MA in Music (by research): English Church Music

The University of York’s links with York Minster and the presence of the Minster Library (with its extensive historic collections) makes the study of English Church Music through individually-focused study particularly attractive. Subjects ranging from music within the Sarum liturgy through to church music of the present day can be studied, and projects relating to the editing of church music are particularly encouraged.

Applicants for this programme of study should have a clear and realistically scaled research proposal that describes the topic and outlines the sources and research techniques to be employed. Examples may include the study of a particular institution, composer, period, style, or genre, relating, for example, to music within the Sarum liturgy, music and the Reformation in England, Restoration Church Music, decline and revival in the 18th and 19th centuries, and the continuing tradition of English Church Music in the 20th and 21st centuries, etc.

The MA in Music by Research offers postgraduate opportunities to individuals who prefer to study independently rather than through classroom teaching, working under the close supervision of an expert in their field. This is a research degree, not a taught course programme, and applicants will need to have a clearly-focussed research proposal in their given area in order to be considered for admission to the research MA. Supervision and tutorial meetings are held on either a weekly or fortnightly basis throughout the academic year and by arrangement over the summer vacation. There is also an opportunity for all MA by Research students to interact with one another: the MA Research Forum. Meeting on Wednesday mornings, this is a discussion group that engages with common themes, such as issues of writing about music, while offering the opportunity for individual students to present aspects of their research topics to the larger group. Students are also encouraged to attend the weekly Research Seminar series (on Wednesday afternoons) where invited speakers, staff members and PhD students give presentations about their latest work, and there are opportunities to meet other postgraduate researchers.