Historical Embodiment in Musical Performance

Musical interpretation is by definition closely tied to the body of the performer. Traces of past performances, such as those left in writing (annotated parts or written instructions) as well as in sound (piano rolls or early recordings) need to be investigated in consideration of the performer’s body. Consequently, understanding the meaning of historical text and sound information requires retrospective translation processes, i.e. from annotations back into cultural practices, from instructions back into sound, from early recordings back into performance. The conference – taking place in Bern (Switzerland), 2–4 November 2023 – seeks to investigate innovative methods for the analysis of musical performance and interpretation, with a special focus on “historical embodiment” and “musical reenactment” in the developing field of “early recordings informed performance”.

Funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation.