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Musicology, Page 4

Mozart in Salzburg

PhD researcher David Jayasuriya is writing his thesis on the application of Fonte and Monte harmonic schemata in the symphonies of Joseph Haydn. Over the summer vacation he had the opportunity to present some of his work at a prestigious international conference: A highlight of my summer break was to attend and present a paper at the International Mozart Kongress in Salzburg. Continue reading →

Instruments in Istanbul

In the first of a series of posts on 'What I did over the summer vacation', postgraduate Anna Borg Cardona, who is researching instrument-making and musical culture in 17th-century Malta, tells us about the instruments she encountered on her trip to Turkey: Destination Istanbul – finally! This was the magical Constantinople which attracted so many Europeans in the 19th century. Continue reading →

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 GutiĂ©rrez. 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 →

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 →

Pleasures and entertainments

Second-year PhD student Becky Gribble is working on a thesis about Thomas Linley Jr., a brilliant composer and childhood friend of Mozart’s who died in 1778 in a tragic boating accident at the age of only 22.  She has just returned from presenting her work at a prestigious international scholarly conference: Last week I attended the British Society for Eighteenth Century Studies (BSECS) Conference in at St Hugh’s College in Oxford. Continue reading →

I’m dreaming of a French Christmas

In the first of two seasonal posts before we close down for the holidays, Head of Early Music Liz Kenny writes about the work that led to concerts with her early music ensemble, Theatre of the Ayre, in Southampton and London last week: With performance projects, getting the first plank or idea in place is the tricky bit, but once that’s done other ideas suggest themselves and the thing gets rolling. Continue reading →

Music returns to Chawton House

The Department of Music has just launched a new concert series in collaboration with our friends and long-time partners at Chawton House Library, the research centre in the beautiful country house formerly owned by Jane Austen's brother.  Postgraduate pianist Ellen Day tells us about the performance: On December 10 we gathered at Chawton House for the inaugural concert, featuring a newly restored 1828 Stodart grand piano. Continue reading →

Musical offerings

The gift-giving season came early to the Music department this year: over the last few months, we've had some fascinating presents from generous friends.  Head of department Jeanice Brooks describes them: I'll start with the smallest and also possibly the strangest gift we've received. Continue reading →