CFP Partners in Suspense: Bernard Herrmann and
Alfred Hitchcock: 24th, 25th, 26th March 2011
Organised by Faculty of Arts, York St John University, York, UK
?Hitchcock and Herrmann shared a dark, tragic
sense of life, a brooding view of human
relationships, and a compulsion to explore
aesthetically the private world of the romantic
fantasy.? Donald Spoto, The Dark Side of Genius: The Life of Alfred Hitchcock
One of the most famous, tempestuous and
productive creative relationships in Hollywood,
Bernard Herrmann and Alfred Hitchcock
collaborated on some of cinema?s most memorable
films, sequences and musical motifs. To coincide
with Herrmann?s centenary in 2011, this
three-day conference seeks to explore the
relationship between Herrmann and Hitchcock and
aims to bring together practitioners and
academics working on a range of theoretical,
analytical and historical perspectives.
Analyses of film have long favoured the visual
frame over the aural or musical text, rather
than considering the film text as a whole. The
conference will seek to address this problematic
area of film theory and analysis as well as
research on the working partnership between
Hitchcock and Herrmann, engaging with new work
on the relationship between sound and vision,
theories of film music and broader implications
of the legacies of both Hitchcock and Herrmann.
Papers are also invited that examine Herrmann?s
broader catalogue of film music beyond the works
with Hitchcock, from Citizen Kane to Taxi
Driver, as well as those that consider
theoretical perspectives on film music,
authorship and the nature of collaboration via
the Hitchcock-Herrmann partnership.
Keynote Speakers:
Professor Charles Barr (University College Dublin)
Professor Richard Allen (New York University)
Professor Emeritus Neil Sinyard (University of Hull)
Professor Jack Sullivan (Rider University)
Professor David Cooper (University of Leeds)
Dr Kevin Donnelly (University of Southampton)
Special Events:
Filmmaker Mark Herman (Brassed Off, Boy in the
Striped Pyjamas) will participate in a Q&A
exploring his work with renowned film composers,
including Trevor Jones and James Horner.
The Tippett Quartet, as part of their
HerrmannFest 2011, will perform selections of Herrmann?s film music.
Possible themes include (but not limited to):
? The working relationship between Herrmann and Hitchcock
? Legacies of the Hitchcock-Herrmann collaboration
? Herrmann?s work with other filmmakers
? Performing Herrmann?s concert music
? Theoretical approaches to film music composition
? Recording film music as a technical and practical process
? Reading strategies for film music
? The relationship between sound and vision
? Considerations of authorship
? Collaboration between filmmakers and composers
? Narrative uses of music
? Relationships between music and narrative
? Interactions between music and screen performance
? Any other relevant theoretical or practical perspective
The organisers invite proposals for open call
papers, pre-constituted panels, as well as
workshops that apply practical responses to the
issues addressed by the conference. Potential
contributors are invited to submit a 300 word
abstract and short bio to
(partnersinsuspense /at/ gmail.com)<mailto:(partnersinsuspense /at/ gmail.com)>
by 15 December 2010. Panel proposals should
include a 300 word summary of the panel in
addition to abstracts and bios. Workshop
proposals require a 500 summary, an outline of
the session?s goals, and bios for all
participants. Acceptance notices will be
returned by 15 January 2011. Selected papers
will be published in an edited collection.
Please address any general queries to Vanessa
Simmons
((v.simmons /at/ yorksj.ac.uk)<mailto:(v.simmons /at/ yorksj.ac.uk)>),
or visit our website,
www.yorksj.ac.uk/partnersinsuspense<http://www.yorksj.ac.uk/partnersinsuspense>.
Dr. Steve Rawle
Lecturer in Film Studies
Faculty of Arts
York St John University
Lord Mayor's Walk
York
Y031 7EX
Tel: 01904 876584
(s.rawle /at/ yorksj.ac.uk)<mailto:(s.rawle /at/ yorksj.ac.uk)>
www.yorksj.ac.uk/partnersinsuspense<http://www.yorksj.ac.uk/partnersinsuspense>
