Austrian Studies, 16 (2008) – Call for Papers
‘Words and Music’
[also online at http://www.rhul.ac.uk/German/AS-papers/vol16.html[
The Austrian lands have been at the heart of European musical development
from the middle ages. At least three Viennese schools have made substantial
impact: the first, that of J. J. Fux, J. H. Schmelzer and other composers of
the 17th-century Baroque Viennese court; the second, that of high Classicism
and the music of that well-known trinity of composers, Haydn, Mozart and
Beethoven – but also Schubert; and the third, that of the pioneering high
modernism of another trinity, Schoenberg, Berg and Webern – but anticipated
by Mahler and others in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. There is
also a lively contemporary music scene. Popular music has held an important
place at least since the waltzes of Johann Strauss; folk music of various
kinds has always been important, especially regionally; and Austrian writers
have made outstanding contributions to music theory and criticism over the
centuries.
The theme of Austrian Studies, 16, is broadly conceived but the editors are
aiming for a focus on the interrelationship of the two elements ‘Words and
Music’ – not only from the perspective of the musician using words as a
stimulus for musical settings, but from ‘logocentric’ positions, too, those
of the author or the critic. Possible themes or topics might include:
- musical settings of texts by Austrian writers – poetry, prose, drama
- Austrian composers and their choice of writers
- the Lied in Austria
- Austrian vocal music
- national and regional hymns and anthems
- music and religion
- opera and opera libretti (the Austrian opera tradition, individual
composers, the relationship of composer and librettist) – Literaturoper
based on Austrian texts – operetta
- public musical discourse in key periods
- folk song
- musical cabaret
- film and music
- the language of music / music as language
- music festivals in Austria (e.g. Salzburg)
- improvisation and the literary text (e.g. Franz Koglmann)
- music and musicians as the theme of Austrian writing (e.g. Schnitzler’s
Der Weg ins Freie, Werfel’s Verdi, Jelinek’s Die Klavierspielerin)
- Austrian musicians and composers as the subject of drama and film (e.g.
Leise flehen meine Lieder/The Unfinished Symphony, Wen die Götter lieben,
Amadeus)
- music and the critics (e.g. individual figures such as Eduard Hanslick, or
the public conduct of debates about music in Austria)
- Austrian musicology and musicologists
- the reception in the press and literature of key musical events (e.g. the
‘Skandalkonzert’ of 1913)
- the relationship to music of key Austrian literary figures
Proposals should be sent by 28 February 2007 to either of the editors:
Professor Robert Vilain ([log in to unmask]) or Dr Judith Beniston
([log in to unmask]). It is anticipated that the deadline for completed
articles will be 31 December 2007.
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