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A joint annual meeting of the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the American Musicological Society, the Rocky Mountain Society for Music Theory, and the Southwest Chapter of the Society for Ethnomusicology

April 7-8, 2017 ~ David P. Gardner Hall ~ University of Utah ~  Salt Lake City

 

Keynote address by Michael Klein of Temple University

"Bodies in Motion: Musical Affect and the Pleasure of Excess"

ABSTRACT

This paper concerns a philosophical tradition around affect that begins with Spinoza (Ethics) and runs through the work of Deleuze and Guattari (A Thousand Plateaus) to that of Brian Massumi (“The Autonomy of Affect”). Affect is not an emotion in this tradition but any stimulus (including music) that changes the body. For Spinoza, affect is a change that brings about greater perfection in the body. For Deleuze and Guattari, those changes in the body involve intensities and densities, especially in music. Finally, for Massumi, affect runs on a separate track from signification, such that the pleasurable responses from affects may contradict the signification of music (or art, literature, politics, etc.). To demonstrate how affect interacts with our understanding of music, the paper discusses a wide variety of examples, including the THX audio-logo for Lucas Film, the “hammer blows” from Mahler’s Symphony No. 6, Gillian Welch and David Rawlings performance of “I’ll Fly Away,” Keith Jarrett’s 1984 performance of “Over the Rainbow,” Schubert’s Moment Musical No. 6, and Chopin’s Polonaise-Fantasie. The paper aspires to show how affect and hermeneutics work together in our musical experiences. 

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Registration:

The special early-registration fee of $45.00 expires on Friday, March 31st; the regular registration fee of $55.00 takes effect on Saturday, April 1st. The conference registration fee is non-refundable.

Register here.

 

Conference Location and Directions:

    • University of Utah School of Music
      David P. Gardner Hall
      1375 East Presidents Circle
      Salt Lake City, Utah 84112
      Campus map (Type "DGH" into the map's search feature)
    • Travel to the University of Utah
      • Via Air

        Salt Lake City International Airport acts as a hub for Delta airlines and services many other airlines. The TRAX light rail system, the Express Shuttle, or Uber makes travel from the airport to the University of Utah easy and affordable.  

        To reach the University of Utah from the airport using TRAX ~ Take the Green Line to Court House, and then transfer to the Red Line to University and get off at the Stadium Trax Station. A detailed schedule is available at the UTA TRAX website

      • To reach the University of Utah from the airport using other services: Express Shuttle and Uber are good options.

      • Via Car

        I-15 and I-80 both provide access to the university campus.  This site provides more detailed directions. Parking options are found here

    • Conference Lodgings
      • UNIVERSITY GUEST HOUSE ($125 per night)

        Although the Guest House is located on the University of Utah campus, you will still have a walk of approximately one mile to David Gardner Hall. A free campus shuttle [BROKEN LINK] is available that will drop you off in front of DGH, and TRAX can take you as far as the campus stadium.

        TRAX transportation from Salt Lake City International Airport drops riders off relatively near the Guest House To reach the University of Utah from the airport using TRAX, take the Green Line to Court House, then transfer to the Red Line to University and get off at the Fort Douglas stop. A detailed schedule is available at the TRAX website.

      • OTHER PLACES TO STAY 

Salt Lake City Events and Destinations

    • Historic Temple Square 
      Accessible via TRAX Blue Line
    • Utah Symphony 
      At Abravanel Hall. The April 7-8 weekend performance will feature Elgar's Violin Concerto, Ravel's Frontispice and Musorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition.
    • George S. And Dolores Doré Eccles Theater
      Disney's Lion King is on the docket.
    • Campus Events and Destinations
      University of Utah Powwow at the Union Building
      Natural History Museum
      Red Butte Garden
    • School of Music Events
      A Capella Choir: Friday, April 7, 7:30 pm, Libby Gardner Concert Hall
      Early Music Ensemble: Saturday, April 8, 4:00 pm, Thompson Chamber Hall
    • Local Skiing
      Salt Lake City Area: Alta, Brighton, Solitude, Snowbird
      Park City Area: Canyons, Deer Valley, Park City
    • Gilgal Garden
      This sculpture garden is just 5 minutes from campus.

Utah Time Zone

    • The State of Utah currently observes Mountain Daylight Savings Time (MDT). Anyone flying via Phoenix should be aware that the State of Arizona - with the exception of  the Navajo Nation - observes Mountain Standard Time (MST), which is one hour behind MDT. Time Zone Map

Conference Registration

Conference Schedule

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Conference Abstracts

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Come meet our students in the School of Music

University of Utah School of Music Video

Last Updated: 3/22/23