Home » actueel » CFP: Musical, Cultural and Religious Networks in Early Modern Europe: in Celebration of Peter Philips's 450th Anniversary CFP: Musical, Cultural and Religious Networks in Early Modern Europe: in
Celebration of Peter Philips's 450th Anniversary

University of Aberdeen, Scotland, 1-3 March 2011

This conference centres on the many and varied networks of cultural
practitioners in early modern Europe: musicians, writers, and other
artists whose work and lives can be traced through surviving
manuscripts, early prints, correspondence and other artefacts. The
conference also celebrates the 450th anniversary of the birth of the
English composer Peter Philips:  Philips's life and music provide the
springboard for an exploration of the conference theme.

Phillips was a chorister at St Paul's Cathedral before emigrating to the
continent to escape persecution as a Catholic and to study music in
Italy.  After some time in Rome, he travelled widely Thomas Lord Paget.
He then settled as a "freelance" musician in Antwerp before taking up a
position in 1597 as the highest paid organist at the archducal court in
Brussels.

It is clear that Philips belonged to various Catholic networks at home
and abroad, remaining in contact with Catholics in England and
corresponding with Father Persons in Rome.  Peacham states that he sent
his music (and probably that of other composers) back to England,
perhaps via channels of Catholic communication.  He undoubtedly played a
part in espionage, so would have belonged to a network of spies.  In
terms of musical networks, his contact with Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck
was direct: he travelled from the Catholic south to the Protestant north
Netherlands to meet him.  He had connections with networks of trade and
commerce: he travelled with merchants, the same social class who
provided him with work in Antwerp.  Sweelinck was undoubtedly just one
of many composers of keyboard music with whom Philips was in contact:
the Brussels court was the hub at the centre of a number of keyboard
networks, local and international.  Philips's instrumental music bears
witness to a st  ylist ic network of English musicians, including
Tomkins at home and Dowland on the continent; his vocal music
demonstrates Philips's links with the Roman School, especially Marenzio.

Philips's music is of exceptionally high quality so the conference will
include a varied concert of his music.  Perhaps his most significant
achievement was the role he played in the exportation of English
instrumental music to the continent, where it influenced the Amsterdam
composer Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck and his students, so there will also
be a concert of Sweelinck's music.  Performers include Pieter Dirksen,
Hank Knox, Rachelle Taylor, David Smith and the Rose Consort of Viols.

Papers are invited on any aspect of musical, cultural and/or religious
networks in the early modern period.  Possible areas include:

*         Keyboard networks c.1600
*         Phillips, Byrd and Sweelinck
*         Movements of music and musicians, and espionage
*         Manuscript culture, particularly related to music
*         Networks of musicians or artists in terms of style and
           influence
*         Religious networks, especially pertaining to music
*         Networks of English Catholics at home and abroad

This is one of two conferences organised by McGill University and the
University of Aberdeen to mark the anniversary of Peter Philips.
Proposals for papers should be sent to Dr David J. Smith (d.j.smith at
abdn.ac.uk) by 31 August 2010, including an abstract of no more than 250
words.