Sylvie DoucheView profile
Professor
Sylvie Douche is a Professor of Musicology at Sorbonne University, specializing in French music of the 19th and 20th centuries. She is affiliated with the Institute for Research in Musicology (UMR 8223) and actively participates in multiple research teams including Critical musical editions, History of Musical Theories, Genres and repertoires, Music and Religion, and Aesthetics and links with other arts. Her research spans several major programs including French Romances & Melodies, Complete instrumental works of Camille Saint-Saëns, and International exchanges between musical theory and practice. Her educational background includes: Musicology studies at the Sorbonne and the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris Postgraduate degree in Art History (Paris I) Postgraduate degree in Comparative Literature (Sorbonne University) Sylvie Douche's primary research focus centers on the intricate relationships between music and literary texts, with particular emphasis on French musical traditions from the 19th and 20th centuries. She has developed significant expertise in theatrical music, especially French melodrama of the Belle Époque, having authored an award-winning monograph on the subject. Her scholarly work also explores the press and piano repertoire of this period, revealing how musical culture intersected with broader social and literary movements. As a pianist herself, she brings practical musical understanding to her academic research, creating a unique interdisciplinary perspective that bridges performance practice with historical scholarship. Professor Douche has established herself as a leading authority on several French composers including Saint-Saëns, Debussy, Koechlin, and Maurice Emmanuel. Her editorial work on correspondence and critical editions demonstrates her commitment to preserving and interpreting primary source materials. She has made substantial contributions to understanding the Schola Cantorum of Paris, an important but sometimes overlooked institution in French musical history. Her research on Roland Barthes and music represents an innovative intersection of literary theory and musicology that has opened new avenues for interdisciplinary scholarship. Her notable scientific achievements include: Prix des Muses for her work on Pelléas et Mélisande by Debussy (2012) Mahmoud Guettat Prize for her monograph on French melodrama of the Belle Époque (2016) As Vice-president of the Maurice Emmanuel Association, Professor Douche plays an active role in promoting research and appreciation of this important French composer. She has supervised numerous doctoral theses and mentored emerging scholars in the field of French musicology. Her editorial work with OMF Editions (French Musical Observatory) since 1991 has been instrumental in making rare musical correspondence and documents accessible to researchers worldwide. She has secured funding for major research projects including the Complete instrumental works of Camille Saint-Saëns and studies of French Romances & Melodies across different historical periods. Professor Douche is deeply involved with the Institute for Research in Musicology (UMR 8223), which operates across multiple locations including the National Library of France, Sorbonne University's Clignancourt Center, the Sorbonne Centre, and a dedicated Research Center on Rue Serpente in Paris. She participates in five distinct research teams that cover critical musical editions, historical music theories, genre studies, music and religion, and aesthetics. Her collaborative projects often involve international partnerships, reflecting her commitment to fostering global dialogue about French musical traditions.
