The recent death of Sir Edmund Hillary has left a void in the world. He and his Sherpa guide Tenzing Norgay, were the first to reach the summit of Mount Everest on May 29, 1953. This remarkable explorer was quite modest and unpretentious regarding this accomplishment as the world showered him and Mr. Norgay with honors. He continued to climb mountains, travelled to new places including the Antarctic region, wrote books, and served his country as ambassador to India, Bangladesh and Nepal from 1985 to 1988. He cared deeply for the Sherpas in Nepal and raised millions of dollars for the Sir Edmund Hillary Himalayan Trust. Although he was treated like a celebrity, he retained his humility.
To help celebrate his extraordinary feats, you may want to listen to music that evokes the majesty of the Himalayas or Alps. Selections from the Library's collection include Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony #9, Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique, Alan Hovhaness' Celestial Fantasy, Olivier Messiaen's Quartet For the End of Time and Tan Dun's Hero.