Challenging musical canons: Evoking diversity in practice and theory

Fields of study: Performance Practice and Music Education

Summary

Challenging musical canons is a joint research and development project that asks the following question: in which ways can we challenge and expand prevailing canonical traditions within different study- and teaching environments at NMH?

Western music history has largely favoured male composers, musicians, and tradition bearers, while women and non-binary individuals have often been overlooked by historians. Their contributions have been minimized, or they have lacked opportunities to participate in the music scene on equal terms with men. This has contributed to narratives about musical canons where important individuals, musical expressions, and perspectives are missing.

Eva Beneke (Associate Professor in Classical Guitar), Guro Gravem Johansen (Professor of Music Education) and Gjertrud Pedersen (Associate Professor in Music History) aim to develop how music history and artistic practices are taught through the project Challenging Musical Canons.

The project is a collaboration between the research centres CERM and NordART.

Dissemination

Beneke, Johansen and Pedersen initiated directing attention towards gender and diversity during the Chamber Music Week 2023, an annual project week at NMH. During this week, students worked with music by female composers and tradition bearers.

• Presentation at NMH 24 August 2023
• Lecture recital at Ultima Compass 14 September 2023
• “Diversity in music”, panel debate and concert at NMH 7 November 2023
• "Women in music", annual course for bachelor students at NMH
• Presentation at the NordART-festival Ding-dong 4 April 2024
• Eva Beneke: album release “Et aliae” with music for guitar, cover text by Gjertrud Pedersen
• Concert lecture and workshop at Ingesund School of Music, 14 May 2025
• Peer-reviewed article based on an interview study with music students (in progress)