Museum Of Natural History Teams Up With Grateful Dead Drummer

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — Upper West Siders are in for a trip. The American Museum of Natural History is teaming up the Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart for two nights celebrating the intersection of music and science.

On April 13 and 14, Hart will play his Pythagorean Monochord instrument "the Beam" alongside original space visualizations designed by Carter Emmart, the museum's Director of Astrovisualization, according to a museum press release. The event is being called "Musica Universalis."

"Visitors will be taken on a musical and visual journey as they explore Hart’s “sonifications” of our universe, from the first rhythms of the Big Bang to the neural vibrations of the human brain," read a museum press release. "The visual aspect of the collaboration will include segments highlighting Hart’s work with prominent neuroscientists, showing the effects of vibration on the brain."

The performance will be held in the museum's Hayden Planetarium and feature a question and answer session with Hart, Emmart, neuroscientist Adam Gazzaley and museum Curator Rob DeSalle. The event includes a tour of the museum's new "Our Senses" exhibit, which is curated by DeSalle.

"Our Senses" is made up of 11 interactive galleries that will test visitor's perception. The exhibit will urge visitors to use different senses and explore when senses disagree. One gallery will trick the eyes into perceiving a winding and curving floor and walls, but the feet will feel a flat surface below, according to a museum press release.

Tickets to "Musica Universalis" can be found on the American Museum of Natural History's website. Ticketholders will be given a signed artists statement from Hart and a special edition vinyl of the drummer's new album "RAMU."

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