Dear Ballad Folks,
Here is as much information on the 1999 International Ballad
Conference (August 9-15, 1999) as I have at the moment. Please
submit an abstract as soon as possible, though I'm asking for them
by March 1, 1999 at the latest.
Where possible, please submit via the website:
http://www.abdn.ac.uk/elphinstone/ibc1999.htm
My apologies to those of you who have already received the
information below in a separate e-mail.
Also, PLEASE remember to reply to me via MY e-mail and NOT via the
Ballads mailbase, otherwise your mail will be available to all and
sundry, a horrifying prospect, I'm sure you'll agree.
I look forward to hearing from you (soon).
Tom
____________________
29TH INTERNATIONAL BALLAD CONFERENCE
http://www.abdn.ac.uk/elphinstone/ibc1999.htm
In this LONG e-mail are several sections:
1) First call for papers
2) More conference information
3) Costs, Accommodation and Meals
4) Getting here
Please let me know if you have any other questions and do submit an
abstract as soon as possible.
Tom McKean
Convenor
1) FIRST CALL FOR PAPERS
The 29TH INTERNATIONAL BALLAD CONFERENCE, Elphinstone Institute,
University of Aberdeen, 9-15 August, 1999.
Convenor: Dr. Thomas A. McKean. Program Committee: Professor James
Porter, Professor W. F. H. Nicolaisen and Dr. Thomas A. McKean
Abstracts of 250 words are requested by March 1, 1999 for the 29th
International Ballad Conference.
Submissions are invited on any aspect of ballad studies.
Themes:
In light of the location of this conference, papers are particularly
sought in areas related to the work or scholarly concerns of David
Buchan, Kenneth S. Goldstein and Peter A. Hall. Conference themes
include,
* Living with ballads
* Traveller and gypsy connections
* Performance and repertoire
* The James M. Carpenter and Greig-Duncan Collections
* Genre and motif studies (including classification)
This call for papers, registration form and an abstract form will be
available on the WWW in late October:
http://www.abdn.ac.uk/elphinstone/ib
n.ac.uk>. Please use electronic
means where possible, to help us conserve on postage costs.
Abstracts may also be submitted by fax or post. Send or E-mail to: Tom
McKean, Elphinstone Institute, King's College, Old Aberdeen AB24 3UB,
fax +44 (0)1224 272728, tel +44 (0)1224 272997.
If using means other than the Web, please include the following:
Name (and title)
E-mail
Postal address
Institutional affiliation
Tel (w/ country code)
Fax (w/ country code)
Abstract (250 words, on a separate sheet)
Audio/visual equipment needed: cassette player | CD player
reel-to-reel tape player | video (NTSC) | video (PAL) |
slide projector
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Approximate conference costs will be: £250.00 for room and full board
(evening of the 9th to the morning of the 15th, inclusive; £60
registration fee. Full details will appear in the second call for
papers.
2) MORE CONFERENCE INFORMATION
The 29th International Ballad Conference will be hosted by the
Elphinstone Institute at the University of Aberdeen in North East
Scotland. The event will be held at the University's mediaeval King's
College Campus, four miles from the city centre.
Dates
9-15 August, 1999. Participants will arrive on the evening of Monday
(9th). The conference will feature paper sessions on Tuesday (10th), an
excursion, perhaps on Wednesday (11th) and paper sessions on Thursday
(12th), Friday (13th), with a final paper session on Saturday (14th).
Departure will be on the morning of Sunday, 15th August.
A conference in ballad country
The conference will highlight the living ballad tradition of Scotland,
with a special presentation each day by outstanding tradition bearers
such as Elizabeth Stewart, Stanley Robertson and Jock Duncan.
Aberdeenshire has strong claims to being one of the richest ballad
areas in the world, and has seen centuries of productive collecting.
Fully one third of F. J. Child's A texts are from this region of the
country.
