It's over! Thank you to everyone who came out and helped make this an enjoyable and lively event. If you're ready to relive it in images, check the Pictures page. We'll see you again in 2009 at Med-Ren!

In the study and performance of pre-Classical western music, few elements fluctuate so rapidly as fashions in the interpretative and presentational aspects of music transcriptions. Often unspoken and unscrutinized editorial decisions play a key role in shaping the modern reception and understanding of early repertories. With the advent of significant new technologies changing the face of publishing across the entire globe, the time is ripe for a critical reevaluation of the principles and assumptions which inform the creation and distribution of early music scores for modern readers. In July 2008 the music department of Utrecht University will bring together twenty speakers from eight countries to consider the "state of the art" from a critical perspective. Topics as diverse as notational ambiguity, editorial (re)presentation, digital transcription and the status of textual criticism will offer opportunities to confront issues impinging equally upon editorial theory and practical application.

Keynote speaker: Margaret Bent (All Souls College, Oxford)

Organiser: Theodor Dumitrescu
Program committee: Marnix van Berchum, Eric Jas, Karl Kügle, Rudolf Rasch

Conference venues

Sweelinckzaal
Drift 21
3512 BR Utrecht

Located in the historic center of Utrecht next to the medieval Janskerk, the "Sweelinck Hall" can be found just off the central hall of Drift 21 (see Map).

The Academiegebouw (reception on Thursday, 3 July) is located at Domplein 29, just next to the Domkerk and tower. The Maskeradezaal (Masquerade Hall) is on the first floor.

The conference dinner on Thursday, 3 July will take place at Polman's Huis, at the corner of Jansdam and Keistraat. On the evening of Friday, 4 July, Fala Música will present the conference concert at the Sint Willibrordkerk at Minrebroederstraat 21 (see below).

All conference venues are in the center of Utrecht within a 5-10-minute walk from each other and the Dom.

Concert

On Friday, 4 July, in connection with the conference theme the renowned Low Countries early music ensemble Fala Música will present a program of music from the Gruuthuse Manuscript. This source represents the newest early music treasure of the Netherlands (purchased by the Royal Library in the Hague from private ownership in 2007).

Sint Willibrordkerk (Minrebroederstraat 21), 20:00
Tickets (for guests not registered as conference attendees): €15 / students: €10

Also of interest:
Pipelare, Missa L'homme armé / Compère, Omnium bonorum plena
Kamerijk
Sint Willibrordkerk
Sunday, 6 July, 14:00 (free admission)

Travel

The city of Utrecht is easily reachable by train within 45 minutes from Holland's other major cities (Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and The Hague) as well as Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, a major international hub with flights to and from 90 countries. Direct trains from Schiphol to Utrecht (station "Utrecht Centraal") run two times per hour (at :16 and :46 past the hour) with a journey time of 32 minutes. Full schedule information is available on the website of Dutch Railways.

The conference venue is a 15 minute walk from the central train station. Alternatively, buses 2 and 11 (direction De Uithof/UMC/WKZ) stop very close to Drift 21, at stop "Janskerkhof". Most locations within the city center and surroundings can be reached by bus and taxi from the central station within 15 minutes. Schedules and maps of bus services are available on the site of Utrecht's public transport service.

Accommodation and surroundings

Hotels, bed & breakfasts, and student hostels are available within Utrecht's city center as well as surrounding neighborhoods. A number of hotels offer discounted rates in connection with the university (marked with a * on the list below), so remember to mention the conference and university when making a booking. Note that the summer high season brings many visitors to Utrecht, so it is advisable to book accommodation as soon as possible. Rooms have been set apart for conference attendees at the Malie Hotel and NH Utrecht until 2 June at the rates below, after which they will be made generally available.

The historic center of Utrecht, with its scenic canals and winding pedestrian streets, offers ample opportunities for eating, drinking, sightseeing, and other activities. Particularly worth visiting are the Museum van Speelklok tot Pierement (featuring an exceptional collection of mechanical and automated musical instruments from the 15th century to the present), Museum Catherijneconvent (Christian art in the Netherlands, with many fine medieval specimens) and the Centraal Museum (including work by Rietveld). Furthermore, Utrecht has a number of beautiful churches, including the Domkerk with its tower pictured above (de Domtoren, separated from the main building by a hurricane in 1674) and the delightful neo-Gothic Willibrordkerk.

For more tourism information, please visit Utrecht Your Way.

Further information:

Dr. Theodor Dumitrescu
Universiteit Utrecht
Kromme Nieuwegracht 29
3512 HD Utrecht

Email: EditingConference@cmme.org