The 1st Academic Conference “The Meaning of Music”: “Music and the Word” will take place at the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music on 22–23 April 2026. The deadline for submitting proposals is 15 January.
The question of meaning has always accompanied the art of sound. It is closely connected not only with theoretical reflection and compositional practice, but also with the social role of music. After all, listeners’ willingness to devote time to listening—and thus the very justification for the existence of institutions that sustain musical culture—depends on whether they perceive music as meaningful. The meaning of music changes historically and culturally, just as its audiences change in terms of size, social background, level of competence, or degree of engagement in listening or performance. What remains constant, however, is the need to make music, which evidently has deep roots in the spiritual constitution of the human being.
By inaugurating the symposium series “The Meaning of Music,” the organizers wish to continue a long tradition of reflection on this issue. The first edition will be devoted to a question that most vividly reveals the sphere of musical meaning: the relationship between music and the word.
The organizers invite reflection on the following exemplary topics:
- The poetics and aesthetics of vocal-instrumental works;
- The poetics and aesthetics of instrumental works inspired by text;
- Theoretical approaches to word–music relationships;
- The language of musical writing—from technical analysis, through music criticism, to literary creation.
Proposals (submitted by completing the attached application form) should be sent by 15 January 2026 to:
In the event of a large number of submissions, the Organizing Committee reserves the right to select papers. Information about acceptance will be communicated by 30 January, at which time the duration of presentations (estimated at 20 minutes) will also be specified.
The conference fee of PLN 450 should be paid by 15 February 2026 to the account 22 1050 1214 1000 0007 0000 7875, with the note “Znaczenie muzyki”.
A post-conference publication is planned. In connection with the possibility of obtaining a grant for this purpose, the Organizing Committee requests that full papers be submitted by 30 April 2026.
Media patronage: Polish Music Information Centre POLMIC
Application form: https://am.katowice.pl/wydarzenia/i-ogolnopolska-konferencja-naukowa-znaczenie-muzyki-3538
