Incomplete musical
compositions exist in many forms and shapes. They may miss one or several parts
due to the loss or dismemberment of the source(s), as happened for instance to songs
of Johannes Ciconia (†1412
).
Alternatively, they may have been
left unfinished by the composer, such as Schubert’s Symphony D 758 (« Unvollendete »). This begs the question how such incomplete
or damaged music can be brought back to life. Are there ways to reimaging or
even reconstruct them? What is the difference between a completion (such as
Süßmayer’s of Mozart’s Requiem) and a “scholarly” reconstruction? Is
reconstruction only defensible if it is likely to get close to the lost
original? Drawing case studies from the ongoing research project Lacunae
Ciconiae (HEM), as well as the work of other scholars, participants are
invited to reflect on this theme and develop their own approaches to incomplete
musical works.
- Professeur-e: Berentsen Niels