---------- Forwarded message ----------------------------------------------
From: David J Smith <[log in to unmask]>

Call for Papers and Conference Announcement
Symposium of Early English Keyboards (SEEK)
University of Aberdeen, 15-17 April 2005

The culmination of the Early English Organ Project residency at the
University of Aberdeen will be a Symposium of Early English Keyboards at
which two reconstructed sixteenth-century instruments (built by Goetze and
Gwynn) will be available alongside a reproduction by Darryl Martin of one
of the earliest surviving English virginals. The Symposium will feature a
Festival of Organs and Virginals, comprising three recitals by
international artists: Pieter Dirksen (Netherlands), Davitt Moroney (USA)
and Rachelle Taylor (Canada). Speakers so far include: John Caldwell,
Pieter Dirksen, Dominic Gwynn, John Harper, John Koster, Darryl Martin,
Davitt Moroney, Rachelle Taylor.

The organs are based on two soundboards from organs dating from between
1520 and 1540 discovered in East Anglia. English repertoire from the
sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries will be considered in the
context of the organs and harpsichords of the period. Is it possible to
divide the surviving music into repertoire for organ and repertoire for
harpsichord?  How can we recognize pieces intended primarily for organ
rather than harpsichord?

Although the lack of surviving sixteenth-century organs may be explained
by the ravages of Reformation and Civil War, it is curious that so few
virginals survive from before the 1630s, a situation matched by the
general lack of musical sources from the sixteenth century, even though we
can be fairly sure that, for example, some of Byrd's keyboard music dates
back to the 1560s and 1570s. Why do relatively few English instruments and
sources survive from the sixteenth century compared with the seventeenth?
To what extent did instruments, tuning systems and the repertoire change
in the early seventeenth century (if at all)?

Papers are welcome on any topic related to early English keyboard music
(c. 1500-1625), including:

* instruments and organology
* pitch and temperament
* sources
* editing, scribal practice and performance
* organ music in its liturgical context
* performance practice
* repertoire

Aberdeen is easily accessible from London, Amsterdam and the USA. Cheap
flights are available either from London Luton or Heathrow. Accommodation
will be available in King's Hall, Old Aberdeen.

Proposals comprising an abstract of no more than 200 words should be
submitted by Email to Dr David J Smith by Friday 21 January 2005, or
posted to Dr David J Smith, School of Education, College of Arts and
Social Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Hilton Place, Aberdeen, AB24 4FA,
Scotland, UK.

The selection process will be completed by 11 February 2005.