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Department News

Music Professor receives prestigious Leverhulme Major Research Fellowship

Martin Clayton, Professor of Ethnomusicology, has been awarded the Leverhulme Major Research Fellowship for his research project ‘People in time with music: how sound and movement structure human interactions’.
Veena Sahasrabuddhe (vocal) with Vishwanath Shirodkar (tabla) and Seema Shirodkar (harmonium) perform Rag Hamsadhwani in Pune, India

O Come All Ye Faithful - Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Christmas Carol

The well known Christmas carol 'O Come All Ye Faithful' is sung at festive services across the country but music expert Professor Bennett Zon claims that many people probably don’t realise that the popular song has distinctive political roots.
Sheet music with red jingle bells laid on top

The Controversy over Christmas Carols

Nothing conjures up nostalgic ideas of a wholesome family Christmas more than the idea of loved ones gathering around the piano to sing carols, or indeed voices raised in church in song on Christmas Day. However, Professor Jeremy Dibble, tells us why carols and carol singing haven’t always been seen in such a virtuous light.
Choir singing

Durham Lecturers Mark Lindisfarne Gospels’ Return to the North East in Music

Durham Music Department lecturers James Weeks and Katherine Hambridge recently took part in the opening concerts of the Royal Northern Sinfonia’s season at the Sage Gateshead, which were programmed to mark the exhibition of the Lindisfarne Gospels at Newcastle’s Laing Gallery.
Panel for the 19 September (L-R): Jaswinder Singh, Stu Herring, Katherine Hambridge, Helen Savage

Advance HE Athena Swan Bronze Award for Department of Music

We are delighted to announce that the Department of Music has been awarded an Advance HE Athena Swan Bronze Award.
Two students in the music department

“in One |1” by Eric Skytterholm Egan recorded

“in One |1” (2015-19), written by Dr. Eric Skytterholm Egan was recently performed and recorded by world-leading guitarist Diego Castro Magas at the Pontifica Universidad Católica de Chile.
in One | 1 by Eric Skytterholm Egan

Austin Glatthorn’s monograph published by CUP

We are delighted to celebrate the publication of Dr Austin Glatthorn’s monograph, Music Theatre and the Holy Roman Empire. Now an Honorary Fellow, Austin completed the book with us at Durham during his time as British Academy Newton International Fellow, working with Dr Katherine Hambridge.
Austin Glatthorn’s new book 2022

Durham student becomes Canadian Music Laureate

PhD Music student Rita Ueda has been awarded the prestigious title of 2022 Laureate for the Azrieli Commission for Canadian Music. Offered by the Azrieli Foundation, this is the most coveted title for composers in Canada.
2022 Canadian Music Laureate

Are rhythmic preferences shared across cultures?

New research led by Dr Kelly Jakubowski suggests that preferences for synchrony in groove-based music may be universal, whereas preferences for isochrony are more culturally dependent.
Are rhythmic preferences shared across cultures?

How our brains instantly recognise music

The recent Wordle spinoff, Heardle, challenges players to identify popular songs from short music clips. Dr Kelly Jakubowski from Music explains the science behind why people love this new game.
A girl listening to music through her headphones.

Music Department in the All-Steinway School

The Music Department is proud to announce that we are now part of the largest All-Steinway School in the nation.
Steinway D in the Music Department Concert Room

World première "Amérique du Sud" by Richard RIJNVOS

On 9 April 2022 the NTR ZaterdagMatinee will present the world première of Richard Rijnvos' "Amérique du Sud".
Concert