15.3 Contemporary approaches to performing Baroque music

Baroque performance has evolved from early revival efforts to a vibrant field of study and practice. Historical approaches use period instruments and techniques, aiming for authenticity. Modern interpretations balance historical knowledge with contemporary tastes and technologies.

Today, Baroque music thrives through diverse approaches. Period instruments, historically informed practices, and modern technologies coexist. This blend of old and new brings Baroque music to life for contemporary audiences, balancing authenticity with accessibility.

Historical and Modern Approaches to Baroque Performance

Development of historically informed practice

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• Early music revival in late 19th and early 20th centuries sparked renewed interest in Baroque composers (Bach, Handel) and their works
• Pioneers such as Arnold Dolmetsch and Wanda Landowska championed the use of period instruments and performance techniques
• "Authenticity" movement emerged in 1960s and 1970s emphasizing historical accuracy in performance through use of period instruments and techniques
• Musicological research rediscovered treatises, manuscripts, and historical sources providing insights into Baroque performance practices, ornamentation, and improvisation
• Specialized ensembles (Academy of Ancient Music, Les Arts Florissants) and training programs (Juilliard Historical Performance) established to focus on historically informed Baroque performance

Modern vs historical Baroque approaches

• Modern approach uses modern instruments, playing techniques, and emphasizes technical precision, large ensembles, and standardized interpretation influenced by Romantic and post-Romantic aesthetics
• Historical approach uses period instruments or replicas, smaller ensembles often one-on-a-part, and focuses on historical performance practices such as improvisation and ornamentation to achieve a lighter, more transparent sound
• Modern approach uses standardized pitch (A=440 Hz) and equal temperament while historical approach uses lower pitch (A=415 Hz) and unequal temperaments (meantone)
• Modern approach often uses written-out continuo realizations or omits continuo altogether while historical approach emphasizes improvisation and the role of the continuo player

Contemporary Baroque Performance Practice

Period instruments in contemporary performances

• Strings have gut strings, shorter necks, lighter bows, and lower bridges
• Woodwinds have simpler key systems, different bore sizes, and materials
• Brass instruments are natural trumpets and horns without valves
• Keyboards include harpsichord, organ, and fortepiano
• String playing techniques involve limited vibrato, shorter bow strokes, and use of open strings
• Woodwind playing techniques involve softer articulation, simpler fingerings, and breath control
• Brass playing techniques include clarino playing, hand-stopping, and lip-trilling
• Vocal techniques involve lighter, more speech-like delivery and ornamentation
• Historically informed tuning uses unequal temperaments for keyboards and fretted instruments and tunes to a lower pitch standard (A=415 Hz)
• Continuo group includes harpsichord, organ, lute, theorbo, and baroque guitar providing improvised realizations based on figured bass

Historical authenticity vs modern interpretation

• Approaches range from strict adherence to historical evidence to personal artistic expression, recreating the past vs reinterpreting Baroque music for contemporary audiences
• Limitations exist in our knowledge of Baroque performance practices and challenges arise in reconstructing the original context and sound world
• Modern musical tastes, expectations, and adaptation to contemporary concert settings and recording technologies influence performances
• Artistic agency and interpretation involve balancing historical information with individual musical judgment to create compelling and engaging performances for today's listeners

Technology's impact on Baroque accessibility

• Recordings and online platforms have increased availability of Baroque music in various interpretations through streaming services and digital downloads
• Social media and online communities connect Baroque music enthusiasts and performers worldwide to facilitate discussions, share resources, and promote events
• Digital editions and resources provide online access to scholarly editions, facsimiles, and historical treatises and enable collaborative projects for cataloging and studying Baroque music sources
• Virtual performances and education allow live-streamed concerts and masterclasses to reach global audiences and provide online courses and tutorials on Baroque performance practice and interpretation
• Technological advancements in instrument making such as 3D printing and computer-aided design create period instrument replicas while improved materials and manufacturing techniques enable greater historical accuracy