An Epic Journey Across the Outer Solar System
Instrumentation
Triple winds • Four horns • Three trumpets • Three trombones • Tuba • Timpani • Five percussion • Two harps • Celesta • Strings • SATB Choir • Treble Soloist (Young Boy) • Tenor Soloist
3.3.3.3 / 4.3.3.1 / Timp. 5 Perc. 2 Hp. Cel. / Str. / SATB Choir / Treble Soloist (Young Boy), Tenor Soloist
THE CONDUCTOR'S SCORE
Full Orchestral Score (Perusal)
Choral & Piano-Vocal Score
New Worlds To Explore
A groundbreaking symphonic work inspired by the moons of our Solar System, created in collaboration with leading planetary scientists and astronauts.
Composed 2017–2020 • 45 minutes • 7 movements • Chorus & Orchestra
Watch a 3-minute introduction to the music, collaborators, and creative vision behind THE MOONS SYMPHONY.
Then go behind the scenes of this science-driven journey in the extended feature.
Conductor's Score Landed on the Moon
London Symphony Orchestra Recording
Created in collaboration with NASA Planetary Scientists and Astronauts
World Premiere • Reno Philharmonic
10-Minute Extended Feature - Abbey Road Studios London
LISTEN to the 7 movements with London Symphony Orchestra
%20%202_3%20MB%20copy.png)
Milestones
2022
London Symphony Orchestra records THE MOONS SYMPHONY with Marin Alsop.
2024
A conductor's score journeys to the Moon aboard IM-1 Odysseus.
2024
Chicago Symphony Orchestra performs THE MOONS Symphonic Suite with Marin Alsop.
2026
NEPA Philharmonic presents THE MOONS Choral Suite.
2027
World Premiere of the complete THE MOONS SYMPHONY with the Reno Philharmonic & Chorus.
"Together, these milestones trace the evolution of a project that unites artistic excellence, scientific collaboration, lunar exploration, and live performance."
THE MOONS Symphonic Suite performed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra under Marin Alsop at Ravinia's Breaking Barriers Festival.
MOONS Choral Suite
A 22-minute symphonic and cinematic journey across the seven moons, featuring full orchestra and choir.
Ideal for performances where time is limited but the full vocal power of THE MOONS SYMPHONY is desired.
Includes award-winning immersive visuals and the original choral writing that gives voice to each moon’s emotional and planetary story.
MOONS Symphonic Suite
A 22-minute symphonic and cinematic journey across the seven moons, designed for orchestra only.
Ideal for showcasing full orchestral forces when space or budget constraints limit the use of chorus.
Features award-winning immersive space visuals drawn from the full symphony experience.
Educational | Outreach
Amplify the concert experience through dynamic pre- and post-performance offerings.
Available options include:
-
Guest talks with astronauts and planetary scientists
-
Interactive LUNAR workshops for secondary school students
-
Art-science exhibitions, panel discussions, or planetarium tie-ins
-
Curriculum-aligned educational resources for schools and community partners
Ideal for festivals, orchestras, and venues looking to engage audiences beyond the stage.
"Our dream is to unite orchestras across America in celebrating humanity's return to the Moon through music, science, education, and wonder."
Why
Present THE MOONS SYMPHONY
Artistic Imapct
Scientific Collaboration
Community
Engagement
National Collaboration
More than a symphonic work, THE MOONS SYMPHONY is a platform for artistic excellence, scientific collaboration, education, and national engagement.
Invite your audiences into an unforgettable voyage. THE MOONS SYMPHONY is an orchestral and choral experience inspired by real planetary science and shaped through collaboration with leading scientists, astronauts, and artists.
This work offers artistic planners a unique centrepiece. Its universal themes, emotional depth, and visual storytelling can anchor festivals, amplify multimedia programs, or complement seasons devoted to innovation and discovery.
Available for full orchestra and choir, with optional multimedia integration and educational extensions. This is music that ignites wonder, bridges disciplines, and transforms the concert hall into a portal to the cosmos. Let your stage become a launchpad for imagination
Looking
toward
2028
A National Sea & Space Consortium
A national collaboration of orchestras celebrating humanity's return to the Moon through music, science, education, and imagination.
Artemis IV
Launch Target
Early 2028
Destination: Lunar South Pole region
Launch Vehicle:
Orion spacecraft launched aboard NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket.
One-week crewed exploration of the lunar South Pole.
A National Celebration of Artemis IV
"Our mission is to unite orchestras across America in celebrating humanity's return to the Moon through music, science, education, and wonder."
Others Are Saying
What
THE MOONS SYMPHONY is a beautiful way to express the incredible science returned by missions like Cassini through music and to share that with the public. I found it very moving and inspirational!
Dr. Linda Spilker
Project Scientist, Cassini Mission • Voyager Mission Scientist, NASA JPL
Whatever you take away from it is valid. It can be small, it can be a big idea, it can be an awareness that you didn’t have. I just hope people will feel changed by the experience. And maybe that’s why the project is so successful. It’s about the greater message and trying to get that across.
Marin Alsop
Conductor of the premiere recording of THE MOONS SYMPHONY
Awe and wonder.
Two words that come to mind when I think about the spaceflight perspective. These two words immediately came to mind when I first, and every time, I listened to the music of The MOONS. A powerful composition that will transport you through space and bring you
back to Earth!
