The Cosmic Shambles Network presents an evening of improvised conversation, contemplation, science
From William Herschel (discoverer of Uranus and professional musician) to Sun-Ra (jazz composer and wannabe astronaut) via Sir Patrick Moore and his xylophone, staring up at the cosmos’ mysteries, w
Lintott brings the latest images from spacecraft strung out across the Solar System, and from the largest telescopes here on Earth, to take us from the beginning of the Universe to the future of the Universe. Pretty brings his trumpet, a drumming robot and a conch shell to explain what music is, where it comes from and how it can help us to understand the cosmos. T
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“We’ve asked ourselves that a few times! I think both of us are interested in each other’s worlds, and it’s a chance to bring them together and see what happens,” says Lintott. “I also like the idea of not being an expert on stage, of being the person asking Steve questions.”
“For me, it’s a pretty good deal: I get to tell Chris how music works, but he has to tell me how the ENTIRE UNIVERSE works. A no brainer!” adds Pretty. “We are both passionate yet ignorant about one another’s areas of expertise, so it seemed like an opportunity to bring that ignorance and expertise together and find some unusual connections along the way.”
So essentially are they bringing the Arts and Sciences together? What were the challenges in putting this together?
“I think there’s sometimes a misapprehension that music and science are opposite worlds, whereas the day-to-day reality of being a musician and being a scientist aren’t that far removed,” says Pretty. “Both involve long, sometimes tedious solitary hours of practice or work directed at enjoying a few fleeting moments of excitement or glamour.”
He adds, “… and both worlds can be quite impenetrable to the layperson, so we wanted to ensure that we were able to dive deep, but also to keep it as accessible as possible. Having us both ignorant but interested in one another’s subjects
Lintott adds; “I think the trick is to get a bit beyond the obvious on both sides – I’m pretty sure we could have filled a show with nice space images and some music, but we want to try and see if there really is a connection.”
So what are they most looking forward to in doing this event together?
“I have actual questions that I want [to be] answered and I know Steve does too!” says Lintott.
“What’s great about the show is that we plan out a structure, but don’t actually go through too much of the detailed content until the show itself so that there’s a sense that we’re both genuinely learning
“I’m learning a huge amount. I love music but am not ‘musical’ – I haven’t played an instrument since putting down the recorder at school – and I’m finding I listen to things differently” says Lintott.
“Every time we meet, Chris explains stuff like the Cosmic Microwave Background and I think ‘OK, great, I understand that now’, but am seemingly unable to hold it in my brain properly for very long, so I feel like over the course of touring this show I might finally understand some of this stuff!” says Pretty
“We want them to have some sort of insight into the unexpected points of connection between the way the universe works and the way that music works. And, in some small way, to look at and listen to the world with a new perspective. Oh, and also how to clap at a gig” says Pretty.
“Hopefully next time they’re listening to music they’ll think about space, and next time they look up at the sky they’ll hear the cosmic connection between the two!” says Lintott.
Chris Lintott and Steve Pretty’s Universe (of Music)
Venue: St Pancras Room, Kings Place, 90 York Way, London, N1 9AG
Dates: Wednesday, 3rd April
Time: 8.00pm
Box office: 020 7520 1490
Online: kingsplace.co.uk
Venue: The Old Town Hall, Hemel Hempstead (part of the Space Week Festival)
Dates: Saturday, 4th May 2019
Time: 8.00pm
Box office: 01442 228 091
Website: oldtownhall.co.uk
