Personal statement

Amanda Bayley is Professor of Music at Bath Spa University where she leads an interdisciplinary research group on Intercultural Communication through Practice.

One of her research areas examines creative processes across repertoires, genres and cultures, including composer-performer collaborations and rehearsal analysis. She is Co-Investigator on two projects funded by the European Research Council: Beyond East and West: developing and documenting an evolving transcultural musical practice (2015-2023); and Interactive Research in Music as Sound (2017-2023) where she leads an improvisation case study. She is co-editor of a new book series with Routledge on Transcultural Musical Practices and humanities editor for the Journal of Interdisciplinary Music Studies.

Recent developments in her research involve intersections between nature and music. She leads an ESRC/AHRC research network between the UK and South Korea on Ecotones: Soundscapes of Trees (2022-23) that develops her work on Interspecies Listening (2021) and Hear Water: building environmental empathy through deep listening (2022).

Amanda’s interests in the areas of performance and analysis, processes of composition, rehearsal and performance in contemporary music, especially in string quartets, stem from her PhD at the University of Reading on Bartók Performance Studies. Playing viola she is a regular member of the Brandon Hill Chamber Orchestra.

Amanda is editor of The Cambridge Companion to Bartók (Cambridge University Press, 2001) and Recorded Music: Performance, Culture, and Technology (Cambridge University Press, 2010) for which she received the Ruth A. Solie Award from the American Musicological Society in 2011. She was President of the Society for Music Analysis from 2004 to 2008. From 2007 to 2009 she led a collaborative research project with the Kreutzer Quartet and Michael Finnissy entitled: ‘From Composition to Performance: Innovations and Interactions in Contemporary String Quartets’ funded by a British Academy Larger Research Grant. One of the significant outputs of this research is the software DVD, Evolution and Collaboration: the composition, rehearsal and performance of Finnissy’s Second String Quartet, produced with Michael Clarke (University of Huddersfield) in 2011.

Additional outputs relating to this collaborative research include the Kreutzer Quartet’s DVD Quartet Choreography and their recording of Finnissy's Second and Third String Quartets, the latter being dedicated to Amanda in 2009.

Academic qualifications

  • PhD - Reading
  • MMus - Surrey
  • BA (Hons) - Dartington College of Arts

Professional qualifications

  • PGCertHE

Current scholarship

  • Current research projects include work on an AHRC-funded Research Network on Performance in the Recording Studio, led by Simon Zagorski-Thomas (London College of Music, University of West London).
  • For details of recent and current research projects, and areas for PhD supervision, please visit my website: http://amandabayley.co.uk/

Professional memberships

  • Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
  • Member of the international advisory panel for the AHRC Research Centre for the History and Analysis of Recorded Music (CHARM) [2004-2009]
  • President of the Society for Music Analysis [2004-2008]
  • Committee member/Secretary of the National Association for Music in Higher Education [2002-2006]
  • Events Officer of the Society for Music Analysis [2000-2004]

Current memberships:

  • American Musicological Society
  • Royal Musical Association
  • Society for Music Analysis
  • Sound and Music

External examiners

  • Royal Academy of Music [PhD, 2012, 2006]
  • Canterbury Christ Church University [PhD, 2011]
  • Sydney Conservatorium [PhD, 2009]
  • Kingston University [BMus(Hons), 2005-2008] 
  • Kneller Hall Military School of Music [BMus(Hons), 2005-2008]

Other external roles

  • Humanities Editor for the Journal of Interdisciplinary Music Studies [2012-]
  • Regular peer reviewer of articles for academic journals and book manuscripts [2005-]

Teaching Specialism

  • Twentieth-century music history and analysis
  • Performance Studies
  • World Music
  • Ethnomusicology

Current MPhil/PhD supervisions 

  • James Williams, 'Creative interaction and collaborative process in contemporary music and its performance' [2012-]
  • Chris Foster, 'Determining the Indeterminate' [2008-]

Research and academic outputs

Go to ResearchSPAce

Recorded music: performance, culture and technology
book

Bayley, A, ed. (2010) Recorded music: performance, culture and technology. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. ISBN 9780521863094

The Cambridge companion to Bartók
book

Bayley, A (2001) The Cambridge companion to Bartók. Cambridge Companions to Music . Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. ISBN 9780521669580

Cross-cultural collaborations with the Kronos Quartet
book_section

Bayley, A (2018) 'Cross-cultural collaborations with the Kronos Quartet.' In: Clarke, E and Doffman, M, eds. Distributed creativity: collaboration and improvisation in contemporary music. Oxford University Press, New York, NY, pp. 93-113. ISBN 9780199355914

