2nd International Symposium on Musical Topics and Topic Theory
May 22 - 24, 2025 University of Northern Colorado Greeley, ColoradoDeadline for Submission Extended: February 17, 2025
From its contacts with worship, poetry, drama, entertainment, dance, ceremony, the military, the hunt, and the life of the lower classes, music in the early 18th century developed a thesaurus of characteristic figures, which formed a rich legacy for classic composers. Some of these figures were associated with various feelings and affections; others had a picturesque flavor. They are designated here as topics—subjects for musical discourse.
—Leonard G. Ratner (1980)
The University of Northern Colorado is once again proud to host this conference dedicated to exploring and celebrating scholarship devoted to musical topics and topic theory. We encourage submissions from scholars, scholar-performers, and students in the areas of topic theory (in its broadest sense) and its many potential applications: music analysis, music and meaning, and performance as applied to a diversity of musics including, but not limited to, Western art music, music and film, popular music, video-game music, etc. Performance-based scholarly presentations are also welcome.
The conference will be in person, enabling delegates to engage fully in idea exchanges, networking, and social interactions. Virtual presentations may be considered under special circumstances; however, fully virtual attendance will not be a possibility.
Conference Details
Conference Registration
This conference is self-funded, so even those presenting virtually will need to pay a registration fee.
Conference Fees: $100 for Professionals; $50 for Students
To make a payment, follow these instructions:
- Click on the payment link below.
- You will be asked to create an account.
- Once into the system, click the "New Event Registration" Button. This will then allow you to choose "International Symposium of Musical Topics and Topic Theory" from the list of options in the pull down menu.
- Please be sure you are choosing the symposium so that your registration fee is applied to the correct summer program!
Hotel
Ground Transportation From Denver International Airport
There are few options for public ground transportation from DIA to Greeley. I have found one option that will take you to Loveland, CO (which is about 30 minutes west of Greeley). This would then require you to take Uber or Lyft from Loveland to the hotel in Greeley. It appears that the bus fee from DIA to Loveland is about $32 and then the Uber to Greeley would also be around $36 (as of a quick check at mid-day). This option would add about 45 minutes to your travel from DIA to Greeley, however. If you are interested in exploring this option, the bus service is Groome Transportation. Here is the link to their rates page.
When I did a mid-day rate check with Uber from DIA to Greeley, it appeared to be around $100. My suggestion would be to see if you could reach out to other conference attendees and see if you can book arrival times at DIA close together and then split the cost of an Uber or Lyft or a rental car. This would likely be the most cost effective solution to ground transportation. Unfortunately, neither UNC nor the Hotel is able to offer any suttle services.
Additional information will be posted as the planning goes on.
Call for Papers
Due February 1, 2025
Individual Paper Presentations
To submit an individual paper, please send an abstract with a maximum of 350 words. Undergraduate students must also submit a letter of support from their primary research advisor.
Paper presentations will be 20 minutes long, followed by a 10-minute question and answer session. Abstracts should include the title of the paper but omit author details. In the body of the email, please include author details, institutional affiliation (where relevant), email address, paper title, and any technological requirements, including PowerPoint or Keynote projection, piano or keyboard.
Individual Lecture Recitals
To submit an individual lecture recital, please send an abstract with a maximum of 350 words and a link to an audio sample to demonstrate the proficiency of the performer. The duration of this recording should be a minimum of 2 minutes, but no longer than 5 minutes. Preference will be given to submissions that include a recording of the proposer performing works from their presentation. When this is not possible, the submitted example must be of a comparable style, genre, or historical period. Undergraduate students must also submit a letter of support from their primary research advisor.
Lecture recitals may range in length from 30-45 minutes and should offer an appropriate balance of lecture and performance elements. Various constraints limit the number of lecture recitals that may be programmed. Applicant should specify the length in their abstracts. Abstracts should include the title of the paper but omit author details. In the body of the email, please include author details, institutional affiliation (where relevant), email address, paper title, and any technological requirements, including PowerPoint or Keynote projection, piano or keyboard.
Submission materials should be sent to Marie Sumner Lott (msumnerlott@gsu.edu) no later than February 1, 2025 (U.S., Eastern Standard Time Zone). Please specify “International Symposium on Musical Topics and Topic Theory submission” in the email subject.
Submissions will be evaluated anonymously according to three criteria: the relevance of the author’s central arguments to existing scholarship, the extent to which the paper offers an original contribution to the scholarly community, and the clarity and coherence in which the argument is presented.
Deadline for submissions: February 1, 2025
Notifications of acceptance will be sent to presenters on or about March 1, 2025
Preliminary program will be available by mid-April, 2025.
