Whose Score is it Anyway? Improvisation in the early 18th Century

Abstract

Upon hearing the phrase “classical music”, most of us conjure up the image of a sprawling symphony, where many players are united in a single artistic vision – usually that of the composer’s. The score is strictly adhered to; hence, individual expression is somewhat stifled. In the late Baroque era and earlier, however, ensembles were comprised of a mere handful of players, an environment conducive to frequent improvisational flights of fancy. This presentation sheds light on the ways performers deviated from the notes on the page. First, different national styles of improvisation and ornamenting notes will be discussed, before examining how improvisation became increasingly suppressed through the 19th century. Can performers re-capture the spirit of Bach and Handel today? Audio examples of contrasting performances will be used to answer that question.