De Gasparis’ Psyche
Rebecca Farmer
November 6th, 2024
Major: BA in Music with an Emphasis in Composition
Genre/Medium: Contemporary Classical Piano Duet; Video Performance and Sheet Music
About the work:
“De Gasparis’ Psyche” is a contemporary classical piano duet inspired by the discovery of the Psyche asteroid by Annibale de Gasparis in 1852. This piece reflects the journey of exploration and the celestial beauty of the cosmos through three distinct musical sections.
The composition opens with a flowing introduction in the primo part, characterized by delicate, twinkling motifs that mimic the sound of orbiting celestial bodies. This ethereal soundscape sets the stage for the listener, evoking a sense of wonder and the vastness of space. The origins of Psyche are still theory, so the origin of the melody is fragmented and hidden reflecting these unclear origins.
As the piece progresses, the second section shifts to a staccato and playful exchange between the primo and secondo parts. This lively interaction represents the dynamic and sometimes chaotic nature of cosmic collisions, capturing the excitement and unpredictability of discovery.
The third section revisits the initial flowing theme but with added complexity. Here, shimmering sixteenth-note runs in both parts creating a sense of momentum, while the primo part presents a melodic line accompanied by a rich countermelody in the secondo. The melody emerges completely just as Psyche was discovered. This section conveys a glittering and victorious atmosphere, celebrating De Gasparis’s triumphant discovery of Psyche and the beauty that lies within our universe.
“De Gasparis’ Psyche” is a journey through sound, inviting listeners to experience the wonder of astronomical discovery while honoring the legacy of Annibale de Gasparis.
Psyche Inspired is a program that brings undergraduate students from any discipline or major together to share the excitement, innovation, and scientific and engineering content of NASA’s Psyche mission with the public in new ways through artistic and creative works. This year’s Psyche Inspired cohort is known as the Iridium Class. These works are posted in the gallery and highlighted on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. View the full resolution images in the image gallery. There are many ways to get involved with NASA’s Psyche mission. Learn how you can be a part of the Psyche mission through our “Get Involved” pages at https://psyche.asu.edu/get-involved/ and https://science.nasa.gov/mission/psyche/ways-to-participate/. To learn more about the overall Psyche mission, visit nasa.gov/psyche or jpl.nasa.gov/missions/psyche.
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