Nicole Stott
Astronaut, NASA • International Space Station
“While examples of space-inspired art music goes back to at least Gustav HOLST The Planets…Amanda Lee Falkenberg’s THE MOONS SYMPHONY is one of the most extraordinary achievements in space-inspired music, and perhaps the first to be accomplished in direct collaboration with astronomers and scientists”
The Beauty of Space Art
Springer
The Moons Symphony immediately invites comparison with Holst's Planets, but it is a different beast: a choral work depicting seven moons with a wide range of behaviours right here in our solar system… a wonderfully evocative work that could equally grace concert halls or film scores
Review
Music Files Ltd.
THE MOONS SYMPHONY
Making
Sea Trilogy
Making
THE MOONS SYMPHONY
Crossing of the Crescent Moon
A concerto for piano and Orchestra
Composed by Amanda Lee Falkenberg, 2017
10-minutes
"This ten-minute concerto marks Amanda Lee Falkenberg's first musical journey toward the moon. Composed after two decades living in the Middle East, Crossing of the Crescent Moon became the artistic seed that ultimately blossomed into her landmark work, THE MOONS SYMPHONY
Watch the final moments of the Concerto with Anna Tsybuleva and London Symphony Orchestra
World Premiere Recording by the
London Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Marin Alsop
Anna Tsybuleva, piano
St Luke's, London • 2022
Behind the Recording
Marin Alsop, Anna Tsybuleva & Amanda Lee Falkenberg
Score & Performance Materials
Full Score (PDF)
Piano Reduction (PDF)
Program Note
Instrumentation
Audio Recording
Duration: 10-minutes
Full Score
two piano four hands
This ten-minute concerto marks Amanda Lee Falkenberg's first musical journey toward the moon. Composed after two decades living in the Middle East, Crossing of the Crescent Moon became the artistic seed that ultimately blossomed into her landmark work, THE MOONS SYMPHONY.
PROGRAM NOTES
a concerto for piano and orchestra
10 - minutes
Instrumentation
Triple winds • Four horns • Three trumpets • Three trombones • Tuba • Timpani
• Five percussion • Harp • Piano • Strings
4[1.2.pic.afl] 2[1.2/Eh] 3[1.2.bcl] 3[1.2.cbn]/433[1.2.btbn]1/timp+5perc hrp/pno/str
Audio Recording
"Crossing of the Crescent Moon explores an energetic interplay between darkness and light—a musical meditation on hope, transformation, and the first appearance of a new moon."
La Cascade de Borrowdale Lodore
A symphonic tone poem for piano trio
Flute, Violin & Piano
Composed by Amanda Lee Falkenberg, 2015
10-minutes
Inspired by Robert Southey's celebrated poem "The Cataract of Lodore"
Accolades
Dedicated to Maurice Ravel, this work received a Special Mention as a Finalist in the 2016 International Maurice Ravel Composition Competition (Italy).
Lodore Trio
Pam Pecko Smith, Flute
Margaret Roberts, Piano
Heather Brit, Violin
"Absolutely beautiful! So atmospheric!"
La Cascade de Borrowdale Lodore
Amanda Lee Falkenberg
Flute
Violin
Piano
Score
full score
About the Work
Inspired by Robert Southey's famous 1820 poem The Cataract of Lodore, this atmospheric tone poem captures the playful energy, shimmering colours and ever-changing movement of one of England's most celebrated waterfalls.
Rather than attempting to illustrate the poem literally, the music responds to Southey's extraordinary cascade of descriptive language, translating his vivid imagery into musical textures, flowing melodies and sparkling dialogue between the flute, violin and piano.
A Tribute to Maurice Ravel
Maurice Ravel has long been one of Amanda Lee Falkenberg's greatest artistic influences. His extraordinary ability to paint vivid landscapes through orchestral colour and musical texture inspired the dedication of this work.
Like Ravel, Falkenberg seeks to tell stories through sound—allowing music to become a canvas upon which landscapes, emotions and nature come vividly to life
Dedicated to Maurice Ravel, this work received a Special Mention in the 2016 International Maurice Ravel Composition Competition (Italy), where it was selected as a finalist.
Duration
8 minutes
Instrumentation
Flute
Violin
Piano
Mood
Atmospheric
Impressionistic
Flowing
Commissioned
Commissioned by the Lodore Trio
Ideal For
Chamber concerts
Literary festivals
Dance collaboration
Arts festivals
Accolades
Finalist (Special Mention), International Composition Competition 'Maurice Ravel', Italy (2016)
Performances and Discography
Cascade
21 Jun 2017: Lodore Ensemble, at St. Olave, Hart Street (UK)
15 Nov 2016: Water and Rememberance, at St Cyprian's Church (UK) [World premiere]
Featured on CD
ALBUM
Cascade
The Lodore Trio
July 15 2018
A Travelled Road
Piano, and String Quartet
Composed by Amanda Lee Falkenberg, 2003
Listen
Pam Pecko Smith, Flute
Margaret Roberts, Piano
Heather Brit, Violin
8-minute
"Absolutely beautiful! So atmospheric!"
A Travelled Road
Piano, and String Quartet
Composed by Amanda Lee Falkenberg, 2003
Listen
Pam Pecko Smith, Flute
Margaret Roberts, Piano
Heather Brit, Violin
8-minute