Inaugural Meeting of the Institute for Music and Philosophy
We are delighted to announce the first working meeting of the Institute for Music and Philosophy, which will include three seminars unfolding between June 3 and June 13, 2024, along with workshops and performances.
From June 3-8 at the Livingstone Studio in Hampstead, with meetings every afternoon:
Peter Szendy (Brown University), “The Third Ear: Listening To, Listening With,” 2:00-4:30 pm
The seminar will involve a creative literary and philosophical approach to the topic of listening.
Christopher Fynsk and Robert Brewer Young, with guests
“What is at stake in this conjunction?”
The seminar will explore dimensions of the questions raised by the linkage of philosophy and music. It will also involve a series of presentations and a craft component: registered participants can participate in the construction of conservatory-quality violins. (The violin workshop will take place in the mornings.)
Speakers in addition to Christopher Fynsk and Robert Brewer Young will include:
Yang Hui He London Institute for Mathematical Sciences
Frank Ruda, University of Dundee
Heather Yeung, University if Dundee
Edward Campbell University of Aberdeen
A performance of Gabriel Fynsk’s “Ister Counterpoint” will take place during this first week.
From June 10-12, Wolfson College, Oxford, and Livingstone Studio, Hampstead:
Carlos Amorales, with Josh Kun and Sarmen Almond, “The Sound of Painting,” June 10-13
Carlos Amorales, a visual artist, will present ground-breaking work he has done with music, accompanied by the vocalist Sarmen Almond (who will conduct workshops on voice) and distinguished music and communications theorist Josh Kun, USC (who will offer perspectives on the creative initiatives of Amorales).
Our Ambition:
The purpose of the Institute is to pursue cross-disciplinary research and discussion that focuses on the two fields of its title, taking inspiration from the European Graduate School (with which it is affiliated) and from high-level forms of creative encounter pursued in initiatives such as the Black Mountain College. Originating from a series of seminars pursued at the EGS devoted to the topic of craft, including “The Cello Project,” (Saas Fee, 2017), it will seek to open the question of music and philosophy in creative and searching ways, drawing upon other arts, on performance, and various theoretical, historical and scientific approaches. All those for whom music represents some form of experience (which need not be professional) will be welcome to join this venture.
Our Sites:
For all seminar meetings June 3 to June 8, the Institute will meet at the Livingston Studio, its home facility in Hampstead (36, New England Square). It will also hold its musical performance and discussion in the newly constructed Well Walk theatre, in close proximity to the Studio. The Institute will hold its initial meeting with Carlos Amorales on June 10, 2:00 pm, at Wolfson College, Oxford (hosted by the Oxford Centre for Life-Writing). The subsequent meetings will be held in the Livingstone Studio, 2:00 pm, June 11 and 12.
For further information, contact Christopher Fynsk: christopher.fynsk@egs.edu
EGS students who are interested in participating in these seminars should contact Nemanja Mitrovic: nemanja.mitrovic@egs.edu