Jewish Music in South Germany—History, Exile, Continuance

deadline for submissions: 
February 1, 2019
full name / name of organization: 
Musikwissenschaftliches Institut, Hochschule für Musik und Theater München

The Musikwissenschaftliches Institut, Hochschule für Musik und Theater München, welcomes proposals for the international symposium

Jewish Music in South Germany—History, Exile, Continuance

to be held on Thursday and Friday, 11‒12 July 2019
at the
Hochschule für Musik und Theater München

The first known settlement of Jews in the south of Germany can be traced back to 906 C.E., documented in the toll regulation of Passau, the city of three rivers which was conveniently situated for those using trade routes to Hungary, southern Russia, and northeastern Germany. But it was not until the end of the 17th century that communities formed that had a lasting presence in the region. In the 18th century flourishing communities grew in Fürth and Ansbach, both associated with important musical practices. In the course of the 19th century Jews began to absorb (or reject) the vast changes and developments that took hold of Central Europe: emancipation and acculturation, the Reform movement, Zionism, and anti-Semitism—all of which had significant influence on musical practices and expressions.

This two-day symposium “Jewish Music in South Germany—History, Exile, Continuance” concerns itself with the music of Jews who called South Germany their home, from the earliest times to the very present. Indeed, there was and is continuance: Although the shoah marked a severe rupture of civilization and in history, after World War II thousands of Jews assembled in Displaced Persons camps in Bavaria and new communities formed as well. Today Jewish music is heard on German soil in various and ever-expanding contexts.

We are inviting papers in German and English that address the multi-faceted topics related to Jewish music in South Germany drawing upon the methodologies of ethnomusicology, historical musicology, music theory, cultural studies, and anthropology. We particularly welcome Jewish studies scholars. Encouraging a variety of topics, we hope to inspire twenty-minute presentations leaning on the following larger subject categories:

The Early Modern Period
Religious Practices
Secular Practices
Responses to Nazism
Exile
Displaced Persons Camps
The Postwar Era

Please submit a title with an abstract of 300 words maximum, and include contact information (address, affiliation, and e-mail).

Proposals may be submitted by email before 1 February 2019 to:

Dr. Tina Frühauf & Prof. Dr. Claus Bockmaier
Hochschule für Musik und Theater München
Musikwissenschaftliches Institut
Arcisstraße 12
D-80333 München
symposiumHMTM2019@gmail.com