Calder Matthew Hannan

Calder Matthew Hannan is a Lecturer in the Department of Music at Columbia University and will assume the position of Assistant Professor of Music Theory at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music in Fall 2025. He holds a B.A. in Music and Physics from the University of Virginia (2017) and a Ph.D. in Music Theory from Columbia University (2024). His research focuses on popular music, particularly extreme and progressive metal, exploring rhythm, meter, musical form, and transcription through music theory, ethnographic, and cognitive perspectives. He actively disseminates his research via a YouTube channel and contributes to the music scene through his projects Florid Ekstasis (timebending death metal) and Aphelion Entity (NYC brutal death metal).

Education:

• B.A. in Music and Physics, University of Virginia, 2017
• Ph.D. in Music Theory, Columbia University, 2024

Research Interests: Hannan’s work bridges theoretical analysis and cultural critique, examining how rhythmic structures and form shape listener experiences in metal subgenres. His dissertation explores tactus transformation in popular music, integrating perspectives from music theory, ethnography, and cognitive science.

Labs/Projects:

• YouTube channel for public-facing metal music research
• Music projects: Florid Ekstasis (guitarist/vocalist) and Aphelion Entity (guitarist)