Hearing the Word
A workshop on intelligibility in sung texts with Edward Wickham (Cambridge),
Christopher Fox (Brunel), and members of The Clerks Vocal Ensemble
2.00-3.30 pm, Friday 28 October 2011
Ramsden Room, St Catharine's College, Cambridge
'I saw how in a large gathering of discerning people, when motets were sung
... it was asked what language the singers were using ... for it was not
understood what they were saying.' Jacobus de Montibus, c.1330
Not only has the problem that Jacobus highlights provoked considerable
attention in studies of medieval music, but it is of considerable importance
for anyone who engages with texted music of any kind - be they audiences,
performers, composers, concert promoters, historians or speech scientists.
Indeed, it is fundamental to the human experience of music.
This workshop will unpack some of the issues and problems associated with
speech intelligibility from a practical perspective, drawing case studies
from the medieval motet repertoire and also from a new work by Edward
Wickham and Christopher Fox: 'Roger go to yellow three ...' (to be performed
at the Whipple Museum at 6 pm the same day).
Supported by the Faculty of Music, University of Cambridge
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