Fellow’s research into music, spies and statecraft is honoured in dissertation award
Pen and ink sketch of a man sat at a harpsichord looking at a sheet of music which has "opera" and "Purcell" written at the top.
Dr Alana Mailes’ dissertation on musical exchange between cultures has been recognised by the International Musicological Society (IMS).
The IMS Outstanding Dissertation Award honoured two of Cambridge’s Early Career Fellows in Music this year, Dr Mailes, Thole Research Fellow in Music at Trinity Hall, being one of them.
Her dissertation, “Mobility, Diplomacy, and Musical Exchange between England and Venice, 1600–1660” was 1st Honorary Mention in the awards.
Dr Mailes’ work explores the contributions of diplomats, spies, merchants, and other travellers to musical exchange between Italy and Stuart England.
In it she argues that Anglo-Venetian musical interactions were critical to shifting political and commercial relations between the two rival maritime empires.
Dr Mailes said: “The news was such a delightful surprise and I am very grateful to the IMS.”
The IMS also honoured Dr Peter Asimov (Clare College) for his dissertation: “Comparative Philology, French Music, and the Composition of Indo-Europeanism from Fétis to Messiaen”. He was the IMS Award Winner for 2023. The award is for doctoral dissertations (theses).
More information:
More on the IMS Outstanding Dissertation Award.
Read a full interview with Dr Mailes, which examines her research and love of music, in our Spring 2022 Front Court magazine.
