27e année, 7 janvier 2026.
Women and Music in the Iberian Courts (1600-1900)
7th-8th May 2026, Madrid.
Universidad Complutense de Madrid ; Facultad de Geografia y Historia (Aula de Grados).
This international conference will be the third meeting on "Music in the Iberian Courts," jointly organized by INET-md (NOVA FCSH), ICCMU, and the Complutense University of Madrid. The two previous editions were held in Madrid (2018) and Lisbon (2019) and gave rise to the book Música en las cortes ibéricas (1700-1834): ceremonial, artes del espectáculo y representación del poder, eds. Cristina Fernandes, Judith Ortega. Madrid: SEDEM, 2023.
Despite recent advances in research in the fields of Women's History and Gender Studies, these remain insufficient in Portugal and Spain when it comes to music. Regarding the royal courts, the paradox of "highly visible, often obscure" (Earenfight, 2008) persists. The Iberian monarchies of the 17th to 19th centuries, whether absolutist or constitutional, constitute a fertile field of study from this perspective, comprising both in-depth investigation of relatively well-known figures and the revelation of others who remained in the shadows. Matrimonial ties between the two Iberian courts, and with other European courts, as well as political alliances and family and diplomatic networks, contributed to the circulation and exchange of cultural and musical practices, in which women played, directly or indirectly, important roles. Furthermore, the musical activities of royal and aristocratic women from Portugal and Spain sometimes extended to other territories, including the colonies of both Iberian countries. With this conference, we aim to explore issues related to women and music in the Iberian world through different scientific approaches. Among other possible themes related to this scope, we intend to study how women made (or did not make) political use of musical patronage; what activities royal and aristocratic women engaged in; what repertoires they cultivated and which musicians they promoted. We will also seek to understand to what extent their relationship with music was due to gender stereotypes, linked to tradition and/or court ceremonial, or to individual choices.
The scientific committee encourages submissions within the following topics:
Music and royal power
Musical patronage
Courtly and religious ceremonial
Performance and composition
Collecting music (scores, librettos, musical instruments)
Artistic and diplomatic networks
Music and other arts
Spaces for music
Education in music and dance
Music as a key element for female agency
Musical sociabilities
Emulation of aristocratic role models by women from other social strata
Scholars are invited to submit proposals for individual papers, which shall not exceed 20 minutes. Abstracts should not exceed 300 words, and should be accompanied by a brief curriculum vitae of 150 words max. This should include name, e-mail address and institutional affiliation. Proposals should be sent to.
Official Languages: Spanish, Portuguese, English
Deadline for submissions: 15th January 2026 (inclusive). The results will be communicated by 15th February.
Organization : Universidad Complutense de Madrid - Department of Musicology ; ICCMU - Instituto Complutense de Ciencias Musicales ; INET-md, NOVA FCSH, Research Group “Historical and Cultural Studies in Music”
Scientific Direction: Judith Ortega (Universidad Complutense de Madrid) ; Cristina Fernandes (INET-md, Universidade Nova de Lisboa).
Scientific Committee: Ana Lombardía (Universidad de Salamanca) ; Anne-Madeleine Goulet (CNRS, Centre national de la recherche scientifique) ; Antonella D’Ovidio (Università degli Studi di Firenze) ; Ascensión Mazuela Anguita (Universidad de Granada) ; Ellie Woodacre (University of Winchester) ; Giuseppina Raggi (CES, Universidade de Coimbra) ; Inês Thomas Almeida (INET-md, NOVA FCSH) ; Lluís Bertran (ICCMU, Instituto Complutense de Ciencias Musicales) ; María Cáceres Piñuel (Universidad de La Rioja) ; Natalia González Heras (Universidad Complutense de Madrid) ; Pedro Urbano (IHC, NOVA FCSH) ; Teresa Cascudo (Universidad de La Rioja)
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