Now for the first time in history, to celebrate Voyager’s 40th anniversary next year, you’ll be able to experience Golden Record for yourself the way it was meant to be played.
We are honored that Timothy Ferris, the original producer of the Golden Record, will be in the recording studio with us to remaster the audio for vinyl, drawing from the highest-quality sources we can access.
The overwhelming majority of the funds raised from this historic reissue will go directly to the high production costs, licensing, and royalties incurred in creating this lavish box set. All manufacturing will take place in North America at highly-respected facilities using the finest materials.
Astronomer and science educator Carl Sagan chaired the visionary committee that created the original Voyager Golden Record forty years ago. Astronomer and SETI pioneer Frank Drake was the technical director, writer Ann Druyan was creative director, science writer Timothy Ferris produced the record, artist Jon Lomberg designed it, and artist Linda Salzman Sagan organized the greetings.
Voyager I entered interstellar space in 2013. It’s almost 13 billion miles away from Earth, and in about 40,000 years it will be within 1.6 light years of a star in the constellation of Camelopardalis. Voyager II is right on its tail. We may never know whether an extraterrestrial civilization ever listens to the Golden Record.
Voyager Golden Record: 40th Anniversary Edition audio tracks:
Bach, Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 in F. First Movement, Munich Bach Orchestra, Karl Richter, conductor
Java, court gamelan, “Kinds of Flowers,” recorded by Robert Brown
Senegal, percussion, recorded by Charles Duvelle
Zaire, Pygmy girls’ initiation song, recorded by Colin Turnbull
Australia, Aborigine songs, “Morning Star” and “Devil Bird,” recorded by Sandra LeBrun Holmes
Mexico, “El Cascabel,” performed by Lorenzo Barcelata and the Mariachi México
“Johnny B. Goode,” written and performed by Chuck Berry
New Guinea, men’s house song, recorded by Robert MacLennan
Japan, Shakuhachi, “Tsuru No Sugomori” (“Crane’s Nest,”) performed by Goro Yamaguch
Bach, “Gavotte en rondeaux” from the Partita No. 3 in E major for Violin, performed by Arthur Grumiaux
Mozart, The Magic Flute, Queen of the Night aria, no. 14. Edda Moser, soprano. Bavarian State Opera, Munich, Wolfgang Sawallisch, conductor
Georgian S.S.R., chorus, “Tchakrulo,” collected by Radio Moscow
Peru, panpipes and drum, collected by Casa de la Cultura, Lima
“Melancholy Blues,” performed by Louis Armstrong and his Hot Seven
Azerbaijan S.S.R., bagpipes, recorded by Radio Moscow
Stravinsky, Rite of Spring, Sacrificial Dance, Columbia Symphony Orchestra, Igor Stravinsky, conductor
Bach, The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2, Prelude and Fugue in C, No.1. Glenn Gould, piano
Beethoven, Fifth Symphony, First Movement, the Philharmonia Orchestra, Otto Klemperer, conductor
Bulgaria, “Izlel je Delyo Hagdutin,” sung by Valya Balkanska
Navajo Indians, Night Chant, recorded by Willard Rhodes
Holborne, Paueans, Galliards, Almains and Other Short Aeirs, “The Fairie Round,” performed by David Munrow and the Early Music Consort of London
Solomon Islands, panpipes, collected by the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Service
Peru, wedding song, recorded by John Cohen
China, ch’in, “Flowing Streams,” performed by Kuan P’ing-hu
India, raga, “Jaat Kahan Ho,” sung by Surshri Kesar Bai Kerkar
“Dark Was the Night,” written and performed by Blind Willie Johnson
Beethoven, String Quartet No. 13 in B flat, Opus 130, Cavatina, performed by Budapest String Quartet
Greetings from the Secretary General of the United Nations, Kurt Waldheim
Greetings in 55 languages
United Nations greetings
Whale greetings
The Sounds of Earth: “Music of the Spheres” by Laurie Spiegel, Volcanoes, Earthquake, Thunder, Mud Pots, Wind, Rain, Surf, Crickets, Frogs, Birds, Hyena, Elephant, Chimpanzee, Wild Dog, Footstepts, Heartbeat, Laughter, Fire, Speech, The First Tools, Tame Dog, Herding Sheep, Blacksmith, Sawing, Tractor, Riveter, Morse Code, Ships, Horse and Cart, Train, Tractor, Bus, Auto, F-111 Flyby, Saturn 5 Lift-off, Kiss, Mother and Child, Life Signs, Pulsar
