Overview
- Director of the Centre for Music and Performance, Conservatoire Staff Research Coordinator, Professor of Music
- Birmingham Conservatoire
- Faculty of Performance, Media & English
- Email: ronald.woodley@bcu.ac.uk
- Phone: c/o +44 (0)121 331 5925
Areas of expertise
Research & Teaching Specialisms
- Late medieval and early Renaissance music and music theory, especially Johannes Tinctoris
- Notation and manscript studies
- Performance studies (clarinet and piano); early recordings.
- Minimalism and post-minimalism, especially the music of Steve Reich
Current Activities
- Complete theoretical works of Johannes Tinctoris: a new electronic edition, translation and commentary
For recent related articles and papers, see Articles below. - Tuning theories of the late Middle Ages and their computer realisation
- Textuality and authority in late medieval music theory
- Development of notation software for medieval and Renaissance music
- Book chapter on Instrumental Music pre-1430, for the forthcoming Cambridge History of Musical Performance, ed. Colin Lawson and Robin Stowell (Cambridge University Press)
- Performance issues in, and early recordings of, the late piano works of Brahms and Schumann, with particular reference to the pianist Ilona Eibenschütz
- Performance issues in the earliest (pre-World War I) recordings of Lieder, especially of Schubert, Schumann and Brahms
- Steve Reich in the 1970s and 80s: analytical and critical studies: monograph in progress for series Analysis in Context (University of Leuven)
Qualifications
DPhil (Oxford)
MusB (Manchester)
GRNCM
ARNCM
FRHistS
FSA
Biography
Professor Woodley enjoys a wide-ranging career as musicologist, clarinettist and chamber pianist. As a scholar he is an international authority on late medieval and early Renaissance music theory, and continues to publish fundamental work on the important 15th-century musician Johannes Tinctoris. In the same field of research a monograph book on early Tudor music theory was published by OUP in 1993. Professor Woodley’s combination of expertise in both academic and performing spheres has led to research projects in 20th-century musicology with a focus on performance studies, including published articles on early recordings of Ravel and an investigation of the relationship between performance, analysis and criticism in Prokofiev. Current projects in this area include new work on the biography and recordings of the pianist Ilona Eibenschütz, and on performance issues arising from the study of the earliest recordings of the Lieder of Schubert, Schumann and Brahms. He also has active research interests in minimalism, postmodernism, and the music of Steve Reich. His research has recently been supported by Fellowships and grants from The Leverhulme Trust, The Worshipful Company of Musicians, and the Arts & Humanities Research Board. Before joining the Conservatoire, Professor Woodley previously held posts as Head of Postgraduate Studies & Research, Royal Northern College of Music (2001-4); Senior Lecturer and Honorary Senior Research Fellow in Music, Lancaster University (1995-2001); Lecturer and Senior Lecturer in Music, University of Newcastle (1984-95); Lecturer in Music, University of Liverpool (1981-4); Lecturer in Music, Christ Church, Oxford (1979-81). He is also a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London.