Timeless Rhapsody
In 1977, when NASA sent its Voyager 2 spacecraft on an exploration of outer space, it carried an unusual item. There were two phonograph records on board as mementos of Earth. One of the longest tracks the records included was Liu Shui (Flowing Streams), a classic composition on the guqin, the traditional Chinese seven-stringed musical instrument shaped like the zither, but with a much longer history.
The composition represented the transformation of a trickling stream into a powerful waterfall. The idea was communication through music.
It was recommended by Chou Wenchung, a composer and professor at Columbia University’s Department of Music. Chou thought it was an apt representation of China, reflecting Chinese philosophy about humans and nature. has a special place in cultural history, dating back over 3,000 years.
