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As a postdoctoral researcher you will be responsible for one of the three subprojects within the NWO project ‘Making a martyr in medieval Iberia (589-1080)’. This project studies how martyr cults were created through a variety of media in early medieval Iberia. The area was home to a widespread and very active devotion to indigenous Christian martyr saints, as well as the emergence of new martyrs in the ninth and tenth centuries. The project goes beyond hagiography to focus on the ritual commemoration of martyrs, looking at how the Old Hispanic liturgy (a unique tradition practiced only in Iberia) communicated the ideal of martyrdom throughout the peninsula, but always in connection with material expressions of religious piety.
You will study the music of the Old Hispanic liturgy for the commemoration of martyr saints, as it survives in a number of manuscripts. Deciphering the music in these manuscripts is complicated by the fact that the notation is written without indication of pitch. You will nevertheless receive training in working with this notation from Professor Emma Hornby at the University of Bristol whose groundbreaking work is opening this tradition up to study, remaining in Bristol for up to six months towards the beginning of the project. This training will include learning to work with bespoke transcription and analysis software, helping you to identify melodic characteristics of the chants under investigation. You will then collaborate closely with the Principal Investigator to investigate how music and text worked together in this liturgical tradition to create unique identities for martyr saints.
Your findings should be presented in at least three articles in international scientific journals (at least one co-authored), as well as conference papers and book chapters. Additionally, you are expected to contribute chant data to the online transcription and analysis software, and to the Spanish Early Music Manuscripts database, which is linked to the CANTUS Index. You will also contribute to the organisation of scientific meetings related to the project and the wider communication of the project’s results.
Fixed-term contract: You will be appointed for an initial period of 12 months, after which your performance will be evaluated. If the evaluation is positive, the contract will be extended with another 2 years.
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