Historical Performance in Baroque Music
Published on 19. May 2026
Book
Hardback
422 pages
978-1-83765-310-2 (ISBN)
Description
A practical and scholarly guide to performing Baroque music with historical insight and artistic confidence.
This is an in-depth guide to the performance of Baroque music for musicians, listeners, undergraduate and graduate music students, and conservatory and university instructors. Rigorously scholarly, yet readable by non-specialists, it is designed to serve not only as an introduction to historical performance for those new to the subject, but also as a reference book for those experienced in the field, and as a course book in early music performance practice. Part 1 covers essential topics such as historical voices and instruments, articulation, and ornamentation and improvisation. Part 2 turns to particular performance issues in selections ranging from vocal chamber music by Strozzi, Handel, Jacquet, and Bach to instrumental compositions by Castello, Corelli, Couperin, and (again) Bach.
The book draws on the author's broad experience as a performer, teacher and writer on Baroque music. It can serve as a general handbook on historical performance practice that also addresses specific questions raised by commonly performed recital and concert repertoire.
This is an in-depth guide to the performance of Baroque music for musicians, listeners, undergraduate and graduate music students, and conservatory and university instructors. Rigorously scholarly, yet readable by non-specialists, it is designed to serve not only as an introduction to historical performance for those new to the subject, but also as a reference book for those experienced in the field, and as a course book in early music performance practice. Part 1 covers essential topics such as historical voices and instruments, articulation, and ornamentation and improvisation. Part 2 turns to particular performance issues in selections ranging from vocal chamber music by Strozzi, Handel, Jacquet, and Bach to instrumental compositions by Castello, Corelli, Couperin, and (again) Bach.
The book draws on the author's broad experience as a performer, teacher and writer on Baroque music. It can serve as a general handbook on historical performance practice that also addresses specific questions raised by commonly performed recital and concert repertoire.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Woodbridge
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Boydell & Brewer Ltd
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Cloth over boards
Illustrations
99 mus exx.
Dimensions
Height: 240 mm
Width: 161 mm
Thickness: 27 mm
Weight
798 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-83765-310-2 (9781837653102)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
DAVID SCHULENBERG has performed on historical keyboard instruments across North America, Europe and Asia, and has recorded for Naxos, Hungaroton, and Brilliant Classics. His publications include The Music of Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (University of Rochester Press, 2014). He has taught at Boston University, the Juilliard School, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he directed the Collegium Musicum. His website schulenbergmusic.org features numerous recordings and editions.
Content
List of Illustrations
Acknowledgements
A Note on Pitch References
Introduction
Part 1. Parameters of Performance
1 Sources and Editions
2 Styles and Genres
3 Voices
4 Instruments
5 Tempo and Rhythm
6 Articulation
7 Basso Continuo
8 Ornaments and Embellishment
9 Interpretation
Part 2. Case Studies
10 Italian Vocal Music, Seventeenth Century: Barbara Strozzi, Ardo in tacito foco; with Notes on Giacomo Carissimi, Jephte
11 Early Eighteenth-Century Vocal Music in the Italian Tradition: George Frideric Handel, Lucrezia and Other Works
12 Vocal Music in the French Tradition, Early Eighteenth Century: Elizabeth Jacquet de La Guerre, Susanne; with Notes on Rameau, Orphee
13 Vocal Music by Bach: Cantata 82, with Notes on Other Works
14 Early Baroque Instrumental Music in Italy: Toccatas by Frescobaldi, with Notes on Sonatas by Castello
15 Later Baroque Instrumental Music for Strings: Corelli, Sonatas; with Notes on Bach's Unaccompanied Sonatas and Suites
16 Chamber Music from Eighteenth-Century France: Couperin and the French Concert
17 Bach, Brandenburg Concerto no. 2 and Related Music
Bibliography
Index
Acknowledgements
A Note on Pitch References
Introduction
Part 1. Parameters of Performance
1 Sources and Editions
2 Styles and Genres
3 Voices
4 Instruments
5 Tempo and Rhythm
6 Articulation
7 Basso Continuo
8 Ornaments and Embellishment
9 Interpretation
Part 2. Case Studies
10 Italian Vocal Music, Seventeenth Century: Barbara Strozzi, Ardo in tacito foco; with Notes on Giacomo Carissimi, Jephte
11 Early Eighteenth-Century Vocal Music in the Italian Tradition: George Frideric Handel, Lucrezia and Other Works
12 Vocal Music in the French Tradition, Early Eighteenth Century: Elizabeth Jacquet de La Guerre, Susanne; with Notes on Rameau, Orphee
13 Vocal Music by Bach: Cantata 82, with Notes on Other Works
14 Early Baroque Instrumental Music in Italy: Toccatas by Frescobaldi, with Notes on Sonatas by Castello
15 Later Baroque Instrumental Music for Strings: Corelli, Sonatas; with Notes on Bach's Unaccompanied Sonatas and Suites
16 Chamber Music from Eighteenth-Century France: Couperin and the French Concert
17 Bach, Brandenburg Concerto no. 2 and Related Music
Bibliography
Index