Steve Thomas’ Music is Out of This World
 
Innovative composer provides soundtracks for movies of evocative Earth imagery captured from the International Space Station.
 
Western Mass – July 2023... Featuring ethereal music composed by eclectic composer/guitarist Steve Thomas, Windows on Earth places you in the International Space Station, looking out the cupola windows. The 48-minute movie inspires with evocative and unique views of Earth captured from the International Space Station, while Thomas’ music helps you float along and immerse yourself in the experience. The music was originally created for several Steve Thomas projects, notably his Audnoyz Project and Guitarscapes
 
Released by The Association of Space Explorers (ASE; the professional association of flown astronauts) and TERC, a STEM-education nonprofit, Windows on Earth is available in 4K resolution and is free for public viewing at Earth Movie Theater’s YouTube channel or at the website.

Earth Movie Theater is an ongoing collaboration between TERC, ASE, and NASA's Crew Earth Observation program that showcases astronaut photography. Each movie animates thousands of still photographs into varied and evocative views of Earth to deliver a visually compelling experience with world-class music, serving as a valuable tool for learning about Earth and planetary stewardship.
 
Steve Thomas’ music soundtrack for Windows on Earth was first commissioned by TERC in 2008 for Richard Garriott's trip to the International Space Station. TERC also commissioned Thomas to provide sound design for a permanent exhibit installation of Windows on the World at the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum in Washington, D.C. “It seems only fitting to bring all this imagery together with the original soundtrack, using today’s video-creation tools,” said Dan Barstow, Education Mission Specialist for ASE and founder of Earth Movie Theater, who oversaw the movie animation. “What a pleasure it is to bring together these thousands of astronaut photographs, setting them in motion in such a compelling presentation today for the space explorers of tomorrow.”
 
“I was excited to hear from Dan Barstow, who brought me in when TERC commissioned the 48- minute Earth Orbits soundtrack created to accompany the specially developed Windows on Earth software for the 2008 Richard Garriott Mission to the International Space Station,” recalls Thomas. “I was immediately intrigued by Dan’s description.

He mentioned he was reimagining the original soundtrack with astronaut photography of Earth, and he was interested in usingsome of the new music I was working on. With that call, a new collaboration was born. Dan selected music that resonated with him and I selected material that worked with the visuals I was drawn toward. It’s thrilling to be part of a collaboration that’s truly out of this world.”
 
Thomas knew that his “Guitarscapes” could feature prominently in a number of Earth Movies. Barstow also explored “Folktales & Fusions,” a new body of work Thomas was developing that included a moody duo interpretation of “Shenandoah” with long-time collaborator pianist Bob Ponte. Thomas original “Princess and the Jester” was set to the Jazz Clouds Earth Movie, and his “Haze Country” was set to the Aurora Inspiration Earth Movie. The latter two works feature the expressive and melodious sound of world-renowned saxophonist Chris Cheek.
 
Lately, Thomas has been reflecting on the state of humanity and thinking about what he can do to have a positive impact on the world. “I never would have imagined that art created years ago, in a new and freely available form, could be my contribution,” he muses. “Earth Movies are a vehicle to lead others to places of discovery, to get inspired and aspire to be the future change the world needs. I hope many young people will be drawn in by the sights and sounds and discover the work of astronaut and explorers like Sian Proctor and Suni Williams, inspiring them to do great things in math and science, encourage stewardship of the Earth, and be the change humanity needs.