Is the study of how music was performed in different periods and how to best interpret and perform music today.
Historical Performance Practice: The study of how music was performed during specific periods in history, including the styles, techniques, and instruments used.
Ornamentation: The embellishments and flourishes added to a melody, including trills, mordents, and turns.
Articulation: The way a musician plays a note, including the length of the note, the attack and release of a note, and the use of staccato or legato playing.
Dynamics: The relative loudness or softness of a musical performance, including changes in volume throughout a piece of music.
Rhythm: The organization of musical timing, including meter and tempo. Musicians may adjust the rhythmic interpretation of a piece to reflect historical performance practice.
Phrasing: The grouping of musical phrases into larger sections, reflecting the natural breath or speech patterns of the melody.
Authenticity: The attempt to create a performance that captures the original intended effect of a piece, reflecting the cultural and historical context of the music.
Improvisation: The spontaneous creation of music within a given framework or structure, including creating variations on themes or adding ornamentation.
Historical instruments: The study and use of period instruments, including how they were constructed, their tonal qualities, and the technique required to play them.
Notation: The interpretation of musical notation, including the use of baroque symbols and instructions, such as figured bass and other annotations.
Musical forms: The structure and organization of a piece of music. Understanding musical forms is crucial for interpreting and recreating performances with musical authenticity.
Conventions: The unwritten rules and unspoken agreements that dictate how music is performed in a particular period, including issues such as tempo, ornamentation, and improvisation.
Performance practice today: How contemporary musicians approach historical performance practice, including the use of modern instruments, the interpretation of notation, and the adaptation of performance conventions.
Style: The distinctive characteristics of a particular musical period or cultural context, encompassing elements such as harmony, melody, and rhythm.
Interpretation: The musician's individual artistic interpretation of a piece of music, incorporating the performer's personal understanding of musical style, technical ability, and historical context.
Ornamentation: The addition of embellishments, such as trills or grace notes, to a melody or musical phrase.
Articulation: The manner in which musical notes are played or sung, such as staccato or legato.
Dynamics: The variation in volume and intensity of musical sound.
Vibrato: The variation in pitch created by the rapid oscillation of a string or vocal cords.
Tempo: The speed at which a musical piece is played or sung.
Phrasing: The grouping of musical notes into phrases or sections, usually to reflect the natural breathing patterns of singers or instrumentalists.
Accentuation: The emphasis placed on certain notes or beats within a musical phrase.
Rubato: The variation in tempo, often used to create a more expressive performance.
Portamento: The sliding of a musical note from one pitch to another, typically used in vocal performances.
Use of historical instruments: The use of instruments that were popular during a specific period of music history, often to more accurately recreate the sound of that time.
Tuning and temperaments: The tuning systems used by different cultures and historical periods, which often affect the sound and harmonies of music.
Improvisation: The spontaneous creation of new musical material during a performance, often used in jazz and other types of music.
Art song interpretation: The expressive rendering of poetry through song, emphasizing the poetry while still respecting the musical qualities of the composition.
Conducting: The guidance of an ensemble of musicians through a musical piece, overseeing their interpretation of the music, and keeping the tempo and dynamics consistent.
Historical performance practice: The use of historical information to create a performance that accurately represents how a piece of music would have been performed during the time period it was composed.