The project
EarlyMuse is a Europe-wide scientific network that aims to strengthen the place of early music research in Europe. It will transform the way that the discipline is studied, redraw the place of early music in higher education, attract original talent, deploy tools useful to emerging creative industries, and define public policy in the field of culture.
The meaning of the term early music has undergone significant evolution, particularly since the 1970s, when the term still mostly referred to repertoire from before 1750. Over time, the movement broadened its focus to include repertoire from up to 1900 and beyond and has largely abandoned its focus on historical authenticity in favour of more open-ended goals.
In its current form, the study of early music is both highly original and radical, as it has the demonstrated ability to cross the divide between scholarship and musical practice both by bringing in new repertoires as well as new historically informed approaches to more familiar repertoire. Accordingly, it is an important part of Europe’s living musical tradition, and its radical nature also allows the formation of new career paths for early-career scholars and performers from diverse backgrounds who have historically been under-represented in the cultural and creative industries. Building on these existing strengths, EarlyMuse will bring together scholars from across Europe to create new opportunities for the study of this significant European cultural heritage in a post-pandemic world.
EarlyMuse as a COST action
EarlyMuse is a part of the programme for European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST Action), a network that rather than funding research directly funds scientific collaborations such as conferences, meetings, and training schools. COST Actions include scholars from Albania, Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, The Netherlands, The Republic of North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, and Ukraine.
Working Groups
Working Groups perform the tasks required to fulfil the objectives of the network’s project plan, as described in their Memorandum of Understanding. To participate as a Working Group member, contact the Action’s Chair or the Management Committee member(s) from your country to discuss your potential contribution.
STSM
Short-term scientific missions (STSM) are exchange visits between researchers involved in a COST Action, allowing scientists to visit an institution or laboratory in another COST Member state. Their aim is to foster collaboration in excellent research infrastructures and share new techniques that may not be available in a participant’s home institution or laboratory.
Grants
ITC Conference Grants support the participation of Young Researchers and Innovators (<40
yrs. old) affiliated in an Inclusiveness Target Country/Near Neighbor Country to high-level
conferences related to the scientific themes of the Action to present their own work, either
as oral or poster presentation.
Dissemination Conference Grants support the participation of Action participants to high-
level conference to present the work of the Action.
