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Atomic Opera

The image above shows Niles and Livvy – 2 atoms who live in the town of Atomville. They are the main characters in my children’s book, Adventures in Atomville: The Macroscope and are the inspiration for my newest project, The Atomic Opera.

Atom Tones is evolving into a larger project that encompasses Physics, Music and Technology.

I am thinking of this as an atomic opera. This is loosely based off of my previous work in

Adventures in Atomville: The Macroscope.

Here the atoms are characters, and are the ones producing the music. Each atom or molecule song tells a different story of their world as they see it, weaving the science through the music. And… since different atoms prefer different musical genres, each of the different songs will be different genres.

There are 3 distinct groups of atoms and particles that tell their stories.

Those who believe all atoms should a part of a healthy stable molecule unit – which includes organic and inorganic molecules (these groups are often at odds with one another as well). They often can’t see the fruits of their labors. They become small cogs in a big machine. “Working for a Living”
Those who believe in a free and gaseous state – these include simple gaseous molecules such as O₂ and N₂ as well as all the Noble elements. These groups are often at odds with one another as well, but they occasionally sync up together harmonically, and when they do, some awesome things can happen.
Electrons are the glue that holds the molecules together. They are also what splits it apart. Electrons can be helpful little particles or nasty little pests, depending on their moods.

The following are examples. The music for each is only representative of the the style and tone of each piece.

“Salt Water”

One of the first pieces I put together was by the band “Salt Water”. Salt Water is a jazz band made up of 2 Hydrogen atoms on drums, and an Oxygen atom on flute. Thesodium atom wanted to join in on the piano, but unfortunately, she can only play 2 notes. Her friend the Chlorine atom happened to know how to play the piano well. They join in with the band. Boron atoms tend to bass players, They only play 3 notes, but all 3 are great for bass. Not only that, just as many bass players do, Boron bounces from band to band. Staying and playing for awhile and then moving on to the next gig. Each band member is an atom in a salt water molecule Their names are H, 2, O, Na and CL. And B on bass.

**“La Dance Du Lumière“**

The Science: Chemically, Helium and Neon are both Noble gases. Noble gases never bond and are always in a gas state. Helium atoms are small and lightweight compared to Neon. When they are contained together, the Helium atoms will collide with the Neon. When the Helium atoms collide with the Neon atoms with just the right amount of energy, they transfer some of their energy to the Neon atoms, causing the Neon atoms to begin to oscillate inside of the container.

Eventually both atoms will move back and forth inside the container in harmony. We poke a little hole into one end of the container, and we have laser light.

The Story: Musically, the noble gases are more traditional in their tastes. Helium has a wonderful singing voice and Neon is a classically trained pianist. They perform their song in a classic French chanteuse format.

Initially piano and voice are in independent of one another, unaware of the other

Helium is lamenting over the loneliness of being a gaseous atom – never bonding – never knowing the joys of living in a large molecule

Piano and voice begin to sync up

(these are my own made up words for the story)

Then she starts thinking about what they can’t do…

“Stuck in their own little worlds – ignorant to what is beyond their molecule. Victims of their own making. I am free to roam the universe – adventures to be had. Beauty to behold and to be made. Striving to understand that beauty we make.”

Now piano and voice are in complete harmony

**“Carbon Monoxide: A Love Story“**

The Science: Carbon monoxide consists of one carbon atom and one oxygen atom. Normally, carbon will bond with two oxygen atoms to form carbon dioxide. In an oxygen deprived environment (such as when operating a gas stove or running an engine in an enclosed space), carbon will triple bond with a single oxygen to become isoelectronic. This occurs when two or more chemical species differing in the atoms of which they are formed but having the same number of valence electrons and the same structure. In other words, the two atoms completely bond with no additional valence bands.

The Story: Carbons are generally social creatures. Given the chance, they will bond with anything that has an open valence band. The carbon in our story somehow found himself all alone and is looking for his companion. Oxygen, has also found herself alone and wandering, swirling and has a bit of a negative attitude. They are both in somewhat of a void. In a world where there are always others, they both are somehow alone. Oxygen’s electrons are feeling the magnetic pull from carbon, drawing them closer together. When they meet, immediate sparks fly – they can’t be attracted to one another. They are too different. Nothing good could ever come of this. The attraction is overwhelming and they become so completely and engrossingly bonded that all else in the world no longer matters. They revel in the sameness of their differences. Nothing can break them apart….

The Music: