CFP: Time Stands Still: Notation in Musical Practice, Wesleyan University, Apr 2013

Time Stands Still: Notation in Musical Practice

Wesleyan University, 5–6 April, 2013

Notation is one of the richest, most mutable, and complex areas ofmusical practice, in which composition, theorization, writing, and performance all converge. This festival-conference will bring together musicologists, performers, composers, and theorists to consider the nature of notation in the early 21st century.

Time Stands Still combines talks, workshops, discussions, and musical performances.  Featured composers include Mark Applebaum, Pauline Oliveros, Michael Parsons, and Wesleyan composers Anthony Braxton, Ronald Kuivila, and Paula Matthusen. The Vocal Constructivists, a London-based choral group, will be the ensemble-in-residence. An edited volume is planned.

Proposals for papers should include a 300-word abstract, name and institutional affiliation, if any. Abstracts should provide the topic background, research questions, scholarly aims, a summary of content, and significance.

Suggested areas:

• notational conventions, including graphic, text, and hybrid scores
• cultural context: who reads and how we read
• contemporary practices: composers, performers, computer use, and public space

Performers are invited to submit proposals for a guest concert on April 6. Please include a brief biography of the artist(s), a description of the proposed work, and timing. Performances should be entirely self-sufficient, apart from standard large instruments (percussion, piano) and sound reinforcement. Other electronic needs should be specified.

Duration of presentations:
-- Individual papers: 20 minutes, followed by 10–15 minutes of discussion
-- Musical works: up to 10 minutes duration

Please send proposals and any queries to Jane Alden: jalden01 atwesleyan.edu. A preliminary program is available athttp://notation.conference.wesleyan.edu/

Application deadline:
November 1, 2012.

Successful participants will be notified by Dec 1, 2012. The conference programme will be announced by December 15, 2012.