Program Note

Up at the Stars is a musical narrative about Alan Shepard, the second person and first American in space. It explores gravity not just as a physical force, but a metaphorical barrier to human progress. Against the weight of the world, Alan Shepard sub-orbits Earth and becomes immortalized as the United States’ first human spaceflight mission. Light, concise motifs symbolize the inaugural technology of the space race until dynamic swells and rhythmic activity trigger Shepard’s lift-off.

An abrupt increase in tempo symbolizes the advancement of science bestowed upon Shepard. As he ascends, flurries of sound and mechanical churnings echo his thrilling moment: a man defying gravity. Inspired by Risset rhythms and Shepard tones, here the composition employs a state of tonal ascension, propelling upwards the resilience of human innovation against the forces of our planet. This moment soon climaxes when Shepard breaks through the atmosphere of Earth, an American triumph in the space race.

The unkown regions of our atmosphere are then observable for the very first time to the naked eye in this moment. Alan Shepard finds himself up at the stars, the farthest of any American before him. This wonderful awe is explored through a suspension of tonality. As gravity remains momentarily defeated, so too does the pitch centrality in this work. An eventual, suspenseful downward pull from the ensemble represents Shepard’s gradual return to Earth’s inner atmosphere. The texture soon thickens, clouded with chromatic harmony, quickening in pace until Shepard’s rocket is fully subjected to the absolute power of gravity. As the nation watches, Shepard pierces through the most formidable g-forces fathomable and plummets into the Atlantic ocean. Descending chromatic lines convey the capsule’s vulnerability to Earth’s retribution, while ascending lines suggest the ground approaching.

As tempos slow, so too does the missile decelerate until it sinks into the waters of the Atlantic. Signifying a successful return by Alan Shepard, the ensemble venerates mankind’s achievement with an operatic conclusion, symbolizing the greater, unified capabilities of humanity by the impact of Shepard’s triumph. In our current time, “Up at the Stars” honors this historic breakthrough to highlight resilience and unity against perilous odds. My hope is that this composition resonates differently with each listener, promotes progress, community, and an excitement for the future.