Having an interest in astronomy as a child, Ethan Isaac found a wealth of knowledge in Carles Badenes’ work on spectroscopy and binary stars. This is culminating in the work “The Divine Carousel,” a piece utilizing just intonation intervals. This tuning system is based on the harmonic series which is founded in physical science. By mapping particular stars that lie outside of statistical norms and the rate of binary orbits, Ethan aims to paint a picture of celestial bodies in motion that is imperceptible from our physical space in the cosmos. Lighting will be tied to these cycles of sound waves to assist in bringing this to life.

Ethan Isaac (b.1996) is a PhD student in composition and theory whose music has been described as “post-revolutionary” and “an almost Elgarian sweep of broad melody” (New York Classical Review). A composer that deals with topics from Russian novels to urban planning, Ethan fuses many disparate forms of media together along with conventional notation aiming to realize a new musical future. They received their BA from Bard College and their MA from Rutgers University where they studied under Kyle Gann, Matt Sargent, Robert Aldridge, and Scott Ordway. Ethan has a healthy interest in teaching and their compositions and research intersect with just intonation, text setting, and audio production. Ethan also regularly performs as an improvisor and vocalist in their own works.

Faculty Researcher: Carles Badenes

Artistic Advisor: Eric Moe

Performance Recording