posted July 16, 2008 11:45 AM               

When NASA space shuttle Columbia STS-107 was lost on reentry in February of 2003, composer and performer Anne Cabrera felt immediately compelled to pay tribute to the shuttle's crew in the most heartfelt way that she knew: through music.

Through this audio CD, Anne both mourns and celebrates those lost astronauts. Her celebration extends to the countless individuals who spend their days and nights working to turn the dreams of space exploration and humanitarian science into realities; and also to those supportive NASA families who, despite their understandable fears, continue to stand behind their astronauts.

This album presents more than one hour of music. Accented with images from NASA's archives, the included full-color 24-page booklet is filled with both poetry and prose written by Anne to lend some insight into each of these instrumental pieces. All tracks were composed by Anne, and all parts were performed by her on synthesizer: sometimes emulating traditional orchestral instruments, and at other times producing those unusual electronic sounds and textures more commonly associated with the synthesizer.

Though the album follows the highs and (sadly and unavoidably) the lows of the Columbia mission, its larger aim is to revere the depth of the human spirit, and the willingness of some to risk all for the chance to bring benefit to the rest of us.

• Hangar Doors (Rollout)
  
• Payload
  
• Microgravity
  
• Kalpana
  
• We Remember
  
• Heroes
  
• Immortal

posted July 22, 2008 07:26 PM               

Just to let you know, digital downloads are now available! Just click on the Columbia link in Robert's post to go to my website, and look for the CD Baby link. Also, for you overseas music-lovers, CD Baby ships globally! So if you really want to add an unusual space-related CD to your collection but live in Timbuktu, now you can! Enjoy!

posted July 25, 2008 09:27 PM               

Thanks for checking out the CD! I'm glad you liked the music.

posted August 01, 2008 01:21 AM               

Anne's music is a great tribute to all of Columbia's missions, not just STS-107 (although that tragedy was directly responsible for this CD). I can play the music while working on a space painting, so that two completely different art forms are combined, both inspired by space exploration.