NPR All Things Considered – Galileo’s Letters Inspire a Musical Tribute

A ‘Starry Messenger’ Preview

The musical piece that resulted from a collaboration with author Dava Sobel, author of Galileo’s Daughter, debuted in Rochester, N.Y., performed by the chamber choir Madrigalia. It conveys a daughter’s love, which remained constant even as Galileo’s scientific views created political and religious upheaval.

With shimmering cymbals and harmonic changes, the composer represents the sun replacing the Earth as the center of the universe in people’s minds… a change that Galileo himself put into motion.

Two brief samples of the music from a rehearsal:

Part One

Part Two

Full Story at All Things Considered Archive.