Cui dono lepidum novum libellum?
Dedicating Latin Works and Motets in the Sixteenth Century:
Theory and Practice
19-20 August 2005, Academia Belgica (Rome, Italy)
Organised by the Departments of Musicology, Classical Studies and Neo-Latin Studies,
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Belgium)
Call for papers
Due to the more widespread dissemination of the printed book in the sixteenth century, the traditional act of dedicating a publication grew in significance and took on a new meaning. As this dedication was considered an almost indispensable feature of a publication, it is obligatory study material for every researcher examining the presentation and impact of a literary or musical work published in this period.
Paratexts such as the dedication letter and laudatory poetry play an essential role in the presentation of the publication. Situated within the triad formed by the author, his work and its public, they bridge the gap between the real world and the world enclosed in the book. Furthermore, these texts frequently offer substantial biographical information on the people involved (author/composer, dedicatee, printer, and a possible fourth person who contributed liminary material). In addition to the dedication of complete editions, the study of dedicated poetry and music should also comprise individual pieces with a personal inscription or (for music) containing a newly-written text for a certain person.
This conference wishes to focus upon Latin dedications and dedicated Latin motets (both individual compositions and motet books) in the sixteenth century.
We welcome papers dealing with questions such as:
· what information do dedications give us?
· how do the liminary material and the body of the work relate to each other?
· how are the traditional elements and phrasings of a dedication dealt with?
· does a different (literary or musical) genre prompt a different kind of dedication?
· what are the parallels and differences between the dedication of music and of Latin texts?
· what is the meaning of a dedication within the printed book?
· how does the act of dedicating both music and/or texts function within the society?
Preference will go to papers concentrating on the second half of the sixteenth century, and to papers reconciling the literary and musicological perspectives presented in the conference theme. A session on the evolution of the content and form of dedications throughout the centuries will be organised to provide a wider context. More general studies about dedicating and dedications are welcomed as well as case studies focusing on individual compositions, motet books and literary works.
Proposals for twenty minute papers in the form of an abstract not exceeding 300 words should be sent by e-mail to Nele Gabriëls (nele.gabriels@arts.kuleuven.ac.be) or Demmy Verbeke (demmy.verbeke@arts.kuleuven.ac.be). The deadline for submissions is 15 January 2005. English is the preferred language for the conference though exceptions can be made for French, German and Italian.
Programme committee:
- Ignace Bossuyt (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, B)
- Nele Gabriëls (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, B)
- Mary S. Lewis (University of Pittsburgh, USA)
- Jean-François Maillard (Institut de Recherche et d'Histoire des Textes / CNRS, F)
- Victoria Panagl (Universität Wien, A)
- Dirk Sacré (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, B)
- Demmy Verbeke (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, B)
For further information, please contact:
Nele Gabriëls, Department of Musicology, Blijde-Inkomsstraat 21, B-3000 Leuven,
Belgium, tel.: +32 16 324903 or +32 16 329960, e-mail: nele.gabriels@arts.kuleuven.ac.be
Demmy Verbeke, Department of Classical Studies, Blijde-Inkomststraat 21, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium, tel.: +32 16 324903, e-mail: demmy.verbeke@arts.kuleuven.ac.be
For information about the conference venue see http://www.academiabelgica.it/