https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/2739 Thu, 04 Jun 2026 20:10:41 GMT 2026-06-04T20:10:41Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/147109 Title: «The true internationalism of music in our time» : politics and dodecaphony in Europe, 1947-1951 Authors: Erwin, Max Abstract: Introduction: The Wages of Dodecaphony; Histories of post-war music in Europe have long been buttressed by the claim that twelve-tone music exercised a near-dictatorial control over institutional music-making. While there have been numerous and extensive critiques of this narrative, there has been relatively less notice given to the finer details of how and why such a dominance came to be - or appeared to be - the case. That is where this article comes in. Using discursive analysis of texts written in and around the new centers of new music in post-war Europe, it nuances metanarratives of dodecaphonus ex nihilo, throwing light on the activity of expansive and conflicting international networks of musicians attempting to negotiate on the contingencies of a wide variety of musical practices competing for institutional support. These negotiations take place in two moves. The bulk of the chapter is occupied with the first, which involves the conflict between Schoenberg's practice - represented entirely in absentiaby a number of figures, most prominently Rene Leibowitz and Theodor W. Adorno - and various alternative methods of twelve-tone composition, especially those of Josef Matthias Hauer. Both Schoenberg's and Hauer's exegetes depicted their chosen method as an organic and inexorable evolution in music, while the rival's methods were portrayed as ex-centrically unmoored from historical progress. Significantly, Leibowitz and Adorno connected Schoenberg's practice to the internationalist discourse propagated by institutions of new music in post-war Europe. The second move, suggested in the conclusion, involves the shift from Schoenbergian dodecaphony to "post-Webernian" serialism. Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/147109 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/147098 Title: 2025 Darmstädter Ferienkurse Authors: Erwin, Max Abstract: Everybody said that it was a good year this year for Darmstadt. It’s hard to disagree – just about everything in the typical wall-to-wall-programming and the self-curated Open Spaces was not just enjoyable but creatively galvanizing. The level of musicianship, as always, was extremely high, and the tutors seemed particularly adept at inspiring their students. It’s probably precisely because there wasn’t some big totalizing effort to make a statement on The Future of Music that questions on the future of music were raised with such urgency and eloquence. As always, there was about sixteen days’ worth of music happening, so what follows is a very selective cross-section. I will start with the workshops. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/147098 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/147075 Title: From Laban to Forsythe : rethinking dance for Parkinson’s in the digital era Abstract: From Laban to Forsythe: Rethinking Dance for Parkinson’s in the Digital Era explores the intersection of choreography, digital technology, and therapy for Parkinson’s disease. The research focuses on how William Forsythe’s choreographic methods and Rudolf Laban’s Movement Analysis (LMA) can inform the conceptualization of a digital tool for dance therapists to aid with patients with Parkinson’s Disease (PD). Through a mixed-methods research, this study brings together theoretical frameworks, practical experience, and personal observation, including a background in music, to analyse how choreographic thinking can evolve into systems that serve therapeutic needs for Parkinson’s. Initially envisioned as an exploration of Forsythe’s movement philosophy within an educational context, the research shifted direction following direct experience in Parkinson’s dance therapy training. The discovery of parallels between Laban-inspired movement structures and existing therapeutic dance exercises led to the proposition of a more targeted application: conceptualizing a digital tool that weaves together LMA and Forsythe’s improvisation strategies to support teachers in creating personalized dance therapy for PD. This shift also reflects my passion for music, an evolving understanding of movement’s therapeutic capacity, shaped by rhythmic flow and spatial awareness. This research invites a reimagining of how choreography, music, and technology might collaborate in the service of therapy and embodied knowledge in the age of algorithm. Description: M.A.(Melit.) Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/147075 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/147074 Title: Karate-dō as an actors’ guide to performance : an exploration of karate in actor training Abstract: This research explores the advantages and limitations of incorporating karate-dō in actor training by means of (1) a comprehensive literature and practice review of the subject, (2) the identification of different categories of training and performance principles, and (3) the proposal of a practical Karate for Actor Training (KAT) programme. The research starts from the premise that if the adapted application of karate-dō in actor training improves a practitioner’s relationship with their body, mind, and the surrounding world, then such training also benefits an actor’s ability to express themselves physically and mentally during a performance. There is a lack of research directed toward theatre practitioners who wish to use Shotokan Karate for the preparation of actors in physical theatre. However, various institutions have used different martial arts as part of their theatre programmes. This research is conducted in conjunction with actor workshops to create an approach that uses karate-dō for actor training. The project’s long-term outcome is to provide a resource and practical guide for actors. Description: Ph.D.(Melit.) Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/147074 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z