CHOMBEC
Encyclopedia
CHOMBEC is the Centre for the History of Music in Britain, the Empire and the Commonwealth. It is a part of the music department at the University of Bristol
(UK). It was founded in 2006 by Professor Stephen Banfield. The current Director is Professor John Pickard
. CHOMBEC's aims are to encourage and provide a focal point for research into the history of music in the British Empire
, in Britain
, and within the West Country
.
CHOMBEC, in association with the University of Bristol, runs an MA (Master of Arts
) degree in British music
. This programme offers the opportunity to specialise in music of the British Empire and music in the West Country.
CHOMBEC also run seminars and conferences on various aspects of British music. These have included 'Vaughan Williams, Hardy
and the Ninth Symphony' (spring 2008), 'Rubbra Revived: Sinfonia Sacra and Beyond' (Spring 2008), 'The Sounds of Stonehenge
' (autumn 2008), 'Celebrating George Dyson
' (spring 2007), and 'Robert Pearsall - Bristol's Forgotten Composer' (autumn 2006). The most recent, 'The Sounds of Stonehenge' explored the multiple soundscapes of the ancient stone's 5,000-year history. The cultural history of the stones, their acoustics, and Neolithic England's musical instruments were presented in a one-day workshop that brought Stonehenge's legend up-to-date with its depiction and importance in film and rock music.
CHOMBEC is home to a number of academic archives that have been donated to the Centre since it was founded. Archives are held at the university's Special Collections section of the Arts and Social Sciences Library and can include manuscript scores, audio recordings, and personal papers relating to the composers and their lives. In 2008 archives for Edgar Hunt, Sir Michael Tippett
, a combined archive for Frank Merrick
and Evelyn Hope Squire, and one for John Raynor were all acquired by the university. These archives join the Stanley Godman archive donated in 2007.
In the summer of 2009 CHOMBEC set up a dedicated study centre at the university's music department. This facility aims to aid researchers by providing a central point for archive materials and is equipped with audio facilities and micro-fiche and micro-film readers.
CHOMBEC publishes a twice-yearly newsletter, CHOMBEC News, with articles on composers, performers, and current research projects around the world: archive copies of older editions of CHOMBEC News can be downloaded from their website as PDF files.
University of Bristol
The University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.The University is...
(UK). It was founded in 2006 by Professor Stephen Banfield. The current Director is Professor John Pickard
John Pickard (composer)
John Pickard , is a British classical composer.Pickard was born in Burnley, Lancashire, England. He studied music and composition at the University of Wales, under Welsh composer William Mathias, and later in The Netherlands under Louis Andriessen and in 1989 was awarded a PhD in composition...
. CHOMBEC's aims are to encourage and provide a focal point for research into the history of music in the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
, in Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, and within the West Country
West Country
The West Country is an informal term for the area of south western England roughly corresponding to the modern South West England government region. It is often defined to encompass the historic counties of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset and the City of Bristol, while the counties of...
.
CHOMBEC, in association with the University of Bristol, runs an MA (Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
) degree in British music
British music
British music could refer to:* Music of the United Kingdom* English music* Irish music* Scottish music* Welsh music* Celtic music...
. This programme offers the opportunity to specialise in music of the British Empire and music in the West Country.
CHOMBEC also run seminars and conferences on various aspects of British music. These have included 'Vaughan Williams, Hardy
Hardy
-Canada:* Port Hardy, British Columbia* Hardy Island Marine Provincial Park, British Columbia-United States:* Hardy, Arkansas* Hardy, California* Hardy, Iowa* Hardy, Kentucky* Hardy, Nebraska* Hardy, Virginia* Hardy, Mississippi* Hardy County, West Virginia...
and the Ninth Symphony' (spring 2008), 'Rubbra Revived: Sinfonia Sacra and Beyond' (Spring 2008), 'The Sounds of Stonehenge
Stonehenge
Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument located in the English county of Wiltshire, about west of Amesbury and north of Salisbury. One of the most famous sites in the world, Stonehenge is composed of a circular setting of large standing stones set within earthworks...
' (autumn 2008), 'Celebrating George Dyson
George Dyson (composer)
Sir George Dyson KCVO was a well-known English musician and composer. His son is the physicist and mathematician Freeman Dyson and among his grandchildren are the science historian George Dyson and Esther Dyson...
' (spring 2007), and 'Robert Pearsall - Bristol's Forgotten Composer' (autumn 2006). The most recent, 'The Sounds of Stonehenge' explored the multiple soundscapes of the ancient stone's 5,000-year history. The cultural history of the stones, their acoustics, and Neolithic England's musical instruments were presented in a one-day workshop that brought Stonehenge's legend up-to-date with its depiction and importance in film and rock music.
CHOMBEC is home to a number of academic archives that have been donated to the Centre since it was founded. Archives are held at the university's Special Collections section of the Arts and Social Sciences Library and can include manuscript scores, audio recordings, and personal papers relating to the composers and their lives. In 2008 archives for Edgar Hunt, Sir Michael Tippett
Michael Tippett
Sir Michael Kemp Tippett OM CH CBE was an English composer.In his long career he produced a large body of work, including five operas, three large-scale choral works, four symphonies, five string quartets, four piano sonatas, concertos and concertante works, song cycles and incidental music...
, a combined archive for Frank Merrick
Frank Merrick
Frank Merrick was an English pianist in the early 1900s. He was born in Clifton, now part of Bristol.Merrick's peers included Artur Schnabel and Mark Hambourg, and he studied with Theodor Leschetizky. From 1911 to 1929, he taught at the Royal Manchester College of Music and from 1929 at the Royal...
and Evelyn Hope Squire, and one for John Raynor were all acquired by the university. These archives join the Stanley Godman archive donated in 2007.
In the summer of 2009 CHOMBEC set up a dedicated study centre at the university's music department. This facility aims to aid researchers by providing a central point for archive materials and is equipped with audio facilities and micro-fiche and micro-film readers.
CHOMBEC publishes a twice-yearly newsletter, CHOMBEC News, with articles on composers, performers, and current research projects around the world: archive copies of older editions of CHOMBEC News can be downloaded from their website as PDF files.