Alexander Rehding

Alexander Rehding is the Fanny Peabody Professor of Music at Harvard University, specializing in German and European cultural history from the 18th to 21st centuries. His research integrates music theory, sound studies, media theory, and digital humanities, with a focus on music’s role in identity, cultural transfer, and ecocriticism. He founded Harvard’s Sound Lab in 2012 to advance digital research in music.

Education & Career:

• Bachelor’s degree from the University of Cambridge (1991)
• MPhil and PhD from Cambridge
• Research fellowship at Emmanuel College, Cambridge
• Postdoc at the University of Pennsylvania (2000–2001)
• Joined Harvard as Assistant Professor in 2003, later promoted to full Professor

Research & Projects:

• Current monograph projects: 'The Voyager Golden Record' (forthcoming), 'Instruments and Musical Thought', and 'Music and the Anthropocene'
• Focus areas include interdisciplinary work blending music with cultural history, media studies, and digital innovation

Awards:

• Guggenheim Fellowship
• Dent Medal (IMS/RMA)

Teaching & Labs:

Rehding’s teaching emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches. He leads Harvard’s Sound Lab, a hub for digital humanities and music research.