Harry Carter

My most pronounced interest is in songs and lyrics, particularly premodern ones, and thinking about them comparatively as a means of bringing them to life and appreciating them better. In July 2022 I gave a paper at the International Medieval Congress in Leeds, discussing the treatment of ineffability in medieval European fin’amor song lyrics and song lyrics (ci 詞) from Song Dynasty China. In March 2023 I gave a paper at the ACLA, discussing the way these song lyric traditions differentiated themselves from contemporary poetic ideals.
 
Last year I was Vice Chair of the Early Text Cultures research collective, which organises seminars, conferences and workshops to enable interdisciplinary dialogue among scholars of premodern literature.

I am a member of The Unheard Melodies Project, a musical collaboration with Nigel Smith and Timothy Hampton. The project tries to give new life to old lyrics, through settings, translations and reimaginings.