Alan Hovhaness’ music has frequently been described as transporting. But did you know that one of his symphonies actually went to space?
According to astronaut Rusty Schweickart, each of the crewmen who took part in NASA’s Apollo 9 mission were allowed to bring their own cassettes, which could be played in special players to keep the tapes from unraveling in zero gravity. Schweickart’s mix-tape included works by Ralph Vaughan Williams and Alan Hovhaness. One would assume from his choice of Hovhaness – the Symphony No. 2, “Mysterious Mountain” – that the Vaughan Williams must have been the “Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis,” with which there is a certain spiritual kinship. Great music with which to reflect on the majesty and mystery of space.
However, “mysteriously,” Schweikart was unable to locate his cassette until about the ninth day of the ten-day mission. He later noted, wryly, that his crewmates were not enthusiastic about his playlist.
Given the time frame of the Apollo 9 mission, which took place from March 3-13, 1969, Schweikart’s “Mysterious Mountain” would have been the classic recording made by Fritz Reiner and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (at the time the only commercial recording of the work in existence). It’s interesting to contemplate that, in 1969, both composers, Hovhaness and Vaughan Williams, would have been considered contemporary. “Mysterious Mountain” was composed in 1955.
I don’t know for certain about the inclusion of the “Tallis Fantasia,” but a Google search has turned up a book, “Foothold in the Heavens” by Ben Evans. The content is paywalled, but from a blurb in the description it looks as if Schweikart’s cassette might actually have included Vaughan Williams’ Christmas cantata “Hodie,” composed in 1953-54. As a dyed-in-the-wool Vaughan Williams fanatic, I happen to love the piece, but if this is true, no wonder it drove his shipmates to “lose” the tape!
Listen for yourself:
Hovhaness, “Mysterious Mountain”
Vaughan Williams, “Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis”
Vaughan Williams, “Hodie”
Happy birthday, Alan Hovhaness. Your music was literally out of this world!
