Call for Papers
Musical biography: National ideology, Narrative technique, and the Nature
of myth
9–11 April 2015, Institute of Musical Research, University of London, UK
Conference Outline
While musical biography has recently received scholarly attention through
an array of insightful research, the sheer breadth of possibilities for the
study of biography (and biographies) in relation to music means that the
broad field remains rich in untapped investigative potential. This
conference will provide a forum for consolidated critical discussion on
both the content of musical biography (national trends and ideologies;
myths and mythology) and its form (narrative technique and meaning). It
will aim to open up interdisciplinary avenues of enquiry across a wide
range of subjects and time periods, in the domains of classical music,
popular music, and ethnomusicology alike.
In lieu of a single keynote speaker, a series of roundtables with invited
speakers is planned, including one on the writing of contemporary musical
biographies and another on writing the lives of music critics. Further
details will be circulated in due course.
20-minute papers (plus 10 minutes for questions) are invited on any aspect
of musical biography that intersects with the conference theme, including
(although not limited to) the following broad areas whether singly or in
combination:
1. National ideology
a) Musical biography as national celebration
b) National trends in the writing of musical biography
c) Competing portrayals of the same subject
d) Musical biography as reception history
2. Narrative technique
a) The role of narrative in the creation of meaning in musical biography
b) Musical biography as a literary genre
c) Popular versus scholarly biographies
d) Aspects of the relationships between biographer, subject, and reader
3. The nature of myth
a) The creation, perpetuation, and refutation of mythologies
b) Musical biography as hagiography
c) Constructions of greatness, genius, and virtuosity through biography
Proposal for panels (4 speakers over 2 hours) are also encouraged.
Abstracts should be no more than 250 words and should be e-mailed by 12
January 2015 to Dr Paul Watt, [log in to unmask] and Dr Christopher
Wiley, [log in to unmask]
Decisions will be communicated to speakers by 31 January 2015.
Queries: Paul Watt, [log in to unmask] or Christopher Wiley,
[log in to unmask]
The conference is part-funded by the Australian Research Council and the
Monash University Research Accelerator Program
--
*Dr Paul Watt <http://profiles.arts.monash.edu.au/paul-watt/>*
*Lecturer, Musicology*
*Coordinator, Musicology, Ethnomusicology and Research*
Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music
Performing Arts, Building 68, Room 212
Monash University VIC 3800
Australia
tel. +613 9905 3634
Editor, Royal Musical Association Research Chronicle
<http://www.tandfonline.com/action/.U36BxSihN-8>
|