Scoring Particles and Expanding Outreach

Musical compositions inspired by Fermilab science

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Deep Underground

Deep Underground is one of the products of a residency by Composer Roger Zare. DUNE is the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment which will send a neutrino beam 800 miles through the earth’s crust to unlock the mysteries of neutrinos.

PIP-II, the first movement, describes the particle accelerator being built to power the world’s most intense neutrino beam. PIP is the proton improvement plan. The rhythm relates to the hydrogen gas that will be housed in the building and is represented in the building’s architecture. Accelerating protons at near the speed of light is represented in the tempo.

DUNE, the second movement, traces the neutrino beam’s 800-mile journey. Musicians are instructed to freely oscillate to reflect neutrino oscillation.

Deep Underground was premiered by the Batavia High School Wind Symphony and commissioned by a consortium of orchestras and wind ensembles across the country.

Deep Underground is being hosted in over 35 locations across the country.
Fermilab’s Education and Public Engagement Office has developed resources to connect your students with the research that inspired this piece. If you are interested in using these resources with your group, please sign up at the link below. Once we receive your information, the resource list will be emailed to you.
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