Beyond Words: A Series of Music-Themed Events

Generously supported and hosted by Felix Appelbe, Beyond Words is a captivating exploration of the unseen, unheard, and ineffable elements that shape our experience of music in in collaboration with the Oxford Centre for Life Writing. This series brings together an eclectic mix of composers, performers, mathematicians, artists, and visionaries, offering unique perspectives on the profound connections between sound, emotion, and creativity. From the science behind harmony to the artistry that transcends words, Beyond Words invites you to discover the deeper layers of musical expression and inspiration.

Life-writing is the study of lives, through letters, diaries, performance, memoir, autobiography and biography. But it frequently has to negotiate the non-verbal, for instance when describing the creative minds of composers, choreographers or artists, capturing the sound and light of childhood, or eavesdropping on the world of animal experience. How can these worlds be captured in words?

We are addressing this challenge by convening a network that spans many disciplines, bringing together academics, practitioners and performers who would otherwise not meet. Free-thinking lectures and laboratories will forge new pathways between the verbal and the non-verbal, journeying towards innovative experimental and performative methodologies.