Welcome to Song in French Narrative

The aim of this conference is to explore the presence of song in French narrative from the medieval to the modern. Within the broader sphere of musico-literary relations, song has a specific place at the intersection between words and music. Yet a focus on song in narrative shifts the emphasis from poetry to prose, and necessitates a consideration of the formal disjuncture between both music and literature, on the one hand, and poetry and prose, on the other.

This conference seeks to bring musicologists and literary scholars together in a productive dialogue, centred on song(s), singers, and singing in French and francophone texts. Our discussions will interrogate issues including the role of song in narrative, the specific songs that are cited or referenced, questions of transmission and translation, and the representation, contribution, and narrative function of song.

Keynote speaker:

Dr Emily Kate Price, Robinson’s College, University of Cambridge

Please note – we are pleased to offer PG students and early-career colleagues a free-fee conference (inclusive of conference dinner), and a small travel bursary to help with the additional practical costs of attendance.

Organising committee: Dr Jennifer Rushworth (UCL) and Dr Hannah Scott (Newcastle University)

Registration: link coming soon….