Dr. Sam Barrett

Biography

Sam Barrett is a Professor of Early Medieval Music at the University of Cambridge and a Fellow and Director of Studies in Music at Pembroke College. His specialization includes early medieval music with a particular focus on issues of Latin song, notation, transmission, and performance. His research interests extend to jazz-related genres and popular music, highlighting his work's interdisciplinary nature. He explores how music intersects with text, writing, orality, and memory. Barrett is recognized for his examinations of the earliest surviving layers of the Western European lyric tradition, specifically late antique and early medieval Latin lyric. His research has led to the identification of new notated sources and the development of analytical techniques for assessing this musical tradition. He has produced new editions that shed light on this continuous European tradition of song. His undergraduate teaching encompasses topics such as medieval music and jazz, while his graduate-level contributions include co-teaching the Introduction to Musicology course. He actively supervises MPhil and PhD theses covering medieval music, jazz, and other areas. His performance interests remain vital, working closely with professional groups like Sequentia. His efforts have led to contributions in concert programs and recordings, including a CD titled 'Boethius: Songs of Consolation'.

Research Interests

Experience