Conference Information
Twenty-Sixth Annual Conference
Rochester, MI, May 8-9, 2015
General Information
This year’s conference marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of Music Theory Midwest.
The conference will be preceded by the society's fifth annual Pre-Conference Workshop, titled “Early- and Mid-Career Publishing,” led by Karen Bottge (University of Kentucky), Jeremy Day-O'Connell (Knox College), and Yayoi Uno-Everett (University of Illinois at Chicago).
Keynote Abstract
As part of the celebration, the conference will feature a keynote address by Professor Richard Cohn titled, “Why We Don’t Teach Meter, and Why We Should” (abstract included below). Our choice of Prof. Cohn as keynote speaker comes from the desire to celebrate crucial developments in our field that originated or were significantly extended in the Midwestern region. Prof. Cohn was a member of the original MTMW organizing committee, and his work has made a huge impact on the field, both directly and through his students. In particular, the society wishes to acknowledge how Prof. Cohn cultivated neo-Riemannian theory by publically engaging with students and interested faculty at MTMW meetings. For example, Prof. Cohn’s 1994 MTMW keynote address in Bloomington may have been the first public presentation on what became neo-Riemannian theory.
Abstract:
In the West and elsewhere, experience of musical sound is filtered by two major systems
of cognitive regulation, tonality and meter, whose function and structure closely parallel
each other. Although both systems are well theorized, institutions of musical education
in the West only teach one of these systems from a theoretical perspective. This paper
documents this asymmetry, explores the historical circumstances that brought it about,
and suggests what could be gained by bringing tonality and meter into balance in a
music-theory curriculum.
Location
The conference will be held on the campus of Oakland University.
For directions and maps, please visit: http://wwwp.oakland.edu/about/map/directions/. The Interactive Map, linked on the left-hand side of the page, is particularly helpful for detailed campus views. It is recommended that you park behind Varner Hall, entering the lot using either Library Drive or Grizzly Ln. As the conference approaches, a much more detailed map of the location of the parking lot and preferred entrance to Varner Hall will be posted here.
IMPORTANT: due to a major bridge reconstruction project adjacent to campus (as well as construction on Squirrel Road north of campus), attendees are advised to avoid the University Drive exit from I-75. Below, several maps illustrate alternative routes:
From the south, via I-75:
From the north, via I-75:
Conference Events
Friday night cultural activities and entertainment opportunities include several options:
At 8 pm, the musical Meshuggah-Nuns by Dan Goggin, starring Cindy Williams, will be staged by the professional theater company Meadow Brook Theatre, located at 207 Wilson Hall on the campus of Oakland University. Read more and buy tickets here. (It seems tickets are selling out, so act fast if you are interested!)
The Detroit Institute of Arts is open until 10 pm, $8 admission. Additionally, there is a special exhibit titled "Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo in Detroit" for $14. Tickets for the exhibit are limited, and advance purchase is recommended. (The DIA is an easy 25-mile drive down I-75.)
The Detroit Fisher Theater will feature The Illusionists at 7:30 pm:
“Witness magic on a scale unlike anything you've ever seen before. Led by The Anti-Conjurer, The Illusionists are a troupe of magicians who bring the art of illusion right up to date with their high-tech wizardry and death defying stunts.”
Tickets are available here.
The banquet will be held at Rangoli Indian Restaurant in Auburn Hills, MI on Saturday, May 9 after sessions conclude. It will be a buffet-style meal, with vegetarian samosa appetizers and rice pudding dessert included. A cash bar will begin at 5:45 pm.
PLEASE NOTE: You MUST register for the banquet by May 2 in order to be guaranteed a spot.
Travel
Oakland University is serviced primarily by the Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) in Romulus, MI:.
Car rental is advised as there are few transportation options between the airport and Rochester Hills; depending on traffic, the drive may be 40 minutes or longer.
Ground Transportation services in DTW
You may wish to compare rates flying through Flint (FNT), which is roughly the same distance to Rochester Hills as DTW.
Amtrak travels to a number of locations in the metro Detroit area. The Royal Oak terminal is within walking distance (.7 miles) of an Avis Car Rental (248.547.4510).
Parking is free and abundant on Oakland's campus, especially as the conference will be taking place between semesters.
Accommodations
Blocks of rooms have been reserved at three hotels:
1. Sonesta Auburn Hills
$85 King bed
$95 Two double beds + sleeper sofa suite
There are also some larger suites available as part of our block; call to see what is available.
Breakfast is included in the price, and there is free wifi throughout the hotel. There is no shuttle associated with this hotel. The hotel has been recently remodeled.
2050 Featherstone Road, Auburn Hills, MI
(248) 322-4600
Group code: OU Music Theory
Must reserve by April 16!
UPDATE AS OF APRIL 16! Five more rooms were added to our block, and the new deadline for receiving the special MTMW rate is April 24.
2. Comfort Suites Auburn Hills
$99 King or two queen beds
Hot breakfast is included in price, and there is free wifi throughout the hotel. There is no shuttle associated with this hotel.
Group code: MUSIC THEORY MIDWEST
1565 N Opdyke Rd. Auburn Hills, MI
(248) 370-0200
Must reserve by April 30!
3. Crowne Plaza Auburn Hills
$115, King or Two double rooms
Includes hot breakfast at O'Malley's Restaurant based on double occupancy, and there is free wifi throughout the hotel. This hotel also has a seven-seat local shuttle that is free within a five-mile radius (which would include transportation to and from campus, and the banquet restaurant, as well as a number of other local restaurants).
