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 and documentation

Beneke, Johansen and Pedersen have initiated the overarching gender focus for the Chamber Music Week 2023, an annual project week at NMH. All students at NMH participating in chamber music ensembles and bands during week 45 will work with music by female composers, tradition bearers, and producers.

Other documentation:

• Presentation at NMH 24 August 2023
• Lecture recital at Ultima Compass 14 September
• A diverse perspective debate and concert at NMH 7 November 2023
• "Women in music". Course for bachelor students at NMH, autumn 2023
• Peer-reviewed article, planned publication in 2024