Kittinger's Descent

In August 1960, U.S. Air Force pilot Joe Kittinger ascended in a high-altitude balloon 102,800 feet above the surface of the earth. As he leapt out of the gondola, Kittinger felt little sensation of falling due to the lack of air in the stratosphere. Depicting the moments before the 614 mph free-fall, this work opens with slowly forming clusters. Gaining intensity, these chords signify the sensation one must feel looking up to the blackness of space then peering down to the clouds below. Throughout the piece, a subtle trembling effect suggests the buffeting that can occur at high speeds. Kittingr's Descent is a fast-paced, turbulent ride honoring the man who broke records for highest balloon ascent, highest parachute jump, and the longest and fastest free-fall by a human without the aid of a machine.