The Laboratory for the Study of Hellenic Music of the Sector of Historical and Systematic Musicology covers the increased scientific, research, teaching, educational and artistic requirements about Greek art music in each of its expressions. The aim of the Laboratory is to fulfil the practical application of the relevant theoretical knowledge and to complete the training of undergraduate and postgraduate students, as required by the needs of the modern musicologist, graduate or holder of a postgraduate specialty or doctoral degree.
The Laboratory provides graduates and postgraduate students of the Music Department with all necessary infrastructure for their better scientific formation, the ability to know and utilize new research tools and faster adaptation to current and future demands of the music profession in Greece and elsewhere, so that the graduates of the Department be able, after their graduation, to occupy critical positions in the workplace of music, culture, research and education.
For better and more efficient management of these objectives, the Laboratory consists of the following individual units:
A. Research and Training Unit which has the mission:
1. The support, documentation, production and promotion of original research that falls into the scientific subject of the Laboratory in the fields of Historical and Systematic Musicology concerning Greek Music.
2. The undertaking and conduct of basic and applied research programs by the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Culture and other Ministries, the Research Committee of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, the European Union, etc. either independently or in collaboration with domestic and foreign academic institutions, museums, research centers and other relevant institutions.
3. The scientific, logistics and financial support of archival research of musical interest.
4. The organization and implementation of training seminars and training in Historical and Systematic Musicology and Greek Music that are addressed a) to teachers of all levels, b) to scientists and researchers of related subjects, c) to cultural institutions, institutions, institutes, etc.
5. The creation of the appropriate logistics and technical infrastructure (audiovisual media, computers, etc.) – either independently or in collaboration with other Departments and Laboratories – that will support the conduct of musicological research, the analysis of archival material and the teaching of the relevant courses.
6. Cooperation with relevant Departments or researchers of other Universities or research institutes of the country or abroad for the promotion of the objectives and the wider dissemination of the research results of the works of the laboratory.
7. The creation of space for the laboratory practice of students in the relevant fields.
8. The applied-laboratory teaching of the relevant subjects of Historical and Systemic Musicology and Greek Music, as provided by the Department’s Curriculum.
B. Archival and Library unit, which has the following mission:
1. The creation of a specialized library, recording and film collections that will serve the activities of the Laboratory.
2. The collection, storage, and preservation of primary musicological and archival material.
3. The creation of a digital archive of works (scores, manuscripts, recordings, etc.) of modern Greek art music (also in collaboration with other organizations, such as the National Opera, the Athens State Orchestra, the Library of the Concert Hall, the Hellenic Radio- TV, etc.).
4. The utilization and expansion of the biographies of Greek Composers that has started earlier and exists in the Department.
5. The creation of a collection of musical instruments and scores, an archive of musical and other kind of testimonies-evidences, a video library with material of musical, archival, and historical interest.
6. The creation of a digital photographic archive as well as a laboratory for the reconstruction of Ancient Greek, and Byzantine musical instruments based on the conclusions of scientific research.
7. The establishment of specialized bibliography and the creation of thematic databases in collaboration with other Greek and foreign research centers, academic institutions, libraries, and agencies.
8. The creation of an archive of seminar papers and doctoral dissertations prepared at the Department of Music Studies as well at an international level in the relevant scientific fields.
9. Digitization of the printed, visual, and audio material of the archives.
10. Inform the academic community and the public about information available in the Laboratory’s archives and the availability of relevant material for scientific purposes.
C. Publishing and Events Unit, which has the mission:
1. The collection, study, and publication in the form of a series of music works from the whole range of Greek Music, according to the model of respective series of European countries and America.
2. The parallel publication of scientific studies as supplements to the volumes of the series, where relevant issues will be explored or critical remarks on the publications will be submitted in collaboration with institutions, bodies and companies of the publishing sector, either public or private (inside or outside the University of Athens), for the purpose of the printed or electronic publication of the above or related scientific studies and research results that fall in the research activities of the Laboratory.
3. The printed and / or electronic publication of scientific papers and journals with original studies that serve the research and scientific objectives of the Laboratory and related subjects.
4. The production of teaching and educational material in the wider field of specialization of the Laboratory through the translation or writing and publication of texts.
5. The organization of scientific lectures, meetings, workshops, seminars, symposia, conferences and other scientific events and the invitation of Greek and foreign noted scientists.
6. The creation of an online website and the publication of a printed information in which the research activity of the Laboratory will be displayed, and scientific research will be presented.
7. The widespread dissemination of research results (organization of exhibitions in museums, presentation of new educational material in schools, production of printed and electronic material, creation of websites, organization of workshops and conferences, etc.).
8. The collaboration with other scientific and artistic institutes (such as the National Opera, the Athens State Orchestra, the Library of the Concert Hall, the Hellenic Radio-Television, etc.) with the aim of promoting and realizing the objectives of the Laboratory.
9. The organization and support of artistic events (concerts, performances, recitals, exhibitions, etc.) with the aim of musical cultivation and the promotion of the case of Greek art music production and musical instruments in all phases of Greek history.