Developing dialogues in intercultural music-making
book_section

Bayley, A and Dutiro, C (2016) 'Developing dialogues in intercultural music-making.' In: Burnard, P, Mackinlay, E and Powell, K, eds. The Routledge international handbook of intercultural arts research. Routledge, Abingdon, pp. 391-403. ISBN 9781138909939

Interpreting indeterminancy: filming Lutoslawski's String Quartet
book_section

Bayley, A and Heyde, N (2013) 'Interpreting indeterminancy: filming Lutoslawski's String Quartet.' In: Polish music since 1945. Musica Iagellonica, Krakow, pp. 228-243. ISBN 9788370991852

Analysing Michael Finnissy’s Second String Quartet: a multimedia interactive approach
book_section

Bayley, A and Clarke, M (2010) 'Analysing Michael Finnissy’s Second String Quartet: a multimedia interactive approach.' In: Utz, C, ed. Music theory and interdisciplinarity: 8th Congress of the Gesellschaft für Musiktheorie Graz 2008. Musik theorien der gegenwart (4). Pfau, Saarbrücken. ISBN 9783897274488

Multiple takes: using recordings to document creative process
book_section

Bayley, A (2010) 'Multiple takes: using recordings to document creative process.' In: Bayley, A, ed. Recorded music: performance, culture and technology. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp. 206-224. ISBN 9780521863094

The nature of expressivity in Berio’s Sequenza VI for viola
book_section

Bayley, A (2007) 'The nature of expressivity in Berio’s Sequenza VI for viola.' In: Halfyard, J, ed. Berio's Sequenzas: essays on performance, composition and analysis. Ashgate, Aldershot ; Burlington, VT, pp. 233-254. ISBN 9780754654452

The string quartets and works for chamber orchestra
book_section

Bayley, A (2001) 'The string quartets and works for chamber orchestra.' In: Bayley, A, ed. The Cambridge companion to Bartók. Cambridge companions to music . Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp. 151-174. ISBN 9780521669580

Pedagogical considerations: facilitating agency in the vocal recording of early career singer-songwriters
article

Hughes, D and Bayley, A (2024) 'Pedagogical considerations: facilitating agency in the vocal recording of early career singer-songwriters.' Journal of Popular Music Education, 8 (2). pp. 179-196. ISSN 2397-673X

Communicating through notation: Michael Finnissy’s Second String Quartet from composition to performance
article

Bayley, A and Heyde, N (2017) 'Communicating through notation: Michael Finnissy’s Second String Quartet from composition to performance.' Music Performance Research, 8. pp. 80-97. ISSN 1755-9219

Creative layers and continuities: a case study of Nicole Lizée and the Kronos Quartet
article

Bayley, A and Lizée, N (2016) 'Creative layers and continuities: a case study of Nicole Lizée and the Kronos Quartet.' Musicae Scientiae, 20 (3). pp. 392-412. ISSN 1029-8649

Ethnographic research into contemporary string quartet rehearsal
article

Bayley, A (2011) 'Ethnographic research into contemporary string quartet rehearsal.' Ethnomusicology Forum, 20 (3). pp. 385-411. ISSN 1741-1912

Enquête sur la genèse du Deuxième quatuor à cordes de Michael Finnissy
article

Bayley, A (2010) 'Enquête sur la genèse du Deuxième quatuor à cordes de Michael Finnissy.' Genesis: Revue Internationale de Critique Génétique, 31. pp. 37-54. ISSN 1167-5101

Analytical representations of creative processes in Michael Finnissy’s Second String Quartet
article

Bayley, A and Clarke, M (2009) 'Analytical representations of creative processes in Michael Finnissy’s Second String Quartet.' Journal of Interdisciplinary Music Studies, 3 (1&2). pp. 139-157. ISSN 1307-0401

Bartók's String Quartet No. 4/III: a new interpretative approach
article

Bayley, A (2000) 'Bartók's String Quartet No. 4/III: a new interpretative approach.' Music Analysis, 19 (3). pp. 353-382. ISSN 1468-2249

Researching cross-cultural collaborations
conference_item

Bayley, A (2017) Researching cross-cultural collaborations. In: International Symposium of Ethnographies of Musical Heritage, 21 - 24 November 2017, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil.

Whose difference? Whose 'multiculturalism'?
conference_item

Bayley, A and Nooshin, L (2017) Whose difference? Whose 'multiculturalism'? In: British Forum for Ethnomusicology One-Day Conference: 'Listening to Difference' - Music and Multiculturalism, 21 October 2017, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.

