Call for Papers and Performances

Performance Practice:  Issues and Approaches

The Department of Music of Rhodes College invites proposals for papers and performances for a conference on “Performance Practice:  Issues and Approaches,” to be held 4-6 March 2007.  The conference will feature scholarly papers and roundtables on issues related to performance practice as well as performances and lecture recitals illustrating approaches to historically informed performance.  Proposals on a wide range of topics are encouraged, including, but not limited to, issues relating to specific composers, geographic areas, and periods of music history from the Middle Ages to the twentieth century, performance practice of repertoires outside the traditional canon of Western music, and the impact of technology on performance practice.  It is expected that papers selected for the conference will be published.

A highlight of the conference will be the keynote address by Christopher Hogwood, one of the leading figures in historically informed performance.  This address will constitute the Rhodes College 2007 Springfield Lecture in Music.  A performance of Mendelssohn’s St. Paul by the Rhodes Singers, Rhodes MasterSingers, soloists, and members of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra will also be featured as part of the conference.

Abstracts of papers appropriate for the conference should be sent by mail or (preferably) e-mail to:

Dr. Tim Watkins (watkinst@...)

Department of Music

Rhodes College

2000 North Parkway

Memphis, TN 38112

Abstracts should be no longer than 300 words and should indicate clearly the scope of research, methodology, and conclusions of the paper, as well as the significance of the conclusions.  Paper presentations should last no longer than twenty minutes.

Proposals for performances should be sent by mail or (preferably) e-mail to:

Dr. Carole Blankenship (blankenship@...)

Department of Music

Rhodes College

2000 North Parkway

Memphis, TN 38112

Proposals should include information on the performing forces (including a brief biographical sketch), special performance requirements, and the pieces to be performed.  Proposals should be no longer than 300 words.  No recordings at this time, please.

The deadline for receipt of abstracts and performance proposals is 1 September 2006.