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Exchanging the Middle Ages

In one of our final posts before breaking for the summer, another recent guest talks about her exchange visit to Southampton from her university in Spain:  My name is Nuria Torres and I’m a PhD student at the Complutense University of Madrid, where I’m working on my PhD thesis on medieval music under the supervision of Carmen Julia Gutiérrez. Continue reading →

Transatlantic thoughts

US scholar-performer Dr Vivian Montgomery reflects on her stay in Southampton during a Fulbright fellowship:  As I near the end of my time in the UK as a Fulbright Senior Scholar, I’m astonished by both how much has happened and how much more I could do with another 6 months. I came to Southampton in January after 5 days staying in Durham Castle for the Fulbright Forum. Continue reading →

Nationalism in the North

 PhD students Xin Ying Ch'ng and Jacopo Mazzeo report back about their trip to Helsinki, Finland, for the 'Confronting the National in the Musical Past' international conference: We were greeted with unusually sunny weather upon reaching the Finnish capital the day before the conference. Xin Ying was starting to think that bringing her coat seemed like a waste of luggage space. Continue reading →

Behind the scenes at the museum

In a companion post to Chris Lewis's blog on the Making of the Modern Harpsichord, PhD student Kate Hawnt writes about her own research for the project : Good morning from St Cecilia’s Hall, Edinburgh.  I am currently sitting in the Green Room of the Museum of Musical Instruments taking stock of the past day’s work. Continue reading →

Reviving the modern harpsichord

Harpsichordist Christopher Lewis is working on a PhD as part of our 'Making of the Modern Harpsichord' project in collaboration with the National Trust.  Here he tells us about the newest addition to our keyboard room - a magnificent revival instrument by John Feldberg - and how it fits into his research: As the Early Music world continues to grow and move from strength to strength, what has especially pleased me is the growing resurgence of interest in the pioneers of the field. Continue reading →

Excellence in Teaching Awards

Congratulations to our colleague Andy Fisher, Senior Lecturer in Music and Head of Commercial Composition, who was the winner for the Faculty of Humanities for 'Best Feedback' in this year's  Excellence in Teaching Awards.  These awards are sponsored by the Students' Union, and Andy was nominated by the SUSU Faculty Officer, Academic Presidents and Course Reps from the Faculty of Humanities. Continue reading →

Nuffield launch

Last Wednesday we had an event to mark the opening of the newly-refurbished Nuffield theatre Kitchen, a café space that is housing the lovely Brinsmead baby grand that was given to us in the autumn.  Andy Fisher, our head of commercial composition, played Gershwin and accompanied postgraduate singer Lizzie Rogers in a sneak preview of some of the songs from his new one-woman show, Girl in a Crisis. Continue reading →

Singing success

Now back in term after the Easter break, we have heard some very good news from Hannah Woodhouse (year 3), who has been accepted onto The Sixteen's prestigious apprentice scheme: A couple of weeks back I learned the exciting news that I had been accepted onto the 2014/2015 Genesis Sixteen choral scheme for young singers. Continue reading →

Fauré in Winchester

Undergraduate singer and pianist Anna Stonehouse tells us about recording in Winchester cathedral for an upcoming Easter season broadcast by BBC 2: On Tuesday 25th March I took part in the ‘Passiontide Concert’,  singing Faure’s Requiem with the outstanding Winchester Waynflete Singers, teamed with the BBC Concert Orchestra. Recorded by BBC Radio 2, the concert will be aired on Good Friday, 18 April at 8pm. Continue reading →

Why ‘Happy’ makes us happy

Yesterday's Guardian featured an article asking the experts why Pharell Williams's single 'Happy' works so well.  Southampton's own Andy Fisher, Head of Commercial Composition, provided an analysis of the musical basis of the song's appeal - check it out here. And here's the video of 'Happy' for anyone who needs cheering up today. https://www.youtube. Continue reading →

Sea Slugs at School

Sax player Rob Kitney (year 3) tells us what Southampton-based band The Sea Slugs were up to just before the break: On Friday 7th March, The Sea Slugs made their way to Crawley to lead a workshop in afrobeat music with the year 9s at Hazelwick School. As a brief introduction to The Sea Slugs, we are a 15-piece afrobeat band, many of whom are currently studying at the University or have graduated in recent years. Continue reading →

Meter in the Midwest

Reader in Music Danuta Mirka has just returned from Indiana, where she was a distinguished guest at one of the largest faculties of music in America: Last week I stayed in the US, guest lecturing and teaching in the Music Theory Department of the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, Bloomington. Continue reading →