Crossing musical bridges: composers, performers and intercultural encounters
conference_item

Bayley, A (2017) Crossing musical bridges: composers, performers and intercultural encounters. In: Professorial Lecture Series 2016-17, 22 February 2017, Bath Spa University, Bath, UK.

On composer-performer collaboration
conference_item

Bayley, A (2016) On composer-performer collaboration. In: Michael Finnissy: Dialogues, 17 November 2016, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, UK.

Creating new music across cultural boundaries: mbira and string quartet
conference_item

Bayley, A and Dutiro, C (2015) Creating new music across cultural boundaries: mbira and string quartet. In: Tracking the Creative Process in Music: Third International Conference, 8-10 October 2015, Institut de Recherche et Coordination Acoustique/Musique, Paris, France.

Women and analysis
conference_item

Bayley, A (2015) Women and analysis. In: KeeleMAC 2015: The Keele Music Analysis Conference, 8-10 July 2015, Keele Hall, Keele University, UK.

Layers of creativity in composition, rehearsal and performance: Nicole Lizée and the Kronos Quartet
conference_item

Bayley, A and Lizée, N (2013) Layers of creativity in composition, rehearsal and performance: Nicole Lizée and the Kronos Quartet. In: Tracking the Creative Process in Music Second International Conference, 10-13 October 2013, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada.

Discourses in the recording studio
conference_item

Bayley, A (2013) Discourses in the recording studio. In: Online Conference on Performance in the Studio. Convened by the (UK) AHRC-funded Research Network on Performance in the Studio (PitS), 29 April-5 May 2013.

Rehearsal as creative process
conference_item

Bayley, A and Elverdam, B (2013) Rehearsal as creative process. In: CMPCP Performance Studies Network Second International Conference, 4-7 April 2013, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.

Mapping a composer's intentions from composition to performance
conference_item

Bayley, A (2012) Mapping a composer's intentions from composition to performance. In: New Music in Britain Conference, 10-12 May 2012, Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury, UK.

Evolution and collaboration in string quartet composition, rehearsal and performance
conference_item

Bayley, A (2011) Evolution and collaboration in string quartet composition, rehearsal and performance. In: Tracking the Creative Process in Music International Conference, 29 September - 1 October 2011, Communauté d'Universités et d'Etablissements Lille Nord de France, Lille, France.

Rehearsal analysis of Finnissey's Third String Quartet
conference_item

Bayley, A (2011) Rehearsal analysis of Finnissey's Third String Quartet. In: CMPCP Performance Studies Network International Conference, 14-17 July 2011, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.

Ethnographic research into string quartet rehearsal and performance
conference_item

Bayley, A (2009) Ethnographic research into string quartet rehearsal and performance. In: Twenty-fifth European Seminar in Ethnomusicology: Performance, 18-22 September 2009, Milton Keynes, UK.

Investigating the interpretative space between notation and performance
conference_item

Bayley, A (2009) Investigating the interpretative space between notation and performance. In: IAMS Symposium, Music: Notation and Sound, 5-10 July 2009, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Interpreting indeterminancy: performing Lutosławski’s String Quartet
conference_item

Bayley, A and Heyde, N (2009) Interpreting indeterminancy: performing Lutosławski’s String Quartet. In: Polish Music Since 1945, 30 April - 2 May 2009, Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury, UK.

Interactive strategies for analysing music
conference_item

Bayley, A and Clarke, M (2008) Interactive strategies for analysing music. In: Eighth Congress of the Gesellschaft für Musiktheorie (GMTH), Music Theory and Interdisciplinarity, 9-12 October 2008, University of Music and the Dramatic Arts, Graz, Austria.

Interactive strategies for analysing musical structure
conference_item

Bayley, A and Clarke, M (2008) Interactive strategies for analysing musical structure. In: Fourth International Conference on Interdisciplinary Musicology, 2-6 July 2008, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.

The relationship between notation and performance practice in Michael Finnissy’s Second String Quartet
conference_item

Bayley, A (2007) The relationship between notation and performance practice in Michael Finnissy’s Second String Quartet. In: Sixth European Music Analysis Conference on Interpretation, 11-14 October 2007, Hochschule für Musik and the Albert-Ludwigs-Universität, Freiburg, Germany.

Documenting the creative process: recordings as research tools
conference_item

Bayley, A (2007) Documenting the creative process: recordings as research tools. In: CHARM/RMA annual conference on Musicology and Recordings, 13-15 September 2007, University of London, London, UK.

Evolution and collaboration: the composition, rehearsal and performance of Finnissy’s Second String Quartet [DVD]
other

Bayley, A and Clarke, M (2011) Evolution and collaboration: the composition, rehearsal and performance of Finnissy’s Second String Quartet [DVD].