Folk Music in Interdisciplinary Contexts: 60th International Musicological Colloquium Brno



As part of the accompanying program of the Janáček Brno 2026 festival, the jubilee 60th International Musicological Colloquium will take place from November 9–11, 2026. Organized by the Institute of Musicology, Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University, this year’s professional gathering will focus on the phenomenon of folk music and its transformations within academic discourse and broader social contexts.




Theme and Objectives of the Colloquium


Folk music has undergone a fundamental transformation, from the romanticized national revival concepts of the 19th century to the current era of globalization and the music industry. The colloquium aims to study these transformations through methodological plurality and interdisciplinary correlations. The discussion will address not only the history of collecting and documentation but also the influence of media, politics, and the market on the form of folk music, including its integration into categories such as “world music.”




Topics of interest include:


    

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    New findings in the field of folk music collecting and documentation.
    

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    Compositional approaches towards folk music elements.
    

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    The role of folk music in regional politics, media, and the music industry.
    

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    Folk music transformation in the context of globalization and other social changes.
    

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    Research methodologies and connections with ethnology, sociology, anthropology, or psychology.
    

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Call for Papers: Information for Applicants


The organizers welcome proposals for papers (20 minutes in length, followed by a discussion) to be presented in English or German.


    

  • Submission deadline: March 31, 2026
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  • How to apply: via email to colloq@phil.muni.cz
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  • Requirements: An abstract in the language of the presentation (up to 2,000 characters) and a short CV (up to 500 characters).
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  • Notification of results: by May 24, 2026.
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  • Call for Papers link: [HERE]
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Thanks to financial support from the Department of Musicology at the Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University, and the City of Brno, there is no registration fee for the symposium. Accommodation will be provided for active participants at the Continental Hotel, located near the conference venue.




Organizational Team


    

  • Idea concept and organization: Jiří Čevela, Jiří Zahrádka
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  • Secretary: Vladimír Maňas
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  • Committee: Mikuláš Bek, Petr Macek, Jana Perutková, Lubomír Spurný
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More information about the schedule and colloquium details can be found on the website of the Institute of Musicology, Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University.