Practice in Context: Historically Informed Practices in Nineteenth-Century Instrumental Music

Historical performance research is undergoing a transformation as the research from different centers intersects in new ways. Practice in Context reflects this vibrant, diverse, and evolving field.

The Historically Informed Performance --shorted to HIP-- movement first dipped its toe into the nineteenth century by tackling the symphonies of Beethoven in the nineteen eighties. Since then, there has been a burgeoning of performances and recordings of nineteenth- and early twentieth-century repertoire on period instruments. But the advance of HIP into post-Classical repertoires has exposed the specific challenges nineteenth-century historical performance styles present to a 'period' movement that is characterised by crisp, clean, light playing. Historically evidenced nineteenth-century style remains elusive to many professional performers even after four decades of marketing 'period' performances of this repertoire. A real transformation of professional post-Classical HIP will only be possible if scholars and performers start to find new ways to inter-relate, which is central to the work of many of the contributors to this book. Editors Claire Holden, Eric F. Clarke, and Cayenna Ponchione-Bailey have brought together a diverse group of international contributors to present different perspectives and offer new possibilities to performers, scholars, and scholar-performers.

The book addresses a diverse range of pressing and exciting topics in nineteenth-century historically informed practices, focusing on new kinds of research that move away from traditional treatise archaeology. These include multi-disciplinary approaches, such as the use of empirical methods in the study of present-day HIP performance practices, and increased contextualisation through a closer relationship with cultural and social musicology. Practice in Context brings together scholars and performer/scholars who are interested in how historical research can contribute to greater understanding of the musical priorities and artistic decision-making processes when performing nineteenth-century pieces.

Author: Claire Holden
Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Published: 08/22/2025
Pages: 304
Weight: 1.3lbs
Size: 9.41h x 6.52w x 0.96d
ISBN: 9780197571354