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Ivan Hewett

MA Oxon

Ivan Hewett has worked in music for more than 30 years as lecturer, promoter, broadcaster and journalist. He has an MA from the University of Oxford.

Since 2002 he has been a critic and writer for the Daily Telegraph, where he is now Chief ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵ Critic, and is an Academic Professor at the Royal College of ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵ. He is particularly interested in issues around the creation and reception of contemporary music, and the workings of contemporary harmony. He contributed a chapter to The New History of the Proms, published by Thames and Hudson, and has also written a chapter for a book examining the varieties of ‘classical’ music around the world, published by Boydell and Brewer in 2016. He has also contributed chapters to two forthcoming books: Sound Judgement: The Science and Practice of Valuing ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵal Performance (OUP) and Inside the Contemporary Conservatoire: Critical Perspectives from the Royal College of ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵ (Routledge). His book Healing the Rift, a meditation on the dilemmas of modern music, is published by Continuum.  

Ivan often hosts public events, such as the pre-concert debate at the centenary celebration of the music of Iannis Xenakis at the Southbank on 8 October 2022. He has a long-standing connection with the Academy of Ideas, and has often taken part in summer schools and debates for that organisation. The most recent of these is a debate on the importance of the critic in maintaining the freedom of the arts at the Living Freedom Summer School 29 June – 1 July 2023. 

Selected publications

Hewett I (2022, April 18), Obituary of Harrison Birtwistle, The Guardian [].

Hewett I (2021), The vanishing discipline: the threat to musicology, Search: Journal for New ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵ and Culture, 12, 1-17 [].

Hewett I (2020), Between Englishness and modernism: the critical reception of Tippett’s operas, Journal of ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵ Criticism, 4, 1-28 [].

Hewett I (2017), All in a chord [Five-part radio series on the musical and historical significance of five different chords], BBC Radio 3 []. 

Hewett I (2016, March), The path to total purity [an obituary assessment of Pierre Boulez], Prospect Magazine, 240, 76-79 [].

Hewett I (2007), Joining the queue: audiences for the Proms, in J Doctor & D Wright (eds.), The Proms: A New History (pp. 210-231), Thames & Hudson [ISBN 9780500513521].

Hewett I (2003), ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵ: Healing the Rift, Bloomsbury (originally Continuum), [ISBN 0-8264-5939-0].

Hewett I (2001), All too human? [a review of three books on musical aesthetics and criticism], ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵal Times, 142 (1876), 43-47 [].

Faculties / departments: Research, Academic staff

Research

Research areas

·¬ÇÑÊÓƵology

 

Research students

Yuanwei Ping

Hangrui Zhang

 

Latest Publications

Hewett, I. and Cole, J. and Zolinsky, A. (2025) In: Inside the Contemporary Conservatoire: Critical Perspectives from the Royal College of ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵ, London. Routledge. ISBN 9781032251066 (hardback) 9781032251059 (paperback) 9781003281573 (e-book)

Hewett, I. (2021) Search: Journal for New ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵ and Culture, 12 pp. 1-17.

Hewett, I. (2020) Journal of ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵ Criticism, 4 pp. 1-28. ISSN 2532-9995 (online)

Hewett, I. (2020) Daily Telegraph ISSN 0307-1235 (print) 2059-7487 (online)

Hewett, I. (2020) Daily Telegraph ISSN 0307-1235 (print) 2059-7487 (online)

Hewett, I. (2020) Daily Telegraph ISSN 0307-1235 (print) 2059-7487 (online)

Hewett, I. (2020) Daily Telegraph ISSN 0307-1235 (print) 2059-7487 (online)

Hewett, I. (2020) Daily Telegraph ISSN 0307-1235 (print) 2059-7487 (online)

Hewett, I. (2020) Daily Telegraph ISSN 0307-1235 (print) 2059-7487 (online)

Hewett, I. (2020) Daily Telegraph ISSN 0307-1235 (print) 2059-7487 (online)

Hewett, I. (2020) Daily Telegraph ISSN 0307-1235 (print) 2059-7487 (online)

Hewett, I. (2020) Daily Telegraph ISSN 0307-1235 (print) 2059-7487 (online)

Hewett, I. (2020) Daily Telegraph ISSN 0307-1235 (print) 2059-7487 (online)

Hewett, I. (2020) Daily Telegraph ISSN 0307-1235 (print) 2059-7487 (online)

Hewett, I. (2020) In: Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press, Oxford.

