Press and Testimonials about Multiverse
“We get these images processed and put them out into the world for everyone to see but we don’t really know where they end up. And so for me it was inspiring to see people enjoying the data, it essentially puts you on another planet to see these images,”
Justin Maki, NASA JPL Imaging Scientist to WGBH NPR on Mars Symphony
“[Mars Symphony] included a touching aria sung from the point of view of a Mars rover by soprano Agnes Coakley Cox, a lonely solo on the electric guitar, and musical translations of altimeter data that mapped the radical elevation changes on the seemingly barren planet.”
“When composer David Ibbett visualizes the terrain of Mars, he hears a full symphony.”
“A fusion of classical and electronic music created from cutting edge data.”
Bethan Ackerly, New Scientist on Mars Symphony
“What we are hearing is Otis Peak Sample Core … it truly sounds otherworldly”
“The new composition aims to bring the thrill of space exploration down to Earth and turn the science of Mars into art.”
Tom Metcalfe, Nautilus Magazine
“In its dedication to the new and unknown, Black Hole Symphony inspires as much as it informs.”
“Your stuff SO captures the essence [of black holes] - it’s insane!”
“Science and music collide in ‘Black Hole Symphony’ at the Museum of Science”
“MARBLEHEAD — Not a voice could be heard in the Community Charter Public School’s community room, although it was filled with students. They were all mesmerized by the symphony of space being absorbed by both their ears and eyes.”
“Science and music illuminated the wonders of the larger cosmos within that seemingly microcosmic dome”
Stephanie Oestereich, Boston Music Intelligencer
“Composer David Ibbett encodes the dreams and details of complex physics phenomena into music to help audiences appreciate their splendour.” Nature
“Multiverse Concert Series continues to be one of the most exciting companies I have had the pleasure of experiencing as an audience member, let alone collaborating with and presenting as a part of our Adult Programming at the Museum of Science, Boston. Their work is the epitome of why it is crucial for us as a society to examine STEM-related issues through an artistic lens and the beautiful end results that come from fusing together art, science and technology. The talent driving the company forward is simply astounding- and audiences remain riveted, captivated and intellectually stimulated the entire time the incredible lineup of scientists, experts, artists and performers commands the stage or screen. I think their work is groundbreaking and revolutionary for audiences of all ages- something not many can accomplish. I am honored to have them becoming a quick staple and highlight of our ongoing programming.”
James Monroe, Producer of Adult Programs at Museum of Science, Boston
“The plasma dive is EPIC!! An incredible experience in the dome theatre... very trippy visuals! The music score is fantastic and really elevates/highlights the activities in the imagery”
Drew Berry, Animator for Bjork, Biophilia
“I just finished watching the Jan 28th Art of Polymers and had to share how amazingly this program enriched my visceral understanding of polymers. I'm a musician not a scientist, but I work administratively with people immersed in polymer science and engineering. The creative arc of tonight's program, reached every part of my brain, feeding my hunger to understand what polymers are, the urge to engage artistically, and a connection to man's role in healing the world through chemistry. It was the perfect balance of exposition and demonstration, and each presenter's unique link in the presentation "chain" truly added and enriched the experience for me. Thank you so much and looking forward to the Neutrinos program on February 14th. Bravo!”
Greg S, Audience Member
“Ibbett’s compositions give a new interpretation on scientific data that can make work like Sousa-Silva’s perhaps feel slightly more tangible to an outsider. But even Sousa-Silva herself looked at her research in a new way after hearing the compositions.”
“David Ibbett’s Multiverse Concert Series is an intriguing exploration of exoplanetary research, interpretive composition, and data sonification. Wide-ranging musical translations reveal the grace and intricacy of light spectroscopy and red edge reflectance creating new sonic worlds and Minjin Chung’s beautifully pared down performance of ‘Phosphine: Life Anaerobic’ on solo cello. The universe beyond our solar system seems so much closer.”
“Ibbett lengthened these light waves to lower their high frequency and ‘translate’ them into sound waves the human ear can detect. The result was haunting pieces of music that let us listen to the possibility of extraterrestrial life.”
Sara Truuvert, Art The Science
“I collaborated with David Ibbett and Multiverse on the Cellular Dance performance, and later participated in a live event at the Museum of Science Planetarium and an online show. It's been a thrilling and joyous experience, to see how the world of science gains a new dimension through music and visuals. I have followed David's other productions - every one of them is a beautiful, breathtaking journey of discovery, both musical and scientific.”
Alexey Veraksa, Cell Biologist UMass Boston
“This was the first time in my 30 year career that my research has been truly accessible to and embraced by the general public. I love the fusion between hard science, music, and dance crossing cultural and disciplinary boundaries to explore the single subject of sleep:something with which we all have some relationship, some feeling. The public had access to the content from all angles and many of my neuroscience and sleep colleagues were intrigued by the format and the idea and also attended. From what we know about communication and learning, such a multidisciplinary approach is the way we should always approach disseminating information. We would do something like this again in a heartbeat. Many thanks to David Ibbett for his expert management of the talent and to all the members of Multiverse and the Boston Museum of Science for putting on such a colorful professional program.”
Gina Poe, Neuroscientist, UCLA
“Working with David and the Multiverse team was so inspirational. I feel like we have given the science we are doing a beautiful soundtrack, which has allowed us to engage with a much more diverse audience. I look forward to many future events with him and the team.”
Sarah Davies, Marine Biologist Boston University
“Multiverse: Octave of Light is an immersive, thought provoking, and musically wonderful virtual concert experience and concept album. The concert translates scientific efforts to identify the absorption spectra of atmospheric gasses indicative of life on exoplanets, into sound waves/musical notes that serve as the sonic basis for the songs on the concept album.
Musical highlights of the performance include Water Romanza, Ceres and Equals Life. While listening and watching Water Romanza, I imagined what it might be like for a life form to emerge bathed in water on some faraway exoplanet! Ceres is a hauntingly beautiful ambient instrumental which features David on piano. Listening to Ceres, one can visualize the stark beauty and serenity of an ice planet, and wonder if there is still life beneath the ice. The final composition, Equals Life employs the four musical biosignatures that David created for water, methane, oxygen, and the red edge to create a four-chord song. It’s a hopeful and uplifting musical piece which leaves the viewer feeling that there must be other life in the cosmos and that our search will in time be rewarded.
Dr. Clara Sousa-Silva’s explanations of her love for astrochemistry and descriptions of how one can decode spectral biosignatures provides the viewer with an understanding of the science behind how astronomers on earth are able to search for life on far flung exoplanets. Together, David Ibbett, Dr. Clara Sousa-Silva, Beth Sterling, and Ameila Sie made Octave of Light, a fusion of music, art, and astrochemistry, into a fantastic and immersive experience for all to enjoy!”
The Sandrasagra Family, Audience Members