The Notation Is Not the Music: Reflections on Early Music Practice and Performance

by Barthold Kuijken

From a pioneer of the historically informed performance movement, guidelines for performance that takes into account the early music composer's intention.

Written by a leading authority and artist of the historical transverse flute, The Notation Is Notthe Music offers invaluable insight into the issues of historically informed performance and the parameters—and limitations—of notation-dependent performance. As Barthold Kuijken illustrates, performers of historical music should consider what is written on the page as a mere steppingstone for performance. Only by continual examination and reexamination of the sources to discover original intent can an early music practitioner come close to authentic performance.

"In a climate where marketing and convenient practicalities have increasingly tended to overwhelm historical evidence, Kuijken's book is timely and worthwhile." ―Performance Practice Review

"Kuijken is peerless." ―Barbara Kallaur, founding member of Ensemble Voltaire and the Indianapolis Baroque Orchestra

"A treasure trove for anyone who has dedicated his or her life in the service of music, whether musicologist or general reader." ―Masahiro Arita, Baroque and modern flautist, conductor, and professor

"An eminently readable compendium. . . . [Kuijken's] inspiring, carefully-researched work is at once insightful―a comprehensive exploration of source material―and provocative, challenging tradition and posing questions for readers to answer for themselves." ―Stanley Ritchie, Professor of Violin, Early Music Institute, Indiana University Jacobs School of Music

Genres: Music, Nonfiction

141 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2013

Reviews

[Junichi Sugimoto]

Especially in music from before the 18th century, not all the notes to be played are written on the score. Performers must decipher the score and pursue the piece in their performance. There are places where improvisation is required, and there is no end to the exploration; perfection is impossible. That's what makes it so interesting.

[Ron]

I highly recommend this to anyone who wishes to understand deeper the philosophy in Historically Informed Performance Practice(s) in (Western) Early Music.

[Anne]

I feel like I've heard 98% of this before. But it was still interesting to see it all in one place.

[Beverly Stafford]

Many good ideas, I keep going back to it.

[Ron]

I highly recommend this to anyone who wishes to understand deeper the philosophy in Historically Informed Performance Practice(s) in (Western) Early Music.