CfP: Rhythm under the Microscope II: An Interdisciplinary Conference on Microrhythm and Tempo Variability in Popular Music ( 22.–24.10.2026, mdw Wien), Deadline: 01. 06 2026
Rhythm under the Microscope II: An Interdisciplinary Conference on Microrhythm and Tempo Variability in Popular Music
When
Starts: Thursday, October 22, 2026
Ends: Saturday, October 24, 2026
Rhythm Under the Microscope II is a sequel to the 2024 Rhythm Under the Microscope conference, providing an opportunity for renewed study of microrhythm, including scholarly advances since the first conference, but also opening up to discussions of tempo variability. The conference seeks to bring together musicians and scholars from various disciplines to connect their different perspectives and further the current state of microrhythm, tempo variability, and groove research. Fernando Benadon and Ragnhild Brøvig have been confirmed as keynote speakers.
We invite proposals for paper presentations and workshops. Paper presentations should be 25 minutes long, with an additional 10 minutes allotted for questions and answers. We also encourage scholars to submit ideas for 90-minute workshops in which a group of participants would have the opportunity to learn about current research or pedagogical methods and implement them in a hands-on fashion. Artistic research is also highly welcome. Applicants can submit a maximum of one presentation proposal and one workshop proposal.
Please submit your abstract to rhythm-ipop[at]mdw[dot]ac[dot]at. Abstracts should be between 400 and 700 words (references not included in the word count). Authors will be notified of acceptance by mid-June. For further information, please contact rhythm-ipop[at]mdw[dot]ac[dot]at. Details about registration will be forthcoming.
Organizers
Ralf von Appen, David S. Carter, Anne Danielsen, George Sioros
Keynote Speakers
Ragnhild Brøvig, Fernando Benadon
Topics
Topics of proposed papers and workshops might include but are not limited to:
New methods for analyzing and measuring microrhythmic phenomena and tempo variability
Manipulation of microrhythm or tempo variability in digital music creation
Perception of microrhythm and tempo variability and the neurological bases for these
Microrhythm and bodily movement
The effect of timbre, pitch, duration, etc. on the perception of groove
Relationships between the timing of multiple instruments in a band, played live or manipulated in the studio
Microrhythm or tempo variability in specific musical styles (e.g., specific pop, rock, folk, jazz, EDM, or hip-hop subgenres)
Identifying microrhythmic or tempo “fingerprints” of famous recording artists
Teaching microrhythm or tempo variability in music education
Location: Vienna, Austria
Abstract deadline: June 1, 2026
Hosts: University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, Institute of Popular Music
Website: https://ipop.at/rhythm/