40th ESEM | 5th ICTMD Pt Meeting: 40th European Seminar in Ethnomusicology | 5th ICTMD National Committee Meeting, Portugal University of Aveiro Aveiro, Portugal, September 16-20, 2025

The Institute of Ethnomusicology—Center for the Study of Music and Dance is pleased to host the 40th European Seminar in Ethnomusicology (ESEM) and the 5th  International Council for Traditions of Music and Dance (ICTMD) National Committee Meeting at the University of Aveiro, Portugal, from September 16 to 20, 2025. 

Submission Guidelines

All papers must be original and not simultaneously submitted to another journal or conference. The following paper categories are welcome:

Individual paper  Individual paper presentations are 20 minutes long, followed by 10 minutes of discussion. The proposal must include a 300-word maximum abstract.

Panel Organized panels are 90 minutes (three papers, 20 minutes each, followed by 10 minutes of discussion) or two hours long (four papers and a discussant). A proposal by the panel organizer (300 words) as well as by each individual presenter is necessary (300 words each). Where an independently submitted abstract appears to fit a panel, the program committee may suggest the addition of a panelist. 

Audiovisual session  Recently completed documentaries introduced by their author and discussed by conference participants may be proposed. Submit a 300-word abstract including titles, subjects, and formats, and indicate the duration of the proposed documentaries and introduction/discussion. 

Roundtable Roundtable sessions provide opportunities for participants to discuss a subject with each other and with members of the audience. Sessions of up to two hours long should include at least four but no more than five presenters. The organizer will solicit position papers of up to 15 minutes from each presenter and will facilitate questions and discussion for the remaining time. Proposals for roundtables should be submitted by the session organizer (300 words). 

List of Topics

• Topic 1 Music and Climate Change: Sonic Ecologies and Environmental Ethnomusicology - As our planet faces unprecedented environmental challenges, the relationship between music and climate change has become a vital field of study. From indigenous communities whose ancestral songs encode traditional ecological knowledge to contemporary artists composing climate protest anthems, music offers unique pathways for understanding, communicating, and addressing environmental crises. In fact, the soundscapes that define cultural identities are shifting as habitats transform, while musical practices themselves are adapting to new environmental realities. This topic explores: (1) How communities use music and dance to respond to climate-related challenges, including indigenous eco-musicologies, environmental activism, and sustainability; (2) Music and dance as responses to health issues related to climate change; (3)The impact of climate change on musical traditions and soundscapes; (4) The role of traditional ecological knowledge in shaping musical practices.
• Topic 2 The Future of Ethnomusicology: Reflexivity, Ethics and Digital Challenges -  Ethnomusicology stands at a critical crossroads, facing profound transformations in research methodologies, ethical considerations, and technological integration. Ethnomusicologists increasingly recognize that their work operates within intricate networks of power, representation, and cultural ownership. This necessitates deeper reflexivity about our changing roles as researchers, educators, and cultural mediators. Who has the authority to speak for whom in our scholarship? How do we navigate issues of voice, agency, and ethical fieldwork in contexts of historical inequity and ongoing decolonization efforts? Simultaneously, our field is being revolutionized by digital technologies. Artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and online platforms are not merely tools for research but transformative forces reshaping the very musical traditions we study. While these technologies provide unprecedented opportunities for documentation, preservation, and engagement, they also raise critical questions about algorithmic bias, cultural ownership, and representation. This topic invites participants to (1) examine the politics of collaboration and community engagement by exploring models that prioritize equitable partnerships and mutual benefit; (2) critically assess the implications of AI-generated music and algorithmic curation systems, which increasingly shape the global visibility of musical expressions; and (3) explore virtual ethnography and digital archives as new frontiers for ethnomusicology, weighing their potential for expanded access against concerns regarding context, meaning, and appropriate use.
• Topic 3 The Politics of Sounding and Listening: Power, Resistance and Cultural Heritage in Ethnomusicology - In a world where power often operates through unseen channels, sound can serve as both a battlefield and a refuge. The intricate relationships between those who create sound, those who listen, and those who control the conditions of both reveal complex networks of power, resistance, and cultural dynamics, demanding scholarly attention. We invite ethnomusicologists, sound studies scholars, anthropologists, and cultural theorists to explore the political dimensions of sound and listening across diverse global contexts. From whispered folk songs preserving endangered languages to amplified anthems galvanizing social movements, from surveillance technologies monitoring sonic expressions to institutional frameworks determining which sounds are preserved or forgotten, this topic investigates how power operates through sound. We invite participants to examine: (1) how listening is a political act with profound implications for cultural understanding and preservation; (2) how governments and institutions regulate musical expression; (3) the strategic use of sound in resistance movements, and (4) the ethical complexities that arise when sonic heritage is explored through tourism and/or cultural representation.
• Other research:  Although proposals related to the conference themes will be prioritized, submissions on other topics of interest to ESEM will also be considered.

Committees

Program Committee

• Susana Sardo (Chair) – Universidade de Aveiro, INET-md
  Fulvia Caruso – Università di Pavia
  Salwa El-Shawan Castelo Branco - Nova, FCSH – INET-md
  Rui Marques – Universidade do Minho – INET-md
  Ana Flávia Miguel – Universidade de Aveiro, INET-md
  Pedro Moreira – Universidade de Évora - CESEM
  Mojca Piškor – Institute of Ethnology and Folklore Research, Zagreb
  Jorge Castro Ribeiro – Universidade de Aveiro, INET-md

Organizing committee

• Susana Sardo – Universidade de Aveiro, INET-md
• Ana Flávia Miguel – Universidade de Aveiro, INET-md
• Jorge Castro Ribeiro – Universidade de Aveiro, INET-md
• Alicia Pajón Fernández – Universidade de Aveiro, INET-md
• Juliana Pérez – Universidade de Aveiro, INET-md
• Cristiano Tsope – Universidade de Aveiro, INET-md
• Jailson Raulino – Universidade de Aveiro, INET-md

Invited Speakers

• Miguel Ángel García (Universidad de Buenos Aires, CONICET) - will deliver the John Blacking Memorial Lecture

Venue

The conference will be held at the University of Aveiro, Portugal. 

Contact

All questions about submissions should be emailed to ssardo@ua.pt; anaflavia@ua.pt; jcribeiro@ua.pt