Research, Scholarship & Education

Dissertation Abstract

Working thesis title: "Historiography and the problem of the year 1600; Performance practice in the lighter vocal forms of Sigismondo d'India." Suzanne's research interests broadly cover all aspects of early music and performance practice; her dissertation specifically will focus on vocal music in Europe in the late Renaissance and early Baroque eras. Her thesis takes an historiographical approach, viewing the problematic 'special status' accorded to the year 1600 through the lens of the life and works of Italian composer Sigismondo d'India. She will look less at his monodies and 5-voiced madrigals, and more at his villanelle and canzonette, which have been largely ignored by both scholars and performers. It is not always clear to us today what historical 'style' these songs are in, hence Sue's PhD will include performances which trouble the divide between 16th and 17th century practices.

 

Education

2007 - present PhD Candidate in Music by Thesis, University of York, UK: Historical Performance Practice (Voice)
Recipient of the Lady Roslyn Lyons MA Scholarship, and the International Student Award
2003 - 2004 PhD Candidate, Eastman School of Music; University of Rochester: Musicology (Vocal Performance)
1998 - 2001 MTS, Harvard University; The Divinity School: Medieval Studies, Gender Studies
Bok Center Graduate Writing Fellow
1993 - 1997 BA, Oberlin College and Conservatory of Music: dual majors in Musicology, honours (Vocal Performance); Religion

 

 

 

Research Events

7 - 9 January 2010

University of York, Music department, Heslington
RMA CONFERENCE: York hosts the annual Student Research Conference of the Royal Music Association - Convergence and Confluence: Exploring shared ground in musical research. Sue will co-chair a panel discussion on "Ownership of the Musical Work," chair a paper session on "Convention and Genre," and read a paper on Jesuit Music drama for a colleague. I am also on the Committee as Programme Coordinator and Website Coordinator. To learn more, please see this link.

8 January 2009

16:00 - King’s College, London
PAPER PRESENTATION: Sue gives a talk at The Annual Gender and Medieval Studies Conference, "Locating Gender" at King’s College, London, 8-10 January 2009, Council Room, Strand Campus. For more information, follow this link.

11 December 2008

17:30 - York Minster Library, Alcuin Room, York
PAPER PRESENTATION: Medieval Religion Research Group, York Centre for Medieval Studies. Suzanne Fatta (Music, York), “Subversion, Suffering and Gender Fluidity in the Mystical Writings of Francis of Assisi and Angela of Foligno.” For more information, follow this link.

 

Teaching Experience

August 2009 Mentor, Coach, Vivaldi's Women Summer School
Bass section leader, rehearsal director, vocal coach
2008 - present Tutorial Assistant, Writing Tutor (2008-09) and
Teaching Assistant (2009-10), York Music Department
2006 - 2007 Adjunct Professor, Canisius College, Buffalo, NY
- Fine Arts/ Music Department, Sacred Musics of the World
- Religion Department, Zen and the Meditative Tradition
2001 - 2003 Teaching Fellow, Harvard Music Department
- Core Course, Music of the Swing Era, under Prof. Robert Levin
Recipient of the Bok Center Teaching Award of Distinction
- Teaching Assistant, Harvard Music Department, Core Course, Soundscapes, under Prof. Shelemay
1994 - 1996 Teaching Assistant, Tutor, Oberlin Conservatory of Music
- Introduction to Music History 101, under Prof. Sylvan Suskin
- Introduction to Music History 100, under Prof. Suskin
- Music of the Baroque Era, under Prof. Steven Plank
1993 - 1995, 1999 Music Instructor and Camp Counselor, Camp Encore/ Coda; Sweden, ME; summers
- private voice lessons, vocal performance classes, vocal chamber groups and jazz choir, introductory music history, all levels of music theory, camper concerts producer, Music Librarian

 

Sample syllabi

Zen and the Meditative Life

Department of Religious Studies, Canisius College

This course will give a brief overview of the entire Buddhist tradition, leading up to a focused examination of Zen Buddhism as practiced in China and Japan primarily, as well as in Korea, Vietnam and the West; other meditative traditions will be studied, notably Christian practice. The history, practices and beliefs of the Zen tradition will be situated in and studied through their broader cultural context. Please note, this is not a how-to-do-it course! (If you’re interested in doing meditation, I can help you find outside organizations). Students will learn how to read critically, to write clearly and question constructively in this class. Most classes will be lectures; we will also have discussion sessions and audio-visual viewings. Students will also keep a Zen journal, which will help us reflect on the unfortunate portrayal of Zen in popular culture and imagination, especially in marketing.

Sacred Musics of the World

Department of Fine Arts, Canisius College

This class will give an overview of sacred music traditions from around the world. We will look at liturgical music, songs for private devotion, popular music, rock & folk protest songs, and the correlation between dance and performance in religious music. Also, we will examine the distinctions between sacred, religious, mystical, shamanistic and liturgical musics. Students will learn how to read critically, to write clearly, to listen to music and question constructively in this class. Most classes will be lectures; we will also have discussion sessions and audio-visual viewings. An ability to read music is not a requirement for this course, non-musicians are welcome. We will emphasize all music traditions equally and on their own terms in this class, each topic will be situated historically and culturally in its own context. We’ll also examine how people use sacred music to negotiate a nexus of identity, and how politics, social change and social justice come into play. Hands-on listening will round out each class. Students are encouraged to bring their own expertise to class.

Soundscapes: Exploring Music in a Changing World

Music department (core course), Harvard University
Prof. Kay Kaufman Shelemay

Many musical traditions at the turn of the 21st century cross geographic boundaries. Nowhere are diverse music traditions more prominently represented in public performance and maintained in private practice than in North America, where centuries of immigration and an increasingly multiethnic population have given rise to a complex musical environment. “Soundscapes” explores a cross-section of the different musical styles that coexist and interact in today’s society, examining their relationship to their historical homelands and to their present-day settings.