Professor Christopher Collins

Biography

Chris Collins is Head of the School of Language, Literature, Music and Visual Culture. The multidisciplinary nature of the School is reflected in his own areas of interest, encompassing music, literature, performance art, theatre, European studies and modern languages.

Chris is an authority on the life and work of the Spanish composer Manuel de Falla (1876-1946). His research encompasses a wide range of methodologies, including documentary research, formal analysis, inter-art relations, reception history, and cultural studies. He also works on early 20th-century music more broadly, and has a sideline in popular music research, focusing especially on the period from the mid 1960s to the early 1980s.

Chris has taught and given public lectures on all periods of music history, and has delivered specialised courses on topics ranging from musicological methodology to conducting, and from Wagner to Kate Bush and Björk. He is a highly experienced orchestral, choral and operatic conductor, and over the past 20+ years has directed performances of repertoire ranging from Monteverdi (born 1567) to Mared Emlyn (born 1988). He currently directs the University of Aberdeen Symphony Orchestra.

Chris was formerly Head of the School of Music and Media at Bangor University where he oversaw programmes in music, film, journalism, drama, media studies and production, delivered in both English and Welsh (Chris is a fluent Welsh-speaker). He is active as a campaigner for music education at all levels, and is a vociferous advocate for the UK music industry. He was President of the Independent Society of Musicians in 2020-21. He is a Board member of Aberdeen Performing Arts, a member of the Culture Aberdeen Executive Committee, and is a member of the Strategic Group for the Big Noise programme in Torry, Aberdeen. He is currently Chair of the QAA Subject Benchmark Statement review group for Music.

Chris’s spare time is spent walking, cycling, reading, playing the piano and listening to music.

Research Overview

• Manuel de Falla
• Music in Spain and France, c. 1880-1939
• Music in the Nordic countries, c. 1890-1930
• Popular music and culture in Britain, c. 1960 onwards 
• Sketch studies
• Word-music relations
• Music pedagogy

Current Research

Chris is currently writing a monograph on international aspects of Manuel de Falla's life and work, and is preparing a new edition of Falla's published writings in collaboration with Elena Torres Clemente (Universidad Complutense de Madrid). He is also a contributor to the ongoing critical edition of the correspondence of Manuel de Falla. He is pleased to supervise research students in areas relating to his own specialist interests.

Knowledge Exchange

Chris has spoken widely about his work, including broadcast interviews on BBC Radio Wales and at international conferences and festivals, ranging from Festival No. 6 in Portmeirion, North Wales, to the China-Shanghai International Arts Festival.

Teaching Responsibilities

Chris has taught on a wide range of topics in European music history from Hildegard of Bingen to Kate Bush, via Wagner, Debussy, the Ballets Russes, and the Beatles. He also teaches musicological methodology, word-music relations, music analysis and conducting, and is experienced in coaching music performance. He contributes to cross-School teaching, including workshops on undertaking research and writing dissertations.

Non-course Teaching Responsibilities

Chris is director of the University of Aberdeen Symphony Orchestra, with a student membership extended across all Schools of the University.