09/09/2026
Royal Birmingham Conservatoire (Birmingham, UK) is delighted to be hosting The Practice of Editing Music: History, Challenges and New Directions (1500-1900): a symposium in honour of Professor Graham Sadler from 30 October – 01 November 2026.
Booking is now open: https://www.bcu.ac.uk/conservatoire/events-calendar/30-31-10-2026-the-practice-of-editing-music where you can also find details of the symposium including the full schedule, which includes papers and lecture recitals on a range of editing topics including but not limited to: aspects of the history of critical editing, Urtext approaches to editing, the parallels between editing texts and music; the distinctions between performing and critical editions, and the challenges concerning the type and volume of contextual information to include in prefatory material; methods for determining the degree of editorial intervention required in an edition, the challenge(s) of creating ‘an’ edition where multiple sources of a work exist or where reconstruction is required, and the future of critical editing using digital technologies.
Booking options are available for individual days (which include lunch and refreshments) as well as for the whole event. Bookings that include Friday 30 October include lunch and refreshments as well as entry to:
Pre-concert Conversation: A life in editing: perspectives on the editing of music from Professors Hugh Macdonald and Graham Sadler.
In this pre-concert conversation, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire’s own Professor Graham Sadler, an international authority on seventeenth- and eighteenth-century French music, and Professor Hugh Macdonald a world-renowned expert on Hector Berlioz discuss the challenges they’ve experienced in editing a range of works, including some of those that feature in the ensuing concert. Join us as they share their insights on the role of the editor, drawing on a combined experience of over sixty years in this field.
Concert: A miscellany of French Treasures: music through the eyes of the editor
The Ex Cathedra Scholars Ensemble, joined by students and staff instrumentalists from Royal Birmingham Conservatoire's Historical Performance Department and distinguished alumni, present a diverse programme of French choral music from the seventeenth to the nineteenth centuries, including works by Bouzignac, Moulinié, Du Mont, Campra, Rameau and Berlioz.
Further details can be found at: https://www.bcu.ac.uk/conservatoire/events-calendar/a-miscellany-of-french-treasures-30-10-2026
An 'Early Bird' rate on the full conference fee is available until 26 September 2026, along with preferential rates at local hotels for symposium delegates.
We actively encourage doctoral researchers to attend and have several bursaries to support travel and accommodation. Please do get in contact if you would like to discuss this: [email protected] / [email protected]
We look forward to welcoming you to Birmingham in October. If you have any questions in the meantime, do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected] / [email protected]
A miscellany of French Treasures: music through the eyes of the editor This concert is part of an international symposium that brings together scholars and performers working in music editing. A pre-concert talk featuring RBC’s own Professor Graham Sadler, an international authority on seventeenth...
