASA is very cool, and thankyou for supporting us.

Daniel Del Nero

October 17, 2011

Thank you very much for composing this piece for our band. I think it will be great when it is finished and hope you can make the concert!

Randy Mich*****z

October 17, 2011

A space shuddle tribute piece? Quite a bit you could do with that, eh? I'd love some really great and challenging Horn parts (and solos? :D); The top 4 Horns in our band are great, or so Mr. Brockway says. Oh, and the name's cencored because I don't want another google result for my name.

Kyle Swisher

October 17, 2011

Dear Mr. Tucker,

I am thouroghly excited for the piece you are composing for the Westbrook band. I am a Saxophonist and look forward to being a part of your musical production. I have not had much experience with NASA, but hope that I can play the peice with the feeling of someone who has had NASA as a vital point in their life.

Sincerely,
Kyle Swisher

Derek Marcum

October 17, 2011

Thank you so much for all of the time and effort you're putting into composing this song for us. It means alot to us in the band and to everyone who has a connection. Thankks again, and I can't wait to hear and play your final composition.
-Derek

Katie McDonald

October 17, 2011

hola!! i cant wait 4 this music :) its gonna b fun especially since my dad works in nasa

ME

October 17, 2011

when can i have the music. i want it badly. it sounds like it will be frikkin fun. i play trumpet. oh yeah. advanced band. yyaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy.

Jake Setter

October 17, 2011

Thank you for making this video.

Julian Knight

October 17, 2011

Yo Im so excited for the piece you are composing!You should make a tuba solo!

Jason

October 17, 2011

Hi. I appreciate what you are doing for us. I hope that there is a cool oboe solo in there! (Trombone,too.)

Eric Chen

October 17, 2011

Thank you for writing this piece for our band to play at the TMEA concert. I am really eager to finally hear what we will be preforming.

Nikil Ragav

October 17, 2011

I am very happy to see a piece written about NASA's space shuttle program. You should add a lot of special effects utilising the great depths of percussion and other instruments. Since NASA is a blended work place, you should also try to blend various music types from different cultures. For a good example, go to musicindiaonline.com and search Yellae Lama.

Rebecca Wardall

October 17, 2011

Thank you so much for writing this piece for us. It is really exciting to be the first group to perform a unique composition. My best friend's dad has been up on a space shuttle twice, and I plan on playing him a recording of the piece after our concert in February. I think he will really appreciate it, and our entire band will definitely appreciate playing it. I can't wait for the next update!

Emily

October 17, 2011

Thank You for making this piece of music for out band. P.S. You should feature french horns (and Greg's tuba solo)

Dylan

October 17, 2011

Thanks so much for writing this music. We are all very excited to hear and play it. My parents aren't involved with NASA, but I am still very interested in it. Once again, thanks.

Matthew Walton

October 17, 2011

I am so excited for this piece! Thanks for uploading these videos to tell us how your doing! Keep it up! We cant wait for the next installment

Jessica Heerboth

October 16, 2011

I wanted to say thank you for putting so much effort into writing this piece for the Westbrook band. I am currently an 8th grader in Westbrook's band and I play the clarinet. I think that the fact that you are putting so much hard work and dedication into writing the music for us. Unfortunately, I don't have parents that work for NASA, but most of the people that I know are affected by NASA one way or another. I think that NASA represents a community full of diverse people all working together to achieve a common goal. I'm happy to have you writing this music for us, we all hope to have fun playing this piece --- hopefully with some fun clarinet parts for us. Once again, thank you for all the hard work you have put into this. We all appreciate it!

Alexis Salim

October 14, 2011

Thank you for writing this peace for us. We are all connected to NASA as citizens of Houston, and everyone in our band is very glad you are doing this for us. I can't wait for the next video!

Alison Vicary

October 11, 2011

Thank you for writing this piece and communicating with us about it. I am an 8th grade French horn player. I love music--listening to, playing, and writing--so I am really excited about this blog.

My dad works for United Space Alliance, a contractor for NASA, as a flight software engineer. This past February, I was privileged to go to a shuttle launch. The experience was very exciting. My family and I sat on a dock in a park nearby. We were one of the first to arrive, but within a couple of hours, the entire dock was filled with people--some who worked with NASA and others who had only heard of the shuttle program. Most of the people had travelled for hours to see something that lasted for seconds. The people seated next to us were from Canada. It was amazing to see how the shuttle program touched so many people, from so many places all over the world. The launch was beautiful. Although it was succinct, I know I will remember it for my entire life. The experience caused me to stop and think about what space exploration really means. It is truly inspirational.

The launch was very noisy, although space is pristinely tranquil. When I think of the space program, I think of noise, but a more prominent idea that comes to mind is silence. The beauty of space and space exploration is much more profound than the actual launch itself. Remembering and thinking is a part of the space shuttle experience.

Again, I appreciate the effort you are putting into the piece. I am looking forward to watching its development. Thank you!

Erin Romero

October 10, 2011

Hello, I'm an eighth grade clarinetist (WOOHOO) at Westbrook. Both of my parents work at NASA in the shuttle program. Earlier this year I was lucky enough to get to see a launch, a once in a lifetime experience. It was amazing to see the shuttle and know that there were people leaving our planet (By the way, the launch was incredibly loud; you can see the shuttle lifting off before you hear it. The ground was shaking). The commitment of the astronauts is great, knowing that each time they go into space they risk their life. Thank you for composing this piece! :)
You should write a cool clarinet part because we're awesome

Joshua Wade

October 10, 2011

Hello, Thanks for uploading the video I hope hope the piece of music you are composing comes out great and how you wanted it...hope there is a epic bass trombone part ^_^

Erin

October 5, 2011

Thank you so much for posting this video and writing us a piece about NASA. I know a lot of people who work at NASA, and I think that they would appreciate that you are doing this.

Devan

October 5, 2011

I cant wait to hear and play this piece. It sounds like it is going to be very exciting. Thank you for composing this piece for us and I am looking foward to your next installment.

Zac Cooper

October 5, 2011

Thank you for making this for us. I hope there is an awesome trumpet part

Chris Tran

October 5, 2011

Hey!! Thanks for uploading this video............................ P.S Put a tuba solo for greg and and tenor sax solo for Me. Thanks again

Matt Walton

October 5, 2011

Hey! Thanks for composing this piece and uploading this video!

Greg Brookover

October 5, 2011

Hi, I was a member of the band that won honor band. I am in 8th grade and I play the tuba. I think it is really cool that you are a composing a piece about the space shuttle for us; down here almost everyone knows someone connected to the shuttle so it really means a lot to us. I can't wait till the next video.

Nicole

September 30, 2011

The NASA program is very cool to me. I have gone to all of the NASA sites since my dad works for NASA. It is very inspiring because of all of the discovery's they have made and just how much progress they have made over the year. Its cool to think something is in front of you that has been in space.

 

security code