16th Biennial International Conference on Music Theory and Analysis

As the Department of Music Theory of the Faculty of Music celebrates 20 years of its modern existence under a new name, the 16th International Conference on Music Theory and Analysis raises questions about the polyphonic nature of music theory and its methodologies. The proposed theme is grounded in the idea that contemporary music theory rests upon methodological diversity, in which analytical, interpretive, and research-oriented approaches
coexist in a dynamic dialogue. The metaphorical use of the term “polyphony” draws on its musical meaning: just as multiple voices in a polyphonic texture intertwine into a unified yet richly layered whole, various methodologies within contemporary music-theoretical discourse can be viewed as complementary “voices” of a single, complex discipline. Such methodological pluralism enables multiple interpretative approaches to a musical work: from
its conception as a res facta, through the processes of composition and performance, to the phenomena of reception and meaning. The conference aims to create a space for considering how different methodological models complement, expand upon, or potentially challenge one another, and how contemporary music theory contributes to interdisciplinary research and the interpretation of the creative process.