JEWISH MUSIC INSTITUTE




JMI Conferences JMI runs major international conferences on its own and in conjunction with other universities and with the Institute for Musical Research at Senate House. Current Conferences: Art Musics of Israel: Identities, Ideologies, Influences An International Conference with contributions from musicologists, ethnomusicologists, composers and performers. Monday 28 March – Friday 1 April 2011 University of London, Senate House, Malet Street, London WC1 Presented by the Jewish Music Institute (JMI)Forum for Israeli Music at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London in association with the Institute of Musical Research, School of advanced Study, University of London. Conference Director Dr Malcolm Miller, Guest Key Speakers to include Professor Jehoash Hirshberg, Professor Amnon Shiloah, Professor Richard Taruskin, Professor Arnold Whittall, and other members of the Academic Board Israel has become the home of a range of art musics that are not widely familiar, and represents a fascinating crucible for the study of creativity in a young nation state. A combination of European traditions and Middle Eastern soundscapes in all types of art music traditions in contemporary music reflects the diversity of socio-cultural influences on its heterogeneous population. Drawing on sources from a wide range of geographical and historical contexts, concert repertoires in Israel have evolved through melting-pot ideologies of the pioneer generations of the early to mid-20th century to the eclecticism of younger Israeli composers in the 21st century, who are more responsive to the multi-facetted identities of an international arena. This conference aims to explore the way in which the rich corpus of Israeli music, and musical life in Israel throw light on aesthetic issues of wide relevance, namely the balance of regional and international musical elements, the interfaces between art and popular styles, and the integration of a variety of musical sources, such as liturgical, folk and pop and local idioms. Call for papers In the light of recent conferences that have focused on the popular music of Israel, it is intended to place our primary emphasis on art traditions. Our objective is to bring neglected repertories to the attention of scholarship, and simultaneously consider a wide range of ways in which they can be grasped. Alongside all traditional art genres we will thus welcome discussion of music theatre, cabaret, and combinations that cross genres. A session about the art/pop dichotomy, as it features in Israel specifically, is a strong possibility. Papers, based on new research and to include musical examples, of 30 minutes will be welcomed – as will live or recorded musical presentations by composers or performers that include some scholarly introduction to the material. The following themes are intended to guide eventual coordination of the conference, but do not rule out other proposals: Nationalism and identity, especially comparative work related to other national musics, immigrant groups, and relationships between Israeli art musics and their Others Art music traditions and performance styles, including Arabic, European and Jewish, for instance Ideology and practice in the conscious use of sources such as biblical cantillation; Ashkenazi and Sephardi liturgical and folk music, Arabic musics and performing traditions Cross fertilization between Israeli folk and pop musics, and art/concert musics Performance and Politics including Palestinian - Israeli joint projects Composers in focus including Centenary tribute to Josef Tal (1910-2008) As this Conference Announcement is being distributed well in advance of the conference (March 2011) we would be pleased to have advanced notice of your interest, and to be able to consider whether your topic of research can be accommodated. We also hope this early announcement will encourage new research in the field. A Call for Papers will be issued in due course; in the meantime preliminary enquiry and notice of interest should be sent to m.miller@jmi.org.uk Conference Academic Advisory Board Dr Malcolm Miller Chairman (Open University in London) Rachel Beckles Willson (Royal Holloway, University of London) Professor Philip Bohlman (Chicago) Julian Dawes (composer, London) Professor Taiseer Elias, Head of Arabic Music Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance Professor Katharine Ellis (IMR London) Professor Alexander Goehr (Cambridge) Professor Jehoash Hirshberg (Emeritus Hebrew University, Jerusalem) Professor John Irving (Director of the Institute of Musical Research) Professor Robert Saxton (Oxford) Professor Edwin Seroussi (Hebrew University, Jerusalem) Dr Ronit Seter, JMRC (Hebrew University, Jerusalem); Council Member, AMS (Capital Chapter). Professor Emeritus Malcolm Troup (City University – London) Professor Arnold Whittall Emeritus professor Kings College Dr Michael Wolpe (Head of Composition Jerusalem Academy) Dr Abigail Wood (Joe Loss Lecturer in Jewish Music, SOAS, University of London Please register your interest at m.miller@jmi.org.uk Past Conferences: Ernest Bloch, the Man and his Music for the 21st Century 29 - 31 July 2008, Cambridge University Music, Oppression and Exile: The Impact of Nazism on Musical Development in the 20th Century April 2008, University of London Updated December 9, 2009


The Jewish Music Institute is an independent Arts organisation based at SOAS, University of London. It is an international focus bringing the ancient yet contemporary musical culture of the Jews to the mainstream British cultural, academic and social life. Its programmes of education, performance and information highlight many aspects of Jewish music throughout the ages and across the globe for people of all ages, backgrounds and cultures.

Call for papers

Conference Academic Advisory Board