NCH Commemorates Moon Landings 50th anniversary Through Music and Film

On July 20th, it will already be half a century since humans first stepped on the moon during NASA’s Apollo 11 lunar mission.

To mark the anniversary of such an historical event, the National Concert Hall is merging documentaries and music into one on July 23rd , as part of its Summer Series.

Icebreaker, a 12-piece contemporary music group founded by James Poke and John Godfrey in 1989 will lead the event by performing a revisited version of the album Apollo: Atmospheres and Soundtracks, composed by Brian Eno, Roger Eno and Daniel Lanois in 1983.

Its ambient, mythical music remains Eno's most significant work.

Arrangements of Scott Walker's Epizootics, MBE Anna Meredith, Chicago footwork artist JLin and of Gavin Bryars' The Archangel Trip will also be played by the post-minimalist group during this very special performance.

Courtesy of the NCH

Icebreaker, praised by David Bowie, had already been invited to play this music, back in 2009 at the London's Science Museum, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the moon landings.

The acclaimed ensemble has a unique approach to contemporary music thanks to a special combination of guitars, electric strings, pan-pipes, keyboards, saxes, accordion, drums and percussion, and a distinctive amplified sound.

Their upcoming performance at the NCH will accompany film sections from the documentary For All Mankinds, featuring 35mm footage of the Apollo moon missions.

The experiences of Apollo crew members and mission control staff will also be played over original mission footage, alongside scenes of the Earth viewed from space, offering extra invaluable insights into such an incredible part of history.