Of the 27 songs NASA sent into space aboard the Voyager Golden Record in 1977, one is a Georgian song called Chakrulo, sung by two soloists over a full choir in harmonies tuned to intervals that don't
Key Points:
- The Georgian folk song Chakrulo, a polyphonic piece from the Kakheti region, was selected in 1977 to be included on NASA's Voyager Golden Record, representing Earth's music to potential extraterrestrial listeners.
- Chakrulo's unique tuning system differs from Western equal temperament, featuring intervals that cannot be replicated on a standard piano, highlighting a distinct musical tradition.
- The two soloists who recorded Chakrulo were unaware their voices had been sent into space until weeks after the Voyager launch, underscoring the song's humble origins.
- Voyager 1, carrying the Golden Record, will reach a milestone on November 18, 2026, becoming the first human-made object one light-day away from Earth, with Chakrulo still encoded on it.
- The song symbolizes more than national pride; it represents a profound cultural expression traveling farther from home than any other Georgian artifact, embodying the transmission of place and identity across space and time.