Astronaut Ready To Perform Songs For Windsor, Written In Space
Friday October 17th, 2014, 4:36pm
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Col. Chris Hadfield and Robert Franz discussing this weekend’s performances at the Capitol Theatre
Astronaut Chris Hadfield is in Windsor for several concerts with the Windsor Symphony Orchestra where he’ll be performing songs written in space.
Col. Hadfield is the only Canadian to ever command a space ship and the first to walk in space. He has been a musician his whole life. He first learned guitar on an island up the river in Lake St. Clair.
On his first space mission he brought a specially modified guitar along with him and left it as a gift to the Russian space station. Many astronauts including Hadfield have played the guitar. He said music is a fundamental part of being human.
In relation to performing this weekend, he was asked if he’s nervous.
Hadfield, with confidence, said he was not nervous.
“If I’m standing here is it probable I will burst into flames? No. Am I going to run out of oxygen? Probably not,” he said. “Is our space ship going to get hit by a meteoroid? Maybe, but the odds are small.”
Hadfield continued by explaining that he wrote out the lyrics to his songs, and in case the papers with his lyrics fall, he has an iPad beside him as back up. In his left pocket he had two guitar picks and in the right he had another two. If the strings on his guitar broke, he has a spare guitar.
As Hadfield prepared himself, he said he’s ready for these performances. Maestro Robert Franz said it has been a pleasure bringing the songs to life.
Four concerts performances will take place at the Capitol Theatre from Oct. 17th until the 19th.
Elementary and high school students will be featured in two of the songs written by Hadfield. Roughly 54 to 74 children will be present on stage for each performance singing the chorus of “Is Somebody Singing” and “Big Smoke.”
Tickets have sold out for all concerts this weekend.
