Call for Participation

 

Dear Friends, Colleagues and Chinese Music Enthusiasts,

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The Zhejiang Conservatory of Music in Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China, is proud to announce the 27th International CHIME – Meeting in the Field, 7-12 November 2024. It will be a unique five-day event, combining three days of immersive fieldwork across Zhejiang province (8-10 Nov) with a two day-conference (11-12 Nov) at the Conservatory campus, in which the participants are invited to exchange experiences and present ad hoc reports on their musical fieldwork.

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About the Conference

Inspired by the 11th CHIME meeting, held in Yulin, Shaanxi province in 2006, the 27th edition of CHIME once again takes up the format of a ‘traveling conference’ – a Meeting in the Field. This time we aim to explore local musical traditions scattered across Zhejiang province. Through hands-on fieldwork sessions and insightful discussions, we hope to uncover the rich cultural tapestry woven into the various landscapes of the Jiangnan area.

Chinese and international scholars from diverse corners of the globe are expected to join forces in this meeting. Ethnomusicologists who carried out little or no fieldwork in China so far are welcome to take up the challenge. The gathering in Zhejiang will offer them rare chance to engage with China’s musical heritage and native fieldwork practices. Those who have already carried out extensive fieldwork elsewhere in China are equally welcome to take up this opportunity to access a rich and varied panoply of rural musical traditions in Zhejiang. Scholars with backgrounds in Sinology or Anthropology are also explicitly welcomed to list up! A team of seasoned local music scholars will join the event as guiding experts. 

The meeting’s key objectives are to foster a rich cross-cultural dialogue and to make unexpected discoveries! Come prepared to find inspiration in local music cultures, to develop ideas for future in-depth research, and to build relationships with research collaborators of diverse backgrounds.

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Two Itineraries

For the fieldwork segment, two distinct groups will be formed, each designated to explore a specific area within Zhejiang province:

• Group 1. Central and northern Zhejiang, conducting research around Yue opera and other local music culture;

• Group 2. South-west Zhejiang, conducting research about puppet shows and music in relation with traditional architecture.

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Each field group will also be accompanied by a dedicated team of audiovisual experts to aid in collecting and documenting materials. The conference organizers will ensure that ethical concerns (including privacy and use of personal data) are taken into full consideration.

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To avoid over-crowding during fieldwork, we aim at a conference of max. 25 to 30 participants, to be divided into groups of approximately 15 for the two separate itineraries.

 

The Zhejiang Conservatory of Music will serve as the central hub for keynotes, individual presentations, and collaborative discussions.

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The hosting institution will provide accommodation, meals, and cover internal travel expenses related to the fieldwork to the international scholars. 

Participants will be expected to cover their own travel to the conference site and back home.

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Submission Guidelines

To participate in the conference, all prospective applicants are required to submit a formal application comprising a motivational letter plus a succinct (max 200 word-)biography. The submission deadline for these documents is 30 May 2024.

 

Ensure your submission aligns with the conference's theme and objectives.

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Key Dates

Submission Deadline: 30 May 2024

Notification of Acceptance: 30 June 2024

Conference Dates: 7-12 November 2024

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Join us in this extraordinary journey across Zhejiang province, where music resonates in diverse landscapes, and fieldwork unveils the stories behind the melodies.

 

For inquiries and submissions, please contact serratore.f@gmail.com (Francesco Serratore).

 

Conference Committee

Wu Fan, (Chair), Zhejiang Conservatory of Music

Francesco Serratore (Co-Chair), Zhejiang Conservatory of Music

Frank Kouwenhoven, CHIME Foundation, The Netherlands

Odila Schroeder, Heidelberg University, Germany