We’re pleased to announce the next presenter for the Music History/Theory Workshop on May 22, at 4:30pm, in the library seminar room, JRL 264. Mary Caldwell, graduate student in music history and theory at the University of Chicago will present work in progress from her dissertation. A link to her pre-circulated writing, an excerpt from a chapter titled “Nunc iterum dulcis repetendo carmina laudis: Iterations of the Latin Refrain,” is available below.

ABSTRACT

Thank you all in advance for taking the time to read this excerpt from a chapter “in progress” from my dissertation, which is currently titled “Singing, Dancing, and Rejoicing in the Round: Latin Sacred Songs with Refrains in Musical, Ritual, and Liturgical Perspective, circa 1000-1582.” The pre-circulated text is excerpted from the third chapter of my dissertation (“Nunc iterum dulcis repetendo carmina laudis: Iterations of the Latin Refrain”) and deals with general, and perhaps even universal ideas about the relationship between sound and meaning. Very much in draft form—replete, I’m sure, with typos and the like—this excerpt represents my first attempt at finding an interpretive framework for one kind of medieval Latin refrain: refrains without words. In an effort to provide some sort of context for this discussion, I’ve also included at the beginning of the document a brief summary of my dissertation project. However, it is my hope that the combined skills and knowledge of the workshop attendees will lead the discussion away from the specifics of the project and toward a discussion of what it means to communicate in sound and voice without the presence of “real” words. In order to aid discussion during the workshop, I have included a number of musical and textual examples in the excerpt, and will play recordings of  many of the songs during the workshop session itself.

Download the pre-circulated material here.

Email marycaldwell@uchicago.edu or  aasheehy@uchicago.edu for the password.

Those needing additional assistance to attend this event should contact one of the graduate coordinators, Mary Caldwell (marycaldwell@uchicago.edu) or August Sheehy (aasheehy@uchicago.edu)