On 5 November 1926, Manuel de Falla's Concerto for Harpsichord and Five Instruments was premiered at the Palau de la Música Catalana in Barcelona, with Wanda Landowska as soloist and Falla conducting the instrumental ensemble. Composed in Granada between 1923 and 1926, the Concerto is the last major work completed by the musician, who not only performed it several times but also recorded it in Paris in 1930.
Dedicated to Wanda Landowska, this work has provided a source of inspiration for many composers, from Francis Poulenc in 1928 to the present day. As we approach the celebration of its premiere, the international congress ’The Revivification of the Harpsichord in the 20th Century. On the Centenary of Manuel de Falla’s Concerto (1926–2026)’ aims to bring together researchers and specialists to analyse, from a variety of perspectives, the impact of this composition on musical creation in the 20th and 21st centuries and on the revival of the harpsichord, not only as an instrument for performing early music but also as a suggestive stimulus for composition, due to the peculiarities of its sonorities, attacks and rhythmic qualities.
The thematic lines to be addressed at the congress are as follows:
1. Aesthetics, sources, and compositional procedures in Manuel de Falla's Concerto.
2. Compositions for harpsichord in the 20th and 21st centuries.
3. Harpsichord makers in the 20th and 21st centuries.
4. The revival of early music in the 20th century.
5. Modern methods and treatises of early music performance.
6. Performance practices and trends in the harpsichord repertoire.
7. Sound recordings of the keyboard repertoire in the 20th and 21st centuries, with particular reference to performers, media, techniques, and transfers.
8. Channels of dissemination and reception of harpsichord music.
The RIRRA 21 research centre of the Université de Montpellier Paul-Valéry and the R&D project ‘Correspondences between music and literature in the Silver Age’ (MULICO2) of the Universidad Complutense de Madrid are organising the International Congress 'The revivification of the harpsichord in the 20th century. On the centenary of Manuel de Falla's Concerto (1926–2026)'. The event is structured in two independent parts. The first part took place at the Université de Montpellier Paul-Valéry on 25 and 26 September 2025. The second part will be held at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid on 28 and 29 May 2026.
RECEPTION OF PROPOSALS
Proposals should be sent by email to congressfalla150@gmail.com. They may be written in Spanish, French, or English and must include: full name; institutional affiliation (if applicable); contact email address; title and abstract (maximum 500 words); brief bio-bibliography; required audiovisual media.
The deadline for receipt of proposals is 1 February 2026. Within 15 days, the scientific committee will notify authors whether their paper has been accepted or not. Papers will last 20 minutes, with an additional 10 minutes for discussion.
REGISTRATION FEE
Registration fee for conference attendees: €35
Registration fee for attendees with a certificate: €20
Attendees without a certificate: free admission
The fee must be paid by bank transfer to the following account:
CAIXABANK: ES71 2100 2471 1502 1012 4648
SWIFT (BIC) Code: CAIX ES BB XXX
Reference: MULICO-FALLA + Name and Surname
DIRECTION
Yvan Nommick (Université de Montpellier Paul-Valéry)
Elena Torres Clemente (Universidad Complutense de Madrid)
SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE
Tatiana Aráez Santiago (Universidad Complutense de Madrid)
Chris Collins (University of Aberdeen)
Annegret Fauser (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, US)
Stéphan Etcharry (Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne)
Sonia Gonzalo Delgado (Fundación Juan March)
Yvan Nommick (Université de Montpellier Paul-Valéry)
Elena Torres Clemente (Universidad Complutense de Madrid)
SECRETARIAT
Carmen Romero-Valencia (Universidad Complutense de Madrid)
For enquiries, please contact us at congressfalla150@gmail.com