The SongArt Performance Research Group is the nexus for a number of related research and performance projects. Through its adherence to a set of core research priorities, and its strongly cross-disciplinary approach, it provides a collaborative platform for the exchange of ideas on a clearly defined set of issues related to the creation of song in a live performance setting.

Additionally, the SongArt site provides a platform for the promotion of resources associated with our core research principles, and acts as a hub for performance professionals and academic researchers interested in the studying the event of song performance in concert.

1. The lyric potentional of poetry and its relation to song performance

"Singing Mignon": Professor Amanda Glauert (Royal College of Music) is currently leading a project on Mignon and the connection between poetry, performance, meaning and song.

ASSOCIATED EVENTS:

Intitute of Musical Research, London (21 June 2012): Workshop: "Lyric Song in Idea and Performance. Keynote Speaker: Professor Amanda Glauert. Follow the title link to view further information.

Intitute of Musical Research, London (13 May 2011): Study Day: "Inside Song Performance: Mapping the interior of the Performative Act" RMA Sponsored Research Event. Lecture-demonstrations by Kathryn Whitney, Fiona Sampson, Helen Abbott, Sholto Kynoch, Jane Boston. Round table respondents: Amanda Glauert, Paul Alan Barker.

Institute of Musical Research, London (18 May 2010): Study Day: "Performativity, Poetry, Creation: investigating the creative space of live art song performance" Lecture-demonstrations by Kathryn Whitney, Amanda Glauert, Briony Williams, Norbert Meyn. Round table respondents: Stephen Coombs, Sophie Fuller

Kingston University, London (14 May 2010): Song and Poetry Research Day: "Creating the Lyric: Music and Poetry Dialogues":. Coombehurst Studio, Kingston Hill campus, Kingston University. Convened by Amanda Glauert (Kingston) and Fiona Sampson (Poet in Residence, Kingston University) Speakers and performers: Amanda Glauert (Kingston); Fiona Sampson (Kingston); Jane Manning (Kingston); April Fredrick (RAM); Norbert Meyn (Lieder Theatre London); Kathryn Whitney (RWCMD/ IMR)

2. Performer creativity and act of live song performance in concert

"Inside Song Performance": Dr Kathryn Whitney (Institute of Musical Research) is currently leading a project on creativity in live art song performance events.

ABSTRACT: How might the study of song performance as a live creative musico-poetic event build bridges of understanding between performers and academics? What, if anything, might knowledge of the interior of the act of performance tell us about what performers can (and cannot) do in performance, about the creative potential of music and text in performance, and about the performative structure of song? This project aims to identify, categorise and classify information about the experience and effect of the act of song performance in concert. Focusing its investigation on the qualities of "liveness" and "performativity", it seeks to know more about the state performers enter into in concert, how their actions may or may not be "creative" and what role the audience may play in "creating" works in a live concert setting.

ASSOCIATED EVENTS:

Schubert Institute, London: 20th Anniversary of the Schubert Institute, Special Goethe and Schubert Study Day (19 November, 2012): . Lecture-recital: “Performing Goethe’s poetry; performing Schubert’s song." Presenters: Amanda Glauert and Kathryn Whitney

Love to Death: Transforming Opera / Royal Musicological Association Annual Conference. (2 June, 2012) Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff. Lecture-recital: "Aesthetic transfer in live performance": Presenter: Kathryn Whitney

IMR & Centre for Music Performance as Creative Practice Performance Research Seminar. (21 May 2012) Chancellor's Hall, Senate House, University of London, Malet Street, London WC1. Lecture-recital: "Liveness': a quality, a platform, an essential creative space in notated music" Presenter: Kathryn Whitney

King's College, London / City University, London (2 July 2011): Conference: RMA Music & Philosphy Group First Annual Conference. Lecture-recital (Kathryn Whitney): "What kind of a thing is "liveness"? Preliminary answers from the interior of the performative act, with reference to John McCabe's 'Heloise to Abelard'"

Mount Allison University, Canada (4 June 2011): Conference: Canadian University Music Society. Paper (Kathryn Whitney): "Inside Song Performance: mapping the interior of the performative act"

University of Aveiro, Portugal (20 May 2011): Conference: PERFORMA: International Conference on Performance Studies: Lecture-recital (Kathryn Whitney): "What kind of a thing is "liveness"? Preliminary answers from the interior of the performative act"

PUBLIC EVENT: Intitute of Musical Research, London (13 May 2011): Study Day: "Inside Song Performance: Mapping the interior of the Performative Act" RMA Sponsored Research Event. Lecture-demonstrations by Kathryn Whitney, Fiona Sampson, Helen Abbott, Sholto Kynoch, Jane Boston. Round table respondents: Amanda Glauert, Paul Alan Barker.

University of Bristol (23 March, 2011): Illustrated Lecture (Kathryn Whitney): "Is (art song) performance creative? Conflicting perspectives from the interior of the performative act.‟

Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama (January-February, 2011): Student Workshop (Kathryn Whitney): "Performing poetry for classical singers"

University of Regina, Canada (4 June, 2010): Conference: Canadian University Music Society. Paper (Kathryn Whitney): "Performativity, poetry and creation: in search of a language of live art song performance‟

Institute of Musical Research (18 May 2010): Study Day: "Performativity, Poetry, Creation: investigating the creative space of live art song performance" Lecture-demonstrations by Kathryn Whitney, Amanda Glauert, Briony Williams, Norbert Meyn. Round table respondents: Stephen Coombs, Sophie Fuller.

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