From Monk's award-winning science fiction opera The Games. Set on an imaginary planet, The Games takes place in a post-nuclear future where survivors and their descendants are involved in the repetition of ritual games re-enacting Earth’s culture in order to preserve the shards of civilization.

Coming near the end of the opera, "Astronaut Anthem" celebrates the colonization of the planet as well as the spirit of exploration. The piece should be sung with no vibrato but with a warm, glowing sound. For mixed choir (SSATTBB) cappella.