Dr Nicholas Jones
Reader in Musicology
- jonesn3@cardiff.ac.uk
- +44 (0)29 2087 4171
- 1.13, 37 Corbett Road
- Available for postgraduate supervision
Overview
My research interests lie primarily in British music since 1900. I have written articles for Music & Letters, The Musical Times and Tempo, and have co-edited books for Cambridge University Press on Peter Maxwell Davies (2009), Michael Tippett (2013) and Harrison Birtwistle (2015). Recent publications include Peter Maxwell Davies, Selected Writings (Cambridge University Press, 2017) and The Music of Peter Maxwell Davies (Boydell & Brewer, 2020, co-authored with Richard McGregor). I am Co-director of the Cardiff University British Music Research Centre (CUBRIT).
I have recently updated Peter Maxwell Davies’s entry in the New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians and, with Richard McGregor, catalogued the composer’s works into opus and WoO numbers. I am Co-curator of the Peter Maxwell Davies Research Network and a Trustee of The Peter Maxwell Davies Trust. I am also a member of the Editorial Advisory Board for Tempo.
From September 2018 to January 2021, I was Director of Recruitment and Admissions at the School of Music. I am currently Director of Performance. I am a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA) and hold a Postgraduate Certificate in University Teaching and Learning (PCUTL). I currently hold an External Examiner position at the Open University, having previously held the same position at the University of Edinburgh and Aberystwyth University.
Biography
I am a graduate of Cardiff University, where I was awarded a PhD for an analytical study of Sir Peter Maxwell Davies’s Third Symphony and a portfolio of original compositions. From 2005 to 2007, I was Lecturer in Music and Deputy Chair of the MA in Music programme at The Open University, and from 2008 to 2017, I co-ordinated the Humanities programme at Cardiff University's Division of Professional and Continuing Education.
Academic positions
- 2021 - present: Reader in Musicology, School of Music, Cardiff University
- 2017 - 2021: Senior Lecturer, School of Music, Cardiff University
- 2016 - 2017: Associate Senior Lecturer, School of Music, Cardiff University
- 2008 - 2017: Co-ordinating Lecturer in the Humanities, Continuing and Professional Education, Cardiff University
- 2005 - 2007: Lecturer in Music, Open University
- 2001 - 2010: Associate Lecturer in Music, Open University
- 1996 - 2012: Associate Lecturer in Music, Cardiff University
Committees and reviewing
Member of the Editorial Advisory Board, Tempo
Publications
2022
- Jones, N. 2022. Art music and Welsh identity. Presented at: 58th Annual Conference of the Royal Musical Association, Durham, UK, 8-10 September 2022.
- Jones, N. 2022. Composing Cymru: Art music since 1940. In: Herbert, T., Clarke, M. V. and Barlow, H. eds. Cambridge History of Welsh Music. Cambridge University Press, pp. 264-290., (10.1017/9781009036511.015)
- Jones, N. 2022. ‘The northern night-fire calls us to our sleep’: Peter Maxwell Davies’s The Hogboon and the Dynamics of Late Style. Presented at: Music Since 1900 Twelfth Biennial International Conference, Birmingham Conservatoire, 17-20 June 2022.
2021
- Jones, N. 2021. Incantations: early chamber works of Peter Maxwell Davies. [Performed at Unmasking Max: Peter Maxwell Davies Study Day, School of Music, Cardiff University, 4 December 2021].
- Jones, N. 2021. ‘The rain soaked sky is leaden’: Welsh identity and dystopian impulses in The Doctor of Myddfai. Cambridge Opera Journal
- Jones, N. 2021. Composing Cymru: Welsh identity and British art music since 1945. Presented at: John Bird Research Lectures 2021-22, School of Music, Cardiff University, 13 October 2021.
- Jones, N. 2021. Peter Maxwell Davies’s The Doctor of Myddfai: Using the sketches and other primary source material to unveil the creative process. Presented at: Peter Maxwell Davies Research Network Friday Forum, Online, 12 November 2021.