Hewett, I. (2019) In: Brahms in Context. Composers in Context . Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp. 357-366. ISBN 9781107163416 (hardback) 9781316681374 (e-book)

Hewett, I. and Allison, J. (2019) Daily Telegraph ISSN 0307-1235 (print) 2059-7487 (online)

Hewett, I. (2019) In: Royal ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵal Association ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵ and Philosophy ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵ Group Conference, 11-12 July 2019, Kings College, London. (Unpublished)

Hewett, I. (2018) Prospect Magazine, 270 ISSN 1359-5024

Hewett, I. (2018) Daily Telegraph ISSN 0307-1235

Hewett, I. (2017) Daily Telegraph ISSN 0307-1235

Hewett, I. (2017) Prospect Magazine pp. 71-73. ISSN 1359-5024 (print) 2059-6731 (online)

Hewett, I. (2017) [Broadcast]

Hewett, I. (2017) [Broadcast]

Hewett, I. (2017) [Broadcast]

Hewett, I. (2017) [Broadcast]

Hewett, I. (2017) [Broadcast]

Hewett, I. (2016) Daily Telegraph ISSN 0307-1235

Hewett, I. (2016) Prospect Magazine pp. 76-79. ISSN 1359-5024 (print) 2059-6731 (online)

Feshareki, S. and Hewett, I. (2016) In: Alternative Histories of Electronic ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵ, 14-16 April 2016, Science Museum Research Centre, London. (Unpublished)

Hewett, I. (2016) [Broadcast]

Hewett, I. (2015) In: The Other Classical ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵs: Fifteen Great Traditions. Boydell & Brewer, Martlesham, Suffolk, pp. 216-245. ISBN 9781843837268 (hardback) 9781782045359 (e-book)

Hewett, I. (2014) Daily Telegraph ISSN 0307-1235

Hewett, I. (2010) In: Iannis Xenakis: Architect, Composer, Visionary. The Drawing Papers (88). The Drawing Center, New York, pp. 17-33. ISBN 978-0942324570

Hewett, I. (2007) Guardian ISSN 0261-3077 (print) 1756-3224 (online)

Hewett, I. (2007) In: The Proms: A New History. Thames & Hudson, London, pp. 210-231. ISBN 978-0500513521

Hewett, I. (2003) Tempo, 57 (226) pp. 11-20. ISSN 0040-2982 (print) 1478-2286 (online)

Hewett, I. (2003) Bloomsbury (originally Continuum), London. ISBN 9780826459398

Hewett, I. (2001) The ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵal Times, 142 (1876) pp. 43-47. ISSN 0027-4666 (print) 2397-5318 (online)

Hewett, I. (2001) The ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵal Times, 142 (1876) pp. 2-3. ISSN 0027-4666 (print) 2397-5318 (online)

Hewett, I. (2001) TLS: Times Literary Supplement (5104) p. 20. ISSN 0307-661X (print) 2517-7729 (online)

Hewett, I. (2000) TLS: Times Literary Supplement (5068) p. 21. ISSN 0307-661X (print) 2517-7729 (online)

Hewett, I. (2000) The ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵal Times, 141 (1870) pp. 61-63. ISSN 0027-4666 (print) 2397-5318 (online)

Hewett, I. (1999) The ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵal Times, 140 (1868) pp. 63-65. ISSN 0027-4666 (print) 2397-5318 (online)

Hewett, I. (1999) The ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵal Times, 140 (1866) pp. 2-3. ISSN 0027-4666 (print) 2397-5318 (online)