Group name: Oakland University- Music Theory Midwest
Group code: OUM
Direct MTMW registration link
1500 North Opdyke Road, Auburn Hills, MI
(248) 373-4550
Must reserve by April 9!
Dining
Rochester Hills and the surrounding areas feature a variety of dining options. Below are a few favorites of Oakland faculty:
Lunch and Dinner
B-Spot Burgers (vegetarian options included), 2.3 miles from campus driving directions
Buddy's Pizza (location of MTMW grad student pizza dinner), .8 miles from campus driving directions
Fresco Wood Oven Pizzeria, 4.3 miles from campus driving directions
Kruse and Muer in the Village, 2.3 miles from campus driving directions
Makimoto Sushi, 1.5 miles from campus driving directions
The Meeting House, 5.6 miles from campus driving directions
Miguel's Cantina, 6.6 miles from campus driving directions
Rangoli Indian Cuisine (MTMW banquet restaurant; features lunch buffet on Friday), 1 mile from campus driving directions
Rochester Chophouse, 5.5 miles from campus driving directions
Rochester Mills Beer Co., 5.4 miles from campus driving directions
Rochester Tap Room, 6.5 miles from campus driving directions
Sukhothai, 6.9 miles from campus driving directions
Bravo Cucina Italiana, 2.3 miles from campus driving directions
Chipotle, 2.2 miles from campus
Mitchell's Fish Market, 2.3 miles from campus driving directions
Panera, 3.8 miles from campus
Whole Foods (features deli, hot dinner and lunch buffet, salad bar, hot breakfast bar, coffee bar, sushi, and pizza) 2.2 miles from campus
Dessert/coffee
Give Thanks Cafe and Bakery (Artisanal bakery and coffee shop in downtown Rochester; opens at 7 am), 5.6 miles from campus driving directions
Dessert Oasis, 5.5 miles from campus driving directions
Local Information
Local Arrangements Chair: Melissa Hoag (Oakland University)
Directions to Graduate Student Pizza Dinner from campus
(location: Buddy's Pizza, 2612 N Squirrel Rd, Auburn Hills)
Directions to Banquet from campus
(5:45 reception with cash bar and appetizers, 6:30 dinner; location: Rangoli Indian Cuisine, 3055 East Walton Blvd, Auburn Hills)
Call for Papers
Submission Deadline: Thursday, January 15, 2015
This year’s conference marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of Music Theory Midwest. As part of the celebration, the conference will feature a keynote address by Professor Richard Cohn titled, “Why We Don’t Teach Meter, and Why We Should.” Our choice of Prof. Cohn as keynote speaker comes from the desire to celebrate crucial developments in our field that originated or were significantly extended in the Midwestern region. Prof. Cohn was a member of the original MTMW organizing committee, and his work has made a huge impact on the field, both directly and through his students. In particular, the society wishes to acknowledge how Prof. Cohn cultivated neo-Riemannian theory by publically engaging with students and interested faculty at MTMW meetings. For example, Prof. Cohn’s 1994 MTMW keynote address in Bloomington may have been the first public presentation on what became neo-Riemannian theory.
Our fifth annual pre-conference workshop, titled “Early-Career Publishing,” will be led by Karen Bottge, Jeremy Day-O'Connell, Patricia Hall, and Yayoi Uno-Everett (see p. 4 of the newsletter for more details).
Music Theory Midwest invites scholars from all geographic regions to submit proposals on any area of music theory and analysis for our annual conference.
As is traditional at MTMW, we encourage proposals on composers, musicians, and events with significant anniversaries in 2015, and we welcome proposals for special sessions devoted to these or any other particular topic.
Notable anniversaries in 2015:
1665: Nicolaus Bruhns, Elisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre born.
1715: Jacques Duphly, Georg Christoph Wagenseil born.
1765: Anton Eberl, Joseph Eybler, Daniel Steibelt born.
1815: Josephine Lang, Robert Volkmann born.
1865: Paul Dukas, Alexander Glazunov, Carl Nielsen, Jean Sibelius born; first performances of Meyerbeer’s L’Africaine, Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde.
1915: David Diamond, Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra, born; passing of Karl Goldmark, Alexander Scriabin, Sergey Taneyev.
1965: Björk, Shania Twain born; passing of Henry Cowell, Edgard Varèse.
Program Committee
Ryan McClelland (University of Toronto), Chair
Eloise Boisjoli (University of Texas–Austin)
Brian Hyer (University of Wisconsin–Madison)
Shersten Johnson (University of St. Thomas)
Drew Nobile (University of Chicago)
Andrew Pau (Oberlin College)
Catherine Losada (Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music) ex-officio as MTMW President
Pre-Conference Workshop
Music Theory Midwest is pleased to announce its fifth annual Pre-Conference Workshop, “Early-Career Publishing,” led by Karen Bottge (University of Kentucky), Jeremy Day-O'Connell (Knox College), and Yayoi Uno-Everett (University of Illinois at Chicago). MTMW pre-conference workshops are open to both students and faculty. This year’s workshop will be held on the campus of Oakland University in Rochester Hills, MI, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 7, 2015, immediately prior to the annual meeting on Friday and Saturday, May 8–9.
Online Program
The online program can be found here once it is available.