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Contact details
Email: hettie.malcomson@manchester.ac.uk
Tel: + 44 (0) 161 275-3346
Biography
After studying for a BSc in social anthropology (London School of Economics), I spent 15 years outside of academia, working in industry at De Wolfe music library, and as a composer (for theatre, film and TV). Subsequently I completed an MMus in Ethnomusicology (Royal Holloway, University of London, 2004) and a PhD in Sociology (University of Cambridge, 2010). I have taught undergraduate and postgraduate courses at the University of Cambridge (2007-11) and Royal Holloway (2007-8).
Research interests
My research is concerned with music as a social phenomenon. In particular, I am interested in:
• music, dance, ageing and gender
• racialisation processes and cultural identities
• genre, knowledge production and expertise
My AHRC-funded doctoral research was an ethnographic study of danzón, a popular Cuban music-dance form performed daily in the Port of Veracruz, Mexico, mostly by older people. Based on 14 months of fieldwork, it contributed to understandings of music and ageing, ‘race’, gender, sexuality, identities, dance, standardisation processes, knowledge production, fandom and genre. Drawing on this research, I have prepared several articles and recorded audio material in Mexico and Cuba for the British Library. I am currently completing a book entitled Danzón! Older Age, Music and Dance in the Port of Veracruz, Mexico.
Building on this research, I spent time co-editing the Latin American and Caribbean genres volume of the Continuum Encyclopedia of Popular Music of the World with Mona-Lynn Courteau, David Horn and John Shepherd (forthcoming). Moreover, I am writing an article drawing on a short ethnographic project on notions of prestige and success for a group of British new music composers.
Publications:
Journal article
• Malcomson, Hettie. “New Generations, Older Bodies: Danzón Dancing and Age in the Port of Veracruz, Mexico.” Popular Music 31(2). (May 2012).
• Malcomson, Hettie. “The ‘Routes’ and ‘Roots’ of Danzón: A Critique of the History of a Genre.” Popular Music 30(2): 263–278. (2011).
Book contribution
• Malcomson, Hettie. “La Configuración Racial del Danzón: Los Imaginarios Raciales del Puerto de Veracruz.” In Mestizaje y Diferencia, ed. Elisabeth Cunin, 267-298. Mexico City: INAH, UNAM, CEMCA, IRD. (2010).
Conference contribution
Ciudad y Puerto de Veracruz Hoy como Ayer conference, Mexico. (2010).
British Forum for Ethnomusicology Conference, University of Oxford. (2010).
Public Lecture, Museo de la Ciudad de Veracruz, Mexico. (2009).
Society for Ethnomusicology Annual Conference, Mexico City. (2009).
Respondent at NYLON Conference, CRASSH, University of Cambridge. (2009).
Diáspora, Nación y Diferencia Conference, Veracruz, Mexico. (2008).
Latin American Research Day, University of Cambridge. (2008).
Society of Latin American Studies Conference, University of Liverpool. (2008).
NYLON Conference, Watermill Arts Centre, New York. (2008).
Discussant at British Academy/JISLAC Symposium, University of Newcastle. (2008).
Public Lecture, CIESAS Xalapa, Mexico. (2007).
Sight of Sound Conference, CRASSH, University of Cambridge. (2007).
Latin American Music Seminar, Institute of the Americas, University of London. (2007).
IASPM 14th Biennial Conference, Universidad Iberoamericana, Mexico City. (2007).
Current Teaching:
MUSC 10511 Approaches to Musicology
MUSC 20721 World Music
MUSC 30531 Special Subject: Ethnomusicology (Latin American Popular Music)
MUSC 60021 Current Issues in Ethnomusicology and World Music Studies
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