The Notation is Not the Music

Reflections on Early Music Practice and Performance, Publications of the Early Music Institute

By: Barthold Kuijken

Narrated by: Rich Grimshaw

Written by a leading authority and artist of the historical transverse flute, The Notation Is Not the Music offers invaluable insight into the issues of historically informed performance and the parameters - and limitations - of notation-dependent performance. As Barthold Kuijken illustrates, performers of historical music should consider what is written on the page as a mere steppingstone for performance. Only by continual examination and reexamination of the sources to discover original intent can an early music practitioner come close to authentic performance. The book is published by Indiana University Press.

©2013 Barthold Kuijken (P)2014 Redwood Audiobooks

Inspiring Essay Ruined By Lifeless Performance

While the author of this essay is passionate about the subject of music, the narrator is completely detached from the topic. The narrator has a habit of emphasizing the main idea in a paragraph, then starting a new paragraph without a breath. It’s confusing and annoying. Add in his mispronunciations—Pur-CELL, HON-dahl, con-CHAIRT-to, among others—and the result is a mismatch between reader and author. The subject is interesting, not just for early music fans, but for all musicians. I’m grateful this essay is available on audio, but getting through it is a chore rather than a pleasure.