Sixth International Romantic Brass Symposium
Romantic Brass in Context: 19th-Century Brass Instruments in Military, Church, Chamber, Opera, and Orchestra
Thursday April 20 – Saturday April 22, 2023, in Bern (Switzerland)
Held by Hochschule der Künste Bern (HKB)
The well-established Romantic Brass Symposia in Bern present current research on brass instruments, concentrating on music of the 19th century (1789–1914). After conferences on the keyed trumpet and the ophicleide, French horns, the materiality of brass instruments, the saxhorn, the conservation of historical brass instruments, and the trombone and acoustics, this sixth edition is open to all brass-related topics, highlighting the interaction of brass instruments in their musical contexts. It will be held in collaboration with the Historic Brass Society. Keynote addresses will be given by Sandy Coffin, Ignace De Keyser, Trevor Herbert, Sabine Klaus, Arnold Myers, and Anneke Scott.
We call for papers, lecture recitals, and concerts with spoken commentary on all topics of brass instruments from the 19th century, including historically informed performance, style, repertoire, history, and instruments. We expect that presentations will be given live and in person. The official language for the conference is English.
Papers and lecture recitals should be no longer than 20 minutes (followed by 10 minutes for discussion); shorter presentations (10 min. plus 5 min. for discussion) are equally welcome. Concerts should not exceed 45 minutes. (Details of available keyboard instruments will be available on the website).
Please mail submissions to daniel.allenbach@hkb.bfh.ch by September 30, 2022. Proposals should be in English (c. 400 words), describing the topic and including the following:
- Abstract (background, research questions, aims, and significance);
- Name, postal and email addresses, and institutional affiliation of proposer; and,
- Type of submission (short paper, long paper, lecture recital, concert). All presenters must register for the conference.
Confirmation of accepted papers will be announced by December 1, 2022. The scientific committee is composed of Sandy Coffin (HBS head of events committee), Anneke Scott (HBS board of directors), Martin Skamletz (HKB head of Institute Interpretation), and Adrian v. Steiger (HKB Institute Interpretation, HBS board of directors).
All presenters must register for the conference.
The symposium website is www.hkb-interpretation.ch/rbic. All information on program, fees, and accommodation will be published there as well.
