Call for Papers and Presentations

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Contributions are invited to this two-day symposium which aims to bring together scholars and musicians interested in the contemporary performance of Latin American choral and vocal music.  The symposium marks the second event presented by the Center for Latin American Music at the University of Arizona School of Music. As with the inaguaral symposium of 2007, participants will be invited to also submit their presentations for publication.

This year's theme is exchange, particularly between theater and church. Scholars have long recognized the influence that the fashions and aesthetics of lyric theater have exerted upon sacred music cultivated in Latin America and vice versa.  However, the ongoing complexity of this legacy and the resulting influence upon contemporary performance merits renewed attention.  The purpose of this symposium is to share findings regarding such exchanges, across national and ethnic boundaries, across genres and time periods, and across performance contexts, with an ultimate goal to discern applications for the practical work of performing, publishing and recording Luso-Hispanic music in the Americas.

We welcome contributions in the formats of papers, panels, roundtables, workshops and performances, and recommend the following topics:

1. Performance materials-  including issues regarding access, the processes of identifying, evaluating, adapting, and editing historic manuscripts; as well as the mechanics of contemporary publication and distribution.
2. Matters of performance practice – including consideration of interpretation, instrumentation, and vocal distribution, as well as decisions balancing authenticity with the demands of contemporary expectations, and values.
3. Recording -  including matters of production, evaluation of existing releases, plans for new releases, and strategies appropriate in the age of digital distribution.
4. Engagement-  including consideration of representation of Latin American choral music (or related repertoire) in educational programs, curriculum development, and civic events.
5. Aesthetics and style studies – including discussions of genre, style, and reception in regional and international contexts.

In all these matters we hope to collaboratively identify critical issues, needs, priorities, and exemplary practices.

Papers should be designed to last no more than 20 minutes plus 10 minutes for discussion.  Performance proposals will be scheduled in time frames that best suit the work to be presented, typically 30-50 minutes. The length of workshops will generally be 30-50 minutes, and roundtables and panels will last 50-90 minutes depending on the number of presenters involved and the topics addressed.

All proposals should include:

1. the title of presentation, accompanied by an abstract, in English, Spanish, or Portuguese, of no more than 250 words,
2. a list of equipment and audio/visual needs,
3. the presenter’s contact information.

Proposals should be sent electronically by email attachment (.doc or .rtf only)
by September 30, 2008 to: Dr. Janet Sturman at sturman@email.arizona.edu.

Acceptance messages will be sent by October 15, 2008. Individuals needing earlier acceptance may submit before the September due date and request early notification.