GEODESIUM Liner Notes

All compositions performed by Mark C. Petersen.

The only instruments heard on this record are the EMS Synthi AKS synthesizer, and Mellotron, plus some Latin percussion on Cosmic Calypso.

All the music on this album, with the exception of Arabian Dance, has been heard in one of these Fiske Planetarium productions: Stardeath, The Wanderers, The Answer, The Universe Factor, The Voice of the Martian Wind.

Laser art courtesy Eye See The Light Show.

Thanks to: Jim Sharp, C. L. Collins, Mike Thornton, Tom Harman, Jeff Michael, Meg McCloskey, Tom Graves, G. L. Verschuur, and all the Fiske Planetarium staff. Special thanks to Pete and Flo.

Copyright 1977, Loch Ness Monster Productions.

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GEODESIUM

When influenced by the estatic implosion bionics of Geodesium, many unusual things are likely to happen. Constellations come alive, stately galaxies pass in review, and otherwise commonplace entities take on a new, almost magical appearance. Come explore the places that exist in the previously unimaginable dimensions of time and space — the world of Geodesium.

THE ANSWER

The pure knowledge, the enlightenment, the realization... the ultimate subsumption. The answer remains — the final totality.

LITTLE DIPPER

The stars lie within the galaxy in apparently random fashion, but still bring to mind familiar patterns. We name these constellations, and are content — but look again. Can you wonder what the Little Dipper sounds like? Listen to the music it exudes — it dances! It rushes about! It lives!

STARDEATH

In its death throes, a dying star collapses in upon itself, then heaves outward in a final mighty torrent of energy and light. The last remnants of its body then fall into a feebly glowing mass, slowly diminishing, yet dignified. Through Geodesium, we can cherish the music of the star's ultimate end.

TOCCATA AND FUGUE IN D MINOR

Who can explain the shivers that run down the spine when the opening notes of this great work are sounded? Who can explain the thrill of all the voices in the mighty fugue, blending together, each retaining their individual character? The subtle touches of the synthesizer only serve to heighten the appreciation of this new rendition, and spark speculation that if Bach had only had a synthesizer...

FREE FALL

Better than any carnival ride is the feeling of free fall — floating without gravity's binding force upon the body, admiring stars, planets, comets, and other celestial citizens, with the solar wind a constant rushing companion. It's a joyous, headlong plunge to explore the wonders of the universe, and hear the music of the spheres.

MARTIAN MARCH

Although in reality, Mars is a red, dusty, lifeless ball, the music that bears its name treats it with a sort of grandeur. In the procession of the daughter planets of Sol — the seductively-clouded Venus, the brilliant blue jewel Terra, the gigantic overbearing Jupiter — Mars struts along with a sense of martial discipline and humble pride.

ARABIAN DANCE

Imagine yourself deep within the dark dimensions of space. Ever so slightly, you become aware of an entity without size and shape, seemingly emitting a strange music. You first perceive a twinkling sound — perhaps an outer boundary. A bit further in, a pulsing undulating beat breathes, and from within, a mysteriously haunting melody weaves. You are entranced by the interaction with the other life sounds of this being. All too quickly, as you drift further from the center, the melody is left behind, with only the soft undulation continuing. At last, it too fades away, and only the twinkles remain, as you return to the black emptiness of space.

PTOLEMY'S PTUNE

Throughout history, astronomers have formulated elaborate theories about the heavens around them. Ptolemy was one of these, and his ideas have proven to be incorrect, though they were accepted in his day — the sun and planets don't revolve around the Earth. Geodesium salutes him with a tune as Rube Goldberg-ish as the geocentric universe hypothesis, which had just one fatal flaw — it was wrong.

COSMIC CALYPSO

In the infinite world of Geodesium is a place where dancing goes on all the time, and everyone is happy — an oasis in the stars; a tropical island in space where you can go to sing and dance and play. Hear the music, feel the percussion beat, and join the rest of creation in the dance.

12 VARIATIONS ON THE THEME "AH, VOUS DIRAI-JE, MAMAN"

What better piece for a planetarium than the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star? Recorded at the same time as the other tracks on the album, each of the variations in Mozart's original piano score is given a different 'orchestration' — with a playful wink to the listener. Enjoy!