Excursion
The tour(s) will traverse Aberdeenshire
many familiar historical, tragic and romantic
songs. Depending on numbers, there may be a choice of two excursions,
one inland and one around the coast. Sites visited may include castles,
a megalithic monument, a farm museum and dramatic landscapes associated
with fishing and hill farming.
Evening activities (tbc)
* Wednesday night (11th): Ballad Concert, featuring four of Scotland's
best traditional singers: Stanley Robertson, Gordeanna McCulloch,
Elizabeth Stewart and Jock Duncan.
* Thursday night (12th): an informal Delegates Concert which, if past
evenings are anything to go by, will be outstanding.
* Friday night (13th): a CŽilidh Dance, featuring traditional Scottish
set dances (Eightsome Reel, Strip the Willow, etc.) and couples dances
(Military Two Step, the Schottische, etc.), all of which will be taught
by a caller, so there really is no excuse.
* Saturday night (14th): Conference Dinner, of course, which will
include traditional Scottish foods. And don't worry, offal fans,
haggis, neeps and tatties will feature on a menu at some point.
Castle country
This part of Scotland is surrounded by mountains to the West and South
and by miles of North Sea coastline on the East and North sides. In
addition to its rich traditions and literary associations, there's
plenty to see, the highest density of castles in Britain for example,
fishing villages spectacularly nestled at the base of cliffs, not to
mention the numerous standing stones and stone circles. Consider
staying on for a while after the conference.
Also, the end of the conference is timed to coincide with the
beginning of the Edinburgh International Festival and the Edinburgh
Fringe Festival (the largest arts festival in the world: 10,000
performances in 3 weeks). More information about the festivals,
and other tourist attractions in the North East, will be made available
closer to time.
3) COSTS, ACCOMMODATION AND MEALS
The conference will cost >approximately<,
£250 (accomm. and meals)
£60 (registration)
£20 (excursio
, with meal and entertainment)
* A fee will be charged for cancelled accommodation after a cut-off
date in the Spring
* Conference fees are non-refundable
ACCOMMODATION
Due to the scarcity of nearby Bed and Breakfast accommodation, I
strongly recommend that you stay on campus. I also recommend the full
board arrangement as there is a dearth of restaurants in the
neighbourhood.
Accommodation and meals will be in the Crombie-Johnston Halls (approx.
£180) and the hotel style King's Halls (approx. £210, for those
requiring a 'luxury conference experience').
* The Crombie-Johnson halls are simple student dormitory rooms, some
en-suite on a first come, first served basis.
* The King's Halls offer hotel-style and comfort, with TV, tea and
coffee in each room. These rooms are also on a first come, first served
basis.
Families please enquire about family accommodation at the Hillhead
Halls.
If you still prefer local Bed and Breakfast accommodation about 10-20
minutes' walk away (around the same price, not as much food, or
cameraderie, and more traffic noise), please let me know, and I will
send you a list of possibilities.
MEALS
There is very little in the way of restaurants in Old Aberdeen. We are
therefore offering a simple full board option, at around £70 for the
whole week. There will be a list of restaurants in Aberdeen itself for
those who wish to experiment.
4) GETTING HERE
Aberdeen is easily accessible by rail from Glasgow and Edinburgh (ca.
2.5 hrs.), London (7 hrs.), or by road, which takes slightly longer.
The easiest way to get here is by plane (1.5 hrs. from London
or Amsterdam). Aberdeen airport is about 8 kilometers (5 miles) from
the University.
* Easy Jet: London Luton to Aberdeen, cheap flights.
* Air UK: Good connections with KLM/Northwest transatlantic flights via
Amsterdam or London.
* BA: London Heathrow or Gatwick, Birmingham or Manchester.
Of course you can also use any carrier to Glasgow, London or Birmingham
and catch a flight or train to Aberdeen. Air India ofte
nsatlantic flights to London. And let's hope the ferry from T—rshavn
is still operating.
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