
May 2, 12:30-1:30 EDT: The NASA Johnson Space Center's DLN (Digital Learning Network) and Public Affairs Office are thrilled to present another Music in Space event featuring International Space Station commander Koichi Wakata and BELLA GAIA director Kenji Williams. The live StarJAM session will include a 3-5 minute improvised musical performance between Williams and Koichi, interspersed with video footage from BELLA GAIA's multimedia show as well as live images from space. Koichi will be playing an ancient Japanese wind instrument called a Sho, which was donated by Japan's Tenri University.
Co-Sponsored by BELLA GAIA (Beautiful Earth) and Tenri University, the StarJam was conceptualized by director and violinist Kenji Williams. Tenri Institute Executive Director Yoichi Fukui trained Wakata on the Sho, and this 2000 year old instrument donated by Prof Koji Satoh was transported to the International Space Station by the SpaceX Dragon. This is the first time in history for such an instrument to travel beyond the Earth's atmosphere. In the Japanese Shinto tradition, the Sho is an instrument performed for the purpose of tuning the cosmos.
The 1 hour DLN Music in Space session will also be joined by Pearl Hall Elementary School Choir in Houston, TX, Astronaut and flutist Cady Coleman, educator and flutist Jami Lupold, and violinist Sergei Galperein from the Houston Symphony.
Watch live May 2nd, at 12:30pm Eastern USA Time:
https://dln.nasa.gov/
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nasa-dlinfo
NASA, StarJam, ISS, Space Station, Jaxa, Koichi Wakata, 天理大学, 若田 光一, Kenji Williams, Bella Gaia, BellaGaia, Bela, Gaya, ビデオ、ベラガイア, 笙, JSC, Earth, Violin, Interstellar, SpaceX, Dragon, Building Cultural Bridges, Sergei Galperein, Jami Lupold, astronaut, Sho, Jamming , Gagaku