Hewett, I. (1998) The ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵal Times, 139 (1864) pp. 50-52. ISSN 0027-4666 (print) 2397-5318 (online)

Hewett, I. (1998) The ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵal Times, 139 (1863) pp. 53-56. ISSN 0027-4666 (print) 2397-5318 (online)

Hewett, I. (1998) BBC ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵ Magazine, 6 (7) p. 83. ISSN 0966-7180 (print)

Hewett, I. (1998) BBC ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵ Magazine pp. 54-57. ISSN 0966-7180 (print)

Hewett, I. (1997) BBC ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵ Magazine, Winter (1997) pp. 40-43. ISSN 0966-7180 (print)

Hewett, I. (1997) BBC ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵ Magazine, 6 (4) pp. 31-36. ISSN 0966-7180 (print)

Hewett, I. (1997) TLS: Times Literary Supplement (4934) p. 21. ISSN 0307-661X (print) 2517-7729 (online)

Hewett, I. (1997) TLS: Times Literary Supplement (4934) p. 21. ISSN 0307-661X (print) 2517-7729 (online)

Hewett, I. (1997) BBC ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵ Magazine, 6 (2) p. 18. ISSN 0966-7180 (print)

Hewett, I. (1997) BBC ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵ Magazine, 6 (1) p. 18. ISSN 0966-7180 (print)

Hewett, I. (1997) The ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵal Times, 138 (1855) pp. 34-35. ISSN 0027-4666 (print) 2397-5318 (online)

Hewett, I. (1997) The ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵal Times, 138 (1852) pp. 34-36. ISSN 0027-4666 (print) 2397-5318 (online)

Hewett, I. (1997) The ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵal Times, 138 (1848) pp. 20-23. ISSN 0027-4666 (print) 2397-5318 (online)

Hewett, I. (1997) TLS: Times Literary Supplement (4894) p. 8. ISSN 0307-661X (print) 2517-7729 (online)

Hewett, I. (1996) The ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵal Times, 137 (1842) pp. 27-29. ISSN 0027-4666 (print) 2397-5318 (online)

Hewett, I. (1996) BBC ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵ Magazine, 4 (11) p. 21. ISSN 0966-7180 (print)

Hewett, I. (1996) BBC ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵ Magazine, Summer (1996) pp. 60-61. ISSN 0966-7180 (print)

Hewett, I. (1996) TLS: Times Literary Supplement (4862) p. 19. ISSN 0307-661X (print) 2517-7729 (online)

Hewett, I. (1996) TLS: Times Literary Supplement (4862) p. 19. ISSN 0307-661X (print) 2517-7729 (online)

Hewett, I. (1996) TLS: Times Literary Supplement (4862) p. 19. ISSN 0307-661X (print) 2517-7729 (online)

Hewett, I. (1996) TLS: Times Literary Supplement (4862) p. 19. ISSN 0307-661X (print) 2517-7729 (online)

Hewett, I. (1996) BBC ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵ Magazine, 4 (6) p. 23. ISSN 0966-7180 (print)

Hewett, I. (1996) The ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵal Times, 137 (1836) pp. 27-28. ISSN 0027-4666 (print) 2397-5318 (online)

Hewett, I. (1996) The ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵal Times, 137 (1835) pp. 38-39. ISSN 0027-4666 (print) 2397-5318 (online)

Hewett, I. (1995) The ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵal Times, 136 (1823) pp. 36-37. ISSN 0027-4666 (print) 2397-5318 (online)

Hewett, I. (1994) The ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵal Times, 135 (1817) pp. 454-455. ISSN 0027-4666 (print) 2397-5318 (online)

Hewett, I. (1993) The ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵal Times, 134 (1806) pp. 438-440. ISSN 0027-4666 (print) 2397-5318 (online)

Contact

For enquiries please contact:

Ivan Hewett

Academic Programmes professor, Doctoral Supervisor

research@rcm.ac.uk

ivan.hewett@rcm.ac.uk

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