Czech and Slovak Music and Related Arts

This conference will explore music, dance, and theater stemming from the Czech and Slovak areas. Papers on classical, folk, and popular traditions from any time period are invited, and papers discussing collaboration among the arts are particularly welcome.  Because composers such as Dvorak, Janacek, Smetana, Mahler, etc., have already been the focus of much attention, the program committee will favor papers on less-explored music (e.g. Zelenka, Vorisek, Haba) and on topics not often included in a classical music conference, such as popular music, theater, and dance.  Composers connected with the region - e.g., Franz Schmidt, born in Bratislava - will be considered even if their work took place largely elsewhere.

Keynote speakers will be Bruno Nettl and others TBA.  There will be musical performances of vocal, chamber, and wind ensemble works by Karel Husa, Wenzel Müller, and others.  We will arrange an excursion to the lovely coast of Lake Michigan on Sunday afternoon.

The language of the conference will be English.  Please submit e-mail abstracts of up to 250 words by November 15, 2009 to

Lisa Feurzeig:  feurzeil at gvsu.edu and
Marlen Vavrikova:  vavrikom at gvsu.edu

or paper abstracts, postmarked by November 15, to

Lisa Feurzeig
Music Department
Grand Valley State University
One Campus Drive
Allendale, MI 49401
USA

We will reply by the end of January 2010.  If you are uncertain whether a topic counts as sufficiently unexplored, feel free to ask us in advance!