2020
- Jones, N. 2020. Landscape and place. In: Jones, N. and McGregor, R. eds. The Music of Peter Maxwell Davies. Woodbridge: Boydell & Brewer, pp. 251-302., (10.1017/9781787446823.008)
- Jones, N. and McGregor, R. 2020. The music of Peter Maxwell Davies. Boydell & Brewer.
- Jones, N. 2020. Manchester Resonances: Peter Maxwell Davies’s Juvenilia. Presented at: 2020 North American British Music Studies Association Conference, Illinois State University [virtual conference], 21–26 July 2020.
2019
- Jones, N. 2019. Sir Peter Maxwell Davies: the man and the music. [Online]. themaxtrust.org: The Peter Maxwell Davies Trust. Available at: https://www.themaxtrust.org/about.html
2018
- Jones, N. 2018. ‘Death’s dark door stands open’: Peter Maxwell Davies’s Tenth Symphony. Presented at: 54th Annual Conference of the Royal Musicians Assocation, Bristol, UK, 13-15 September 2018.
- Jones, N. 2018. 'For the Islands I sing': composing the Orkney landscape. Presented at: New Perspectives on the Music of Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, Canterbury Christ Church University, UK, 12 May 2018.
2017
- Jones, N. 2017. 'Max the Mighty carved these runes': editing the writings of Peter Maxwell Davies. Presented at: Kenneth Gloag In Memoriam One Day Public Symposium, Chamber Recital and Jazz Concert, School of Music, Cardiff University, Cardiff, 2 December 2017.
- Jones, N. ed. 2017. Peter Maxwell Davies, selected writings. Music since 1900. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. (10.1017/9781316662519)
- Jones, N. 2017. British classical music, landscape and a sense of place. Presented at: AWEN [Arts-Whitchurch-Eglwys-Newydd] Public Lecture, Whitchurch, Cardiff, UK, 13 June 2017.
2016
- Jones, N. and Warnaby, J. 2016. Davies, Peter Maxwell. In: Oxford Music Online. Oxford: Oxford University Press
2015
- Beard, D. J., Gloag, K. and Jones, N. eds. 2015. Harrison Birtwistle studies. Cambridge Composer Studies. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
- Jones, N. 2015. The sound of Raasay: Birtwistle's Hebridean experience. In: Beard, D., Gloag, K. and Jones, N. eds. Harrison Birtwistle Studies. Cambridge Composer Studies Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 175-205., (10.1017/CBO9781316145326.008)
- Jones, N. 2015. Das Land ohne Musik? British classical music, from Elgar to the Cultural Olympiad. Presented at: Exploring the Past Lecture Series, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK, 20 May 2015.
2013
- Gloag, K. and Jones, N. eds. 2013. The Cambridge companion to Michael Tippett. Cambridge Companions to Music. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
- Jones, N. 2013. Formal archetypes, revered masters and singing nightingales: Tippett’s string quartets. In: The Cambridge Companion to Michael Tippett. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 206-228.
- Jones, N. 2013. Embedding assessment into course design: a view from Lifelong Learning. Presented at: UALL Annual Conference: Who and What are Universities For?, Durham University, UK, 20-22 March 2013.
2012
- Jones, N. 2012. Being British: Issues of national identity in classical music, from Edward Elgar to Peter Maxwell Davies. Presented at: Creative Minds Festival of Ideas, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK, 13 November 2012.
- Jones, N. 2012. Interlacings: Reflections on issues of autobiography in two works of Peter Maxwell Davies. Presented at: New Music in Britain, Canterbury Christ Church University, UK, 10-12 May 2012.
