The Historical Performance of Music: An Introduction

by Colin Lawson , Robin Stowell

• ISBN13: 9780521621939
• ISBN10: 0521621933
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1999-11-13
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

Offering students and performers a concise overview of historical performance, this book takes into account the many significant developments in the discipline, particularly during the last decade. It addresses practical matters rather than philosophical issues and guides readers towards further investigation and interpretation of the evidence provided, not only in the various early instrumental and vocal treatises, but also in examples from the mainstream repertory. Designed as a parent volume for the series Cambridge Handbooks to the Historical Performance of Music, this book provides an historical basis for artistic decision-making which has as its goal the re-creation of performances as close as possible to the composer's original conception. It relates many of the issues discussed to major works by Bach, Mozart, Berlioz and Brahms, composed c. 1700-c. 1900, the core period which forms the principal (though not exclusive) focus for the whole series.

Table of Contents

List of figures	ix
Preface	xi
Music as history	1	(16)
Introduction	1	(2)
The nature and development of historical awareness	3	(1)
Influential reworkings of Bach and Handel	4	(2)
Historical considerations	6	(2)
The pioneers: individuals and institutions	8	(1)
The role of musical expression	9	(2)
Arguments pro and con	11	(1)
Post-war philosophies	12	(1)
Period Mozart and beyond	13	(2)
The current scene	15	(2)
The application of primary sources	17	(25)
Surviving instruments	18	(1)
Iconographical sources	19	(2)
Historical archives	21	(1)
Literary sources	21	(1)
Practical treatises - uses and limitations	22	(3)
Practical treatises - a summary	25	(2)
Theoretical treatises	27	(1)
The importance of communication	28	(5)
The role of editions	33	(6)
Musical taste	39	(3)
Changes in musical style	42	(41)
National idioms	42	(5)
Articulation	47	(6)
Melodic inflection	53	(2)
Accentuation	55	(3)
Tempo	58	(6)
Rhythmic alteration	64	(3)
Ornamentation	67	(3)
Extempore embellishment	70	(5)
Improvisation	75	(4)
Continuo accompaniment	79	(4)
Conditions and practices	83	(16)
Introduction	83	(1)
Pitch	84	(3)
Temperament	87	(2)
Vocal practices	89	(3)
Venues and programmes	92	(1)
Orchestral constitution and placement	93	(4)
Direction	97	(1)
Nineteenth-century changes	98	(1)
Case studies in ensemble music	99	(52)
J. S. Bach: St Matthew Passion BWV 224	99	(10)
W. A. Mozart: Serenade for 13 instruments K361	109	(15)
Berlioz: Episode de la vie d'un Artiste, Symphonie Fantastique en cinq parties Op. 14	124	(13)
Brahms: Symphony No. 2 in D major Op. 73	137	(14)
The continuing debate	151	(10)
Introduction	151	(1)
The social position of historical music	151	(2)
A snapshot from 1983	153	(1)
Authenticity and Early Music	154	(2)
The 1990s	156	(4)
The future?	160	(1)
Notes	161	(38)
Select bibliography	199	(10)
Index	209