Event overview
‘Translating Pierre Schaeffer: analyzing the past and the implications for the future’ All welcome, not just for graduates!
Pierre Schaeffer is one of the most important commentators on the effects of technological mediation in music and contemporary culture. He generalised his theories to embrace many aspects of music such as the ontology of the instrument, musical values, sound description and classification. Despite his reputation in France his contribution to music theory has been largely unacknowledged.
I have collaborated with Christine North (former Deputy Head of School of Modern Languages at Middlesex University) to produce translations of Schaeffer's major works. Our translation of 'A la recherche d'une musique concrète' (In Search of a Concrete Music) was published in November 2012 by the University of California Press and we are currently working on a translation of Schaeffer¹s 'Traité des objets musicaux' (Treatise on musical objects) for the Groupe des Recherches Musicales. In this forum I will discuss the issues of translating Schaefferian terminology and suggest the relevance of his theoretical framework for contemporary musical thought.
John Dack is currently Senior Lecturer in Music and Technology at Middlesex University's Hendon campus in north London. He teaches subjects in Information Science, Fine Art and Music. Born in Kings Cross, London in 1950 he worked as a photographer's assistant, grave-digger and guitar teacher before studying music as a mature student at Middlesex Polytechnic. After graduation he studied for a PhD in musicology with the composer Denis Smalley. Subsequent studies followed at City University (Post-graduate Diploma in Music Information Technology followed by an MSc), Goldsmiths College (MMus in Theory and Analysis) and Middlesex University (MA in Aesthetics and Art Theory). John was employed until 2011 as Senior Research Fellow at the Lansdown Centre for Electronic Arts at Middlesex University¹s Cat Hill campus.
Christine North studied French at Oxford University. Awarded first-class degree BA (Hons), MA (Oxon).
Retired Deputy Head of School of Modern Languages, Middlesex University 1972-95; Lecturer, later Senior Lecturer in French language and literature at Middlesex Polytechnic (Middlesex University from 1990). Specialising in French language at all levels, Translation Studies, French post-Romantic Poetry, French literature (1850-1920), Enlightenment Thought, Creative Writing (poetry).
Photo: John Dack
Dates & times
| Date | Time | Add to calendar |
|---|---|---|
| 15 Jan 2013 | 5:00pm - 6:30pm |
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