2011
- Jones, N. 2011. György Kurtág: Three Interviews and Ligeti Homages. Compiled & ed. by Bálint András Varga. [Book review]. Music & Letters 92(2), pp. 330-332. (10.1093/ml/gcr014)
2010
- Jones, N. 2010. Peter Maxwell Davies in the 1950s: a conversation with the composer. Tempo 64(254), pp. 11-19. (10.1017/S0040298210000380)
- Jones, N. 2010. Northcott Bayan, The Way We Listen Now and Other Writings on Music, ed. Wintle Christopher (London: Plumbago, 2009) [Book Review]. Twentieth-Century Music 7(2), pp. 267-270. (10.1017/S1478572211000223)
- Jones, N. and McGregor, R. 2010. Peter Maxwell Davies's Opus and WoO Numbers: A New Work List. Musical Times 151, pp. 53-86.
- Jones, N. 2010. Review: Managing modernism 2. Reviewed work: Musical modernism at the turn of the twenty-first century by David Metzer [Book review]. The Musical Times 151(1912), pp. 109-112.
- Jones, N. 2010. Review: Second chance. Havergal Brian on music, volume two: European and American music in his time, edited by Malcolm MacDonald [Book Review]. Musical Times 151(1911), pp. 118-120.
2009
- Gloag, K. and Jones, N. eds. 2009. Peter Maxwell Davies Studies. Cambridge Composer Studies. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
- Jones, N. 2009. The music of Hugh Wood. By Edward Venn. [Book review]. Music and Letters 90(3), pp. 514-516. (10.1093/ml/gcp016)
- Jones, N. 2009. The writings of a young British composer: Peter Maxwell Davies in the 1950s. In: Peter Maxwell Davies Studies. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 21-44.
- Jones, N. 2009. Peter Maxwell Davies's articles, lectures, interviews and radio broadcasts. In: Gloag, K. and Jones, N. eds. Peter Maxwell Davies Studies. Cambridge Composer Studies Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 231-241.
- Jones, N. 2009. Review: Law & Order. Serialism by Arnold Whittall. Musical Times 150(1906), pp. 100-103.
2008
- Jones, N. 2008. Madonna as pop diva [Chapter in Book 1 of AA100 The Arts Past and Present]. The Open University. - teaching_resource
- Jones, N. 2008. Seaside music: The Beach Boys and The Who [Chapter in Book 4 of AA100 The Arts Past and Present]. The Open University. - teaching_resource
2007
- Jones, N. 2007. 'The End' by The Doors [Chapter in Block 5 of A179 Start Listening to Music]. The Open University. - teaching_resource
- Jones, N. 2007. Review: Dumbing up. The way of music: aural training for the Internet generation by Robin Maconie [Book review]. Musical Times 148(1901), pp. 111-114. (10.2307/25434506)
- Jones, N. 2007. Review: Existential Elgar. Edward Elgar, Modernist by JPE Harper-Scott [Book review]. Musical Times 148(1899), pp. 81-88. (10.2307/25434460)
2006
- Jones, N. 2006. "Disparagement and Invidious Comparisons": assessing critical reactions to Mathias's First Symphony. Tempo 60(238), pp. 8-14. (10.1017/S0040298206000283)
2005
- Jones, N. 2005. 'Playing the Great Game'? Peter Maxwell Davies, Sonata form, and the Naxos Quartet no. 1. Musical Times 146, pp. 71-81. (10.2307/30044107)
- Jones, N. 2005. The music of Peter Maxwell Davies: An introduction. Presented at: Cardiff Recorded Music Society Lecture Series, Cardiff, UK, 30 November 2005.
2004
- Jones, N. 2004. Ranging over the forest: a conversation with Anthony Powers. Tempo 58(228), pp. 23-31. (10.1017/S0040298204000117)
- Jones, N. 2004. Peter Maxwell Davies and sonata form. Presented at: Peter Maxwell Davies One-Day Conference, Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury, UK, 16 October 2004.
