The Outer Planets, by Joe Galuszka, was written in 2025 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the European Space Agency (ESA), and is scored for brass band and percussion. Inspired by ESA’s mission to explore the furthest reaches of our Solar System and beyond, the piece is a sonic tribute to the gas giants, the icy worlds that follow, and the pioneering future of space exploration.
Across three movements, the music reflects not only past and present achievements, but also the bold vision of ESA’s continuing journey - particularly the potential of the James Webb Space Telescope and future missions to unlock secrets of the outer planets.
The opening movement, Giants of Gas, explores the immense scale, swirling storms, and dynamic atmospheres of Jupiter and Saturn. With brass-driven energy and a sense of galactic momentum, the music captures their turbulent majesty and the awe they inspire.
The second movement, Dance of the Ice Giants, focuses on Uranus and Neptune, the two icy planets. Cooler in tone and mood, this section evokes a sense of alien beauty - glacial, mysterious, and haunting. Here, we pause in quiet reflection on these distant worlds and the silent wonder they hold.
The final movement, Beyond Poseidon, imagines a future ESA mission - perhaps robotic, perhaps crewed - launching into the uncharted space beyond Neptune, pressing against the boundaries of the Solar System. The music builds towards a sweeping, cinematic close, looking outward with ambition, curiosity, and the pioneering spirit that has defined ESA for half a century.
The Outer Planets celebrates the science, vision, and courage of ESA - honouring what has already been discovered, and anticipating the extraordinary discoveries yet to come.
The listen to an audio demo of the work please visit https://soundcloud.com/joegaluszka/the-outer-planets-2025
Duration: approx. 3.30 mins
Difficulty Level: 1st Section +
PDF download includes parts and score.
Sheet music available from www.brassband.co.uk (UK) or www.cimarronmusic.com (USA)
Instrumentation:
Soprano Cornet Eb
Solo Cornet Bb
Repiano Cornet Bb
2nd Cornet Bb
3rd Cornet Bb
Flugel Horn Bb
Solo Horn Eb
1st Horn Eb
2nd Horn Eb
1st Baritone Bb
2nd Baritone Bb
1st Trombone Bb
2nd Trombone Bb
Bass Trombone
Euphonium Bb
Bass Eb
Bass Bb
Percussion 1-4