740-418 Performance Practice and Interpretation

Credit Points

Coordinator

Prerequisites

740-236 Music Performance 2

Semester

Contact

Subject Description

On completion of this subject students should have gained a detailed understanding of the principle musical styles and aesthetics of musical interpretation from the Renaissance to the present, concentrating specifically on the student's instrument and repertoire specialisations. The student should have developed a thorough appreciation of the performance practices appropriate to the student's own instrument and family of instruments, and a specific knowledge of how compositional techniques have been influenced by the evolution of instruments. The students should also have gained detailed familiarity with the body of primary and secondary source literature on performance and interpretation relating to the student's specialisations. This knowledge on performance and interpretation is realised in concert performance.

Areas covered include a survey of the aesthetics of interpretation and performance practices from the Renaissance to the present, concentrating specifically on the student's instrument and repertoire specialisations. The development of compositional techniques and of the historical evolution of instruments relevant to the student's specialisations. A detailed study and appraisal of primary and secondary source materials concerning aesthetics of interpretation and performance practices relevant to the student's instrument and family of instruments.

Assessment

A 40-minute class paper (30%); an essay of 3,000 words (30%) a performance of two contrasting works or selected movements of a least 25 minutes duration in total (40%).