The Great Music: Cosmology, Harmony, and Discord in Middle-earth and Beyond
Signum University invites you to join us on 2-4 October, 2026 (Friday to Sunday) for Euro Moot 2026. This English-language hybrid event will occur at the Kampus Hybernská in Prague, Czechia. For our second Euro Moot, you are welcomed to listen and contribute your voice to The Great Music: Cosmology, Harmony, and Discord in Middle-earth and Beyond.
Register Here for Euro Moot!
Price Breakdown:
$130 USD (~ €109, £95) for Adult In-Person Attendance
$75 USD (~ €63, £55) for Student In-Person Attendance
$35 USD (~ €29, £26) for Remote Attendance
Please not we are not selling one-day or two-day passes. Your ticket to Euro Moot grants you access to all three Euro Moot days.
There are no official Euro Moot hotels; however, these hotels are within easy walking distance to Euro Moot’s location:
K+K Hotel Central Prague – one minute walk from Euro Moot
The Grand Mark Prague – one minute walk from Euro Moot
OREA Place Seno – two minute walk from Euro Moot
BoHo Prague Hotel – three minute walk from Euro Moot
Prague Marriott Hotel – three minute walk from Euro Moot
Onefam Home Hostel Prague – four minute walk from Euro Moot
The Great Music: Cosmology, Harmony, and Discord in Middle-earth and Beyond
In the beginning was the Music. Tolkien’s foundational myth of the Ainulindalë presents us a universe conceived as a divine symphony where harmony and discord give shape to all that is. This year, Euro Moot invites scholars, critics, and enthusiasts alike to explore the profound metaphor of The Great Music as a lens for understanding fantasy literature and mythopoeic creation.
At Euro Moot, we will investigate how the cosmic themes of Cosmology (the structuring of worlds), Harmony (the principles of order, community, and aesthetic beauty), and Discord (the forces of chaos, rebellion, and destruction) are orchestrated across imaginative works. While our inspiration is deeply rooted in the themes of Ilúvatar and the petty discords of Middle-earth, our scope will also extend to the wider realms of fantasy and speculative fiction.
We invite explorations of topics from Tolkien’s legendarium and other speculative fiction universes such as:
Tolkien’s Symphonic Vision: The Ainulindalë as theological and philosophical framework; the recurring patterns of music and song in Middle-earth’s history; Melkor’s dissonance as the origin of evil; the Fate of the Elves vs. the Gift of Men as contrasting melodic ideas.
Harmonies of Worldbuilding: How do other fantasy authors compose their worlds? What are the foundational themes of their creation? Analyses of myths in the works of authors like Ursula K. Le Guin, N.K. Jemisin, Steven Erikson, or Terry Pratchett.
Discordant Voices and Narrative Dissonance: The role of rebellion, corruption, and fracturing within societies and souls. This could include studies of anti-heroes, tragic falls, magical corruption, or the clash of cultures.
The Music of the Text: Linguistic, poetic, and narrative “harmonies” such as the rhythm of Tolkien’s prose, the interplay of languages, or the use of poetic forms as echoes of the primordial Music.
Adaptations and Variations: How do other media (film, television, video games, music) interpret and translate these core concepts of harmony and discord? Analyses of soundtracks, visual symbolism, and interactive storytelling.
Come help us create a vibrant dialogue where the specific intricacies of Tolkien’s sub-creation resonate with broader traditions in fantasy. We welcome proposals for papers, panels, workshops, and creative presentations that listen for the echoes of the Great Music, whether in the depths of Khazad-dûm, the rim of Discworld, the shores of Earthsea, or the pages of any tale where music is sung and words are spoken. Join us in tuning our collective thought to the fundamental frequencies of fantasy.
As with our previous Euro Moot, expect some fun excursions after each Moot day is over as we explore Prague and soar through “The City of a Hundred Spires”. Details to come!
Submit Your Presentation Proposal Here!
The Euro Moot Team is accepting proposals for creative presentations, academic papers, workshops, or discussion panels on our 2026 theme. We invite presentations in person at the event and from remote attendees. Our Call for Proposals closes on 2 September.
Please note that a conference theme helps tie the day together and optimize fun, and we welcome anyone to respond to the Call for Proposals. Our moots are supportive environments for practicing or developing your presentation skills regardless of your experience.
Please read our Regional Moot Recording and Privacy Notice. You will be required to agree to its contents in our registration system before completing your ticket purchase.
Additionally, during the event photographs and/or audio-visual recordings may be taken by Signum University for the purposes of sharing event highlights on social media, or for promotional use for future events. As these materials may be made available online, they may be subject to international data transfers. In order to be able to do this, we will need your consent on the registration form.