2003
- Jones, N. 2003. Anthony Powers at 50: Luminous, but with shadows. Musical Times 144(1884), pp. 26-35. (10.2307/3650698)
2002
- Jones, N. 2002. Dominant Logic: Peter Maxwell Davies's basic unifying hypothesis. The Musical Times 143(1878), pp. 37-45. (10.2307/1004421)
- Jones, N. 2002. Review: All Set. Serial Music, Serial Aesthetics: Compositional Theory in Post-War Europe by MJ Grant [Book Review]. Musical Times 143(1879), pp. 78-79. (10.2307/1004607)
- Jones, N. 2002. Perspectives on Peter Maxwell Davies edited by R. McGregor [Book Review]. Music and Letters 83(1), pp. 147-151. (10.1093/ml/83.1.147)
2000
- Jones, N. 2000. Peter Maxwell Davies's 'submerged cathedral': architectural principles in the Third Symphony. Music & Letters 81(3), pp. 402-432. (10.1093/ml/81.3.402)
- Jones, N. 2000. Towards the Symphonic odyssey: Maxwell Davies's Works for Orchestra 1958-73. [Online]. Maxopus.com. Available at: http://www.maxopus.com/resources_detail.aspx?key=64
- Jones, N. 2000. Mathias's String Quartet No.1. Something to shout about. The Musical Times 141(1872), pp. 24-32. (10.2307/1004395)
- Jones, N. 2000. Architectural perspectives on Peter Maxwell Davies's Third Symphony. Presented at: Peter Maxwell Davies Conference, St Martin's College, Lancaster, UK, 1-2 April 2000.
1998
- Jones, N. 1998. 'Preliminary workings': The precompositional process in Maxwell Davies's Third Symphony. Tempo 204, pp. 14-22.
Teaching
Running in parallel with my research activities, I have a professional interest in all areas of education at HE level, particularly in relation to enhancing the educational experience for learners, exploring different approaches to assessment, improving feedback to students, quality assurance processes and technology-enhanced education. I have devised, implemented and maintained large-scale projects and programmes, and I also have significant leadership and senior-level management experience.
I am a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA) and I hold a Postgraduate Certificate in University Teaching and Learning (PCUTL).
Teaching commitments for 2022–23:
- Level 4: Writing About Music (module co-ordinator)
- Level 6: Dissertation (module co-ordinator)
- Level 7: Music Research in Practice (module co-ordinator) and individual teaching sessions on other MA modules
Postgraduate supervision:
I have successfully supervised a PhD on Peter Maxwell Davies’s Revelation and Fall and over 30 MA dissertations. I am currently supervising 7 PhD students.
I would welcome enquiries from those interested in PhD research into any aspect of 20th- and 21st-century British music, especially Peter Maxwell Davies and Welsh art music. Those with an interest in 20th-century music more generally are also encouraged to contact me.
My specialist research interest centres on twentieth-century and contemporary British music, especially Peter Maxwell Davies, Harrison Birtwistle, Michael Tippett and William Mathias. My work focuses on music analysis, interpretation, sketch study and aspects of biography, context, national identity and landscape.
I have a substantial and sustained research output with major publishers and music journals. I am co-editor of, and contributor to, Peter Maxwell Davies Studies (CUP, 2009), The Cambridge Companion to Michael Tippett (CUP, 2013) and Harrison Birtwistle Studies (CUP, 2015), and editor of Peter Maxwell Davies: Selected Writings (CUP, 2017).
My most recent book, The Music of Peter Maxwell Davies (Boydell & Brewer), co-authored with Richard McGregor, was published in 2020.
I am currently working on an edited book concerning the British and Irish symphony since 1900 (Cambridge University Press, forthcoming 2024). I also have a chapter in the forthcoming Cambridge History of Welsh Music and an article in Cambridge Opera Journal in relation to Peter Maxwell Davies's The Doctor of Myddfai.
I am Co-director of the Cardiff University British Music Research Centre (CUBRIT), Co-curator of the Peter Maxwell Davies Research Network and a member of the Editorial Advisory Board for the journal Tempo.
Supervision
I have successfully supervised a PhD on Peter Maxwell Davies’s Revelation and Fall and over 30 MA dissertations.
I am currently supervising 7 PhD students.
- I would welcome enquiries from those interested in PhD research into any aspect of 20th- and 21st-century British music, especially Peter Maxwell Davies and Welsh art music. Those with an interest in 20th-century music more generally are also encouraged to contact me.
