15th International Conference on Eastern Chant
12th – 15th May 2008, at Iasi, Rumania
The conference will be organized by the Centre for Byzantine Studies at Iasi in cooperation with the Rumanian Ministry of Culture as part of the events celebrating the 600th anniversary of the first documentary attestation of Iasi as a medieval settlement.
The general theme of this year’s conference will be 'TRANSMISSION AND RECONSTRUCTION OF CHRISTIAN ECCLESIASTICAL MUSICAL CULTURE – EAST AND WEST’, thus offering a new opportunity for putting into practice results attained in many countries during the past decade by enthusiastic
individual scholars and/or dedicated research teams. New interesting materials in form of digital copies of MSS will be put at the disposal of the participants to illustrate new perspectives in obtaining deeper knowledge of notations, and their influence on transmission, from the parallel analysis of ‘lucky pairs’ of MSS. One of the hopes of this conference is the establishment of small transnational teams that would be willing to work on subjects related to verifying current interpretations of notational systems, such as of the middle-Byzantine, znamenny, Kievan staff.
As in previous years, potential contributors are invited to interpret this theme broadly. Submissions from other fields related to the cultural and spiritual significance of ecclesiastical chant, such as history, linguistics, ecclesiastical arts, theology, interdisciplinary research, continue to be welcome. Both scholars with academic
affiliation and those working independently, as well as postgraduate students, are encouraged to apply. A panel of three scholars will review the submitted papers, whose acceptance will be notified in due course on a first-come, first-served basis. Please distribute this announcement to colleagues, and interested institutions or
departments.
Within this extended theme area two key-note speakers are invited to address plenary sessions. Related to that, an attempt will be made off-list to attract the contribution of a few scholars willing to offer their knowledge in a one-day tour d’horison in general Christian ecclesiastical culture, and specifically in musical culture and related
investigation tools, possibly modelled on the Current-Status-of-Research-in-… type of reports, which would be meant as a teaching-learning preamble to the conference. Should this attempt prove successful, the duration of the conference may be prolonged by one day.
The conference sessions will be held in the newly-refurbished, excellently-equipped Museum of National Union at Strada Alexandru Lapusneanu 16, and in the Gothic Hall of the Three Hierachs Monastery, at Bulevardul Stefan cel Mare 28. As in the past, we shall enjoy the gracious hospitality of Fr Archimandrite Clement, the
abbot of the monastery.
The main communication languages will be English, French, German, in that order of priority. Russian and Rumanian can also be accepted in certain cases.
****************** Event highlights ******************
- The customary joint festival of church music to which, besides a number of Rumanian choirs, we are pleased to be able to announce the first-time participation of:
-- the ISON Ensemble from Berlin, under the direction of Dr. Oliver Gerlach, which will give, among other appearances, a lesson-concert in the MISSA GRAECA;
-- the GRAZER CHORALSCHOLA from Graz, under the direction of Prof. Franz Karl Praßl, will illustrate, among other musical traditions, particularly the archaic organum ( http://www.aiscgre.de/gregorianik/pr_graz.html );
-- depending on manifested interest, other representative choirs or ensembles from this country and abroad.
- Visits to MSS repositories of Iasi University Library, Library of the Metropolitanate of Moldavia, Moldavian State Archives, where a variety of MSS will be able to inform on practically the whole range of musical styles and notations and provide illustration backgrounds to current research projects undertaken in this country;
- A number of liturgical services given by the monks and choir of the Three Hierarchs Monastery of Iasi, in which guest choirs and/or individual participants are encouraged to join;
- A 2-day cultural discovery trip to a number of monastic establishments in Northern Moldavia and the Maramures after the conference.
****************** Administrative matters ******************
Due to the limited number of places available, pre-registration will be required. With the exception of the key-note speakers, all participants are expected to cover their own travelling expenses. 15 places, with all other expenses (accomodation, meals, trip expenses) covered by the organizers, have been reserved, particularly for young scholars and researchers, and will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. From all other
participants a participation fee worth the equivalent of EUR 80 (EUR 40 for students) will be required, payable into our centre’s bank account, as follows:
EUR bank account No.: IBAN RO53 BTRL 02404205.408043.xx
SWIFT code BTRL RO22
Banca Transilvania S.A., Filiala Iasi
USD bank account No.: IBAN RO53 BTRL 02402205.408043.xx
SWIFT code BTRL RO22
Banca Transilvania S.A., Filiala Iasi
The remaining – moderate - costs for the optional meals and the trip can be paid on arrival. Hotel accomodation can be booked via the Internet. The costs of the trip will be announced in late April, when the approximate number of excursion options will be known.
Please submit paper summaries of 400-500 words in length, together with brief curricula vitae by no later than 15th March 2008.
Until supplementary information and spam-free automatic registration procedures will be made available additionally on our site http://www.csbi.ro , submissions and contact information should be sent to:
Prof. Gabriela Ocneanu
Scientific director, Centrul de Studii Bizantine Iasi,
Strada Noua 5, RO-700377 Iasi.
Phones: +40 232 475313, +40 0746 475300
E-mail: go@csbi.ro
--
Traian Ocneanu
Director, Centrul de Studii Bizantine Iasi
Strada Noua 5
RO-700377 Iasi
Phone: +40 232 475313, 475300
E-mail: to@csbi.ro
