Research output per year
Research output per year
Personal profile
Biography
Sarah's research examines ninteenth- and early twentieth-century music to theorise new ways of understanding harmony and musical structure. Her research also aims to reformulate accepted views of Jean Sibelius as a National Romantic composer and focuses on overlooked aspects of his musical forms within their historical and political contexts. Before settling at the University of Manchester, Sarah taught music theory and analysis at multiple UK institutions including University of Oxford, Oxford Brookes University, University of Nottingham, and Royal Holloway, University of London.
Teaching
Undergraduate
| 2022–25; 2026-27 | MUSC10011 | Tonality: Form & Harmony | Course Unit Director (exc. 2025-26) |
| 2021–27 | MUSC10022 | Tonality: Theory & Analysis | Course Unit Director |
| 2025–27 | MUSC21221 | Symphonic Music c.1900 | Course Unit Director |
| 2021–27 | MUSC30400 | Dissertation | Course Unit Director (2022/2026-27), Supervisor |
| 2021–25 | MUSC10512 | Music and its Contexts | Course Unit Director (2022–25) |
| 2021–22 | MUSC20011 | Analysis | Course Unit Director |
| 2021–22 | MUSC30011/MUSC60011 | Advanced Analysis | Course Unit Director |
| 2024–27 | MUSC30540 | Composition for Film | Lecturer |
Postgraduate taught (Master's)
| 2021–23; 2024–27 | MUSC60812 | Case Studies in Musicology: Texts & Histories | Course Unit Director |
| 2021–25 | MUSC60160 | Dissertation or Critical Edition | Course Unit Director (2022–25), Supervisor |
| 2023–25 | MUSC60051 | Advanced Music Studies: Issues & Approaches | Lecturer |
| 2021–22 | MUSC60042 | Advanced Orchestration | Lecturer |
Postgraduate Research
- Supervision and co-supervision of projects related to music analysis, nineteenth-century music, and early twentieth-century music
Memberships of committees and professional bodies
- Fellow, Advanced HE
- Member of the Royal Musical Association
Education/Academic qualification
Doctor of Music, 'Sibelius and Materiale Formenlehre: Projections beyond the edges of musical form', Royal Holloway, University of London
Bachelor of Arts, The University of Oxford
Master of Arts, Composition, University of Bristol
External positions
Trustee, Society for Music Analysis
2020 → 2025
Areas of expertise
- M Music
- Music Theory and Analysis
- Musicology
- Ninteenth-Century Music
- Twentieth-Century Music
- Formenlehre
- Jean Sibelius
- Sonata Theory
- Rotation
- Neo-Riemannian Theory
- Critical Theory
- Nordic Music
- Finnish Mythology
- Nationalism
- Music Theory Pedagogy
Accepting PhD students
- Accepting PhD students
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 4 Quality Education -
SDG 5 Gender Equality
Fingerprint
Dive into the research topics where Sarah Moynihan is active. These topic labels come from the works of this person. Together they form a unique fingerprint.
- 1 Similar Profiles
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Developmental Proliferation and Typological Realisation: Analysis Colloquy: Sonata Typology in Two Finales by George Onslow
Moynihan, S., 2026, In: Music Theory and Analysis. 12, 2, p. 176 190 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Programme Note on Sibelius, Lemminkäinen Suite, Op. 22
Moynihan, S., 8 Jan 2026, Musical Painting, Impressions & Intrigue (BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Hoddinott Hall, Cardiff).Research output: Contribution to specialist publication › Article
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Programme Note on Jean Sibelius (1865–1957) Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47 (1903–4, rev. 1905)
Moynihan, S., 18 Jul 2025, BBC Proms Programme, Prom 1: First Night of the Proms.Research output: Contribution to specialist publication › Article
Open Access -
Programme Note on Sibelius, Lemminkäinen Suite, Op. 22
Moynihan, S., 7 Nov 2025, Oramo conducts Adès, Coleridge-Taylor and Sibelius (BBC Symphony Orchestra, Barbican, London) 2 p.Research output: Contribution to specialist publication › Article
Open Access -
Programme Note on Sibelius, Tempest Suite no. 1, Op. 109/2
Moynihan, S., 2 Sept 2025, BBC Proms Programme, Prom 59: Adès Conducts the BBC SO.Research output: Contribution to specialist publication › Article
Prizes
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Theory and Analysis Graduate Student Conference Prize for ‘Sibelian Rotational Projection’ (SMA)
Moynihan, S. (Recipient), 2019
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Activities
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Towards a Theory of Sibelian "Runic Interversion"
Moynihan, S. (Speaker)
15 May 2026Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk › Research
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Music Theory and Analysis (Journal)
Moynihan, S. (Peer reviewer of publications)
2026Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work › Publication peer-review › Research
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Lemminkäinen’s Swansong: A Programmatic Analysis of Sibelius’s Swan of Tuonela
Moynihan, S. (Speaker)
8 Sept 2025Activity: Talk or presentation › Oral presentation › Research
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Formal Dialogues V
Moynihan, S. (Chair)
2025Activity: Participating in or organising event(s) › Organising a conference, workshop, exhibition, performance, inquiry, course etc › Research
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Routledge (Publisher)
Moynihan, S. (Peer reviewer of publications)
2025Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work › Publication peer-review › Research
Press/Media
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Discussion of BBC coverage of the first night of the BBC Proms 2025
27/07/25
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert comment