The Historical Performance of Music: An Introduction - Lawson, Colin; Stowell, Robin (Cambridge Cambridge University Press, 1999)
This volume offers an up-to-date overview of historical performance, surveying the various current issues (such as the influence of recording) and suggesting possible future developments. Its core comprises discussion of the period performer's myriad primary source materials and their interpretation, the various aspects of style and general technique that combine to make up a well-grounded, period interpretation, and a survey of performance conditions and practices, focusing on the period c. 1700-c. 1900. Many of the principles outlined are illustrated in case studies of works by Bach, Mozart, Berlioz and Brahms.It forms an introductory volume for the new series of Cambridge Handbooks to the Historical Performance of Music, each of which focuses on a specific instrument or family of instrumentsIt provides an accessible, up-to-date overview of the historical performance movement, its ideals and methodsIt aims to rectify the balance between historical accuracy and practical expediency
Keywords: Historically informed performance