CfP: Women and Music in the Iberian Courts (1600-1900)

Calls

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2025 · 10 · 24

International Conference

Women and Music in the Iberian Courts (1600-1900)

Universidad Complutense de Madrid

Facultad de Geografía e Historia (Aula de Grados)

7^th and 8^th May, 2026

Scientific Direction

Judith Ortega (Universidad Complutense de Madrid)
Cristina Fernandes (INET-md, Universidade Nova de Lisboa)

Organization

Universidad Complutense de Madrid – Department of Musicology
ICCMU – Instituto Complutense de Ciências Musicales
INET-md, NOVA FCSH, Research Group “Historical and Cultural Studies in Music”

CALL FOR PAPERS

This international conference will be the third meeting on “Music in the Iberian Courts,” jointly organized by INET-md (NOVA FCSH), ICCMU, and the Complutense University of Madrid. The two previous editions were held in Madrid (2018) and Lisbon (2019) and gave rise to the book Música en las cortes ibéricas (1700-1834): ceremonial, artes del espectáculo y representación del poder (SEDEM, 2023), edited by Cristina Fernandes and Judith Ortega.

Despite recent advances in research in the fields of Women’s History and Gender Studies, these remain insufficient in Portugal and Spain when it comes to music. Regarding the Royal Courts, the paradox of “highly visible, often obscure” (Earenfight, 2008) persists. The Iberian monarchies of the 17^th to 19^thcenturies, whether absolutist or constitutional, constitute a fertile field of study from this perspective, comprising both in-depth investigation of relatively well-known figures and the revelation of others who remained in the shadows. Matrimonial ties between the two Iberian courts, and with other European courts, as well as political alliances and family and diplomatic networks, contributed to the circulation and exchange of cultural and musical practices, in which women played, directly or indirectly, important roles. Furthermore, the musical activities of royal and aristocratic women from Portugal and Spain sometimes extended to other territories, including the colonies of both Iberian countries. With this conference, we aim to explore issues related to women and music in the Iberian world through different scientific approaches.

Among other possible themes related to this scope, we intend to study how women made (or did not make) political use of musical patronage; what activities royal and aristocratic women engaged in; what repertoires they cultivated and which musicians they promoted. We will also seek to understand to what extent their relationship with music was due to gender stereotypes, linked to tradition and/or court ceremonial, or to individual choices.

The scientific committee encourages submissions within the following topics:

Music and royal power;
Musical patronage;
Courtly and religious ceremonial;
Performance and composition;
Collecting music (scores, librettos, musical instruments);
Artistic and diplomatic networks;
Music and other arts;
Spaces for music;
Education in music and dance;
Music as a key element for female agency;
Musical sociabilities;
Emulation of aristocratic role models by women from other social strata.

Scholars are invited to submit proposals for individual papers, which shall not exceed 20 minutes. Abstracts should not exceed 300 words, and should be accompanied by a brief curriculum vitae of 150 words max. This should include name, e-mail address and institutional affiliation. Proposals should be sent to: <musica.cortesibericas2@gmail.com>

Official Languages: Spanish, Portuguese, English.

Deadline for submissions: 15^th of January 2026 (inclusive). The results will be communicated by 1^st of March.

Scientific Committee