Article Lists:

metsu
gamba

lely
violone/bass

hals
cello

falcone
performance practice

Performance Practice Articles:

An important aspect of researching the history and development of string instruments is knowing about their performance practices: the techniques each utilized and the methods in which they were used by their contemporaries. The articles listed below will provide an overview of many of these aspects, as well as providing a point of departure for "modern" players interested in learning some of the basics for period performance. I have tried to include most of the standard texts for this subject area.

  • Abbott, Djilda and Ephraim Segerman. Gut Strings. EM 4, 1976
  • Bartlett, Clifford. Reading From Figured Bass.
  • Bianconi, Lorenzo. Music in the Seventeenth Century. Cambridge University Press, 1982
  • Bishop, Martha. On Playing Continuo.
  • Brown, Howard Mayer. Choral Music in the Renaissance. EM 6, 1978
  • Brown, Howard Mayer. On the Performance of Fifteenth Century Chansons. EM 1, 1973
  • Brown, Howard Mayer. Performance Practice: Music Before 1600. Norton, 1989
  • Brown, Howard Mayer. Performance Practice: Music After 1600. Norton, 1989
  • Brown, Howard Mayer. Embellishing 16th Century Music. Oxford University Press, 1976
  • Bukofzer, Manfred F. Music of the Baroque Era: From Monteverdi to Bach. Norton, 1947
  • Caldwell, John. Editing Early Music. Clarendon Press, 1995
  • Carter, Stewart. The String Tremolo in the 17th Century. 1991
  • Carter, Stewart (editor). A Performer's Guide to 17th Century Music. Schirmer, 1997
  • Cohen, Albert. A Study of Instrumental Ensemble Practice in 17th Century France. GSJ XV, 1962
  • Connelly, Patrice. Vibrato: Some Historical Notes For String Players.
    DeFord, Ruth I. Zacconi's Theories of Tactus and Mensuration. JM XIV #2, 1996
  • Dolmetsch, Arnold. The Interpretation of the Music of the 17th and 18th Centuries. University of Washington Press, 1969
  • Donington, Robert. Baroque Music: Style and Performance - A Handbook. Norton, 1982
  • Donington, Robert. The Interpretation of Early Music. Norton, 1992
  • Duffin, Ross. Why I Hate Vallotti (or is it Young?) Historical Performance Online, EMA 2000
  • Fallows, David. Embellishment and Urtext in the 15th Century Song Repertories. Basler Jahrbuch fur Historische Musikpraxis XIV, 1990
  • Ferand, Ernest. Didactic Embellishment Literature in the Late Renaissance Sources. Aspects of Medieval and Renaissance Music, Norton, 1966
  • Freiberg, Sarah. Baroque Performance Basics: Performing Early Music Requires You to Change Your Attitude and Your Ear. ISB XXV #3, 2002
  • arwood, Ian. Instrumental Pitch in England c.1600. EM 11, 1983
  • Haas, Eric. The Grammar of Ornament: Ornamentation and Embellishment in the Late Baroque. Von Huene Workshop, 1998
  • Le Huray, Peter. Authenticity in Performance: Eighteenth Century
    Case Studies. Cambridge University Press, 1990
  • Kenyon, Nicholas (editor). Authenticity and Early Music. Oxford University Press, 1988
  • Kite-Powell, Jeffrey (editor). A Performer's Guide to Renaissance Music. Schirmer, 1994
  • Larson, Daniel. Making Gut Strings.
  • Lawson, Colin and Robin Stowell. The Historical Performance of Music:
    An Introduction. Cambridge University Press, 1999
  • MacClintock, Carol. Readings in the History of Music in Performance.
    Indiana University Press, 1982.
  • Mangsen, Sandra. Ad Libitum Procedures in Instrumental Duos and Trios. 1991
  • McGee, Timothy J. Medieval and Renaissance Music: A Performer's Guide. Uiversity of Toronto Press, 1985
  • McGee, Timothy (editor). Singing Early Music: The Pronunciation of European Languages in the Late Middle Ages and Renaissance. Indiana University Press, 1996
  • Munrow, David. The Art of Courtly Love. EM 1, 1973
  • Myers, Herbert. Instrumental Pitch in England c. 1600. EM 10, 1982
  • Myers, Herbert W. Praetorius's Pitch. EM 12, 1984
  • Neumann, Frederick. Performance Practices of the 17th and 18th Centuries. Schirmer, 1993
  • Neumann, Frederick. Ornamentation In Baroque and Post-Baroque Music. Princeton, 1983
  • Neumann, Frederick. Ornamentation and Improvisation In Mozart. Princeton, 1986
  • Ornoy, Eitan. Between Theory and Practice: Comparative Study of Early Music Performances. EM 34, 2006
  • Parrott, Andrew. Bach's Chorus: a Brief Yet Highly Necessary Reappraisal. EM 1996
  • Parrott, Andrew. Transposition in Monteverdi's Vespers
    of 1610: An Aberration Defended. EM 12, 1984
  • Parrott, Andrew. The Essential Bach Choir. Boydell Press, 2000
    Ransome, Antony. Towards an Authentic Vocal Style and Technique in Late Baroque Performance. EM 6, 1978
  • Reiners, Hans. Baroque Bows. Chelys, 2000
  • Sadie, Julie Anne (editor). Companion to Baroque Music. University of California Press: Berkeley, 1990.
  • Segerman, E. Instrument Maintenance With Respect to Strings.
  • Seletsky, Robert E. New Light on the Old Bow. EM 2004
  • Selfridge-Field, Eleanor. Venetian Instrumental Music: From Gabrieli To Vivaldi. Dover, 1975
  • Spitzer, John and Zaslaw, Neal. The Birth of the Orchestra: History of an Institution. Oxford, 2004
  • Stauffer, George B. Bach: The Mass in B Minor. Capter 7: Issues of Performance Practice. Schirmer, 1997
  • Strunk, Oliver. Source Readings in Music History. Norton 1978
  • Tarling, Judy. Baroque String Playing For Ingenious Learners. Corda Music, 2000
  • Thierbach, Susie Puyear. Vibrato in the Violin Music of the Baroque Period. ASTA, May 1999
  • Vanscheeuwijck, Marc. The Capella Musicale of San Petronio in Bologna Under Giovanni Paolo Colonna (1674-95). Brepols Publishers, 2003
  • Weber, Rainer. Some Researches into Pitch in the 16th Century with Reference to the Instruments in the Accademia Filarmonica of Verona. GSJ XXVIII, 1975
  • Woodfield, Ian. String-Making in 17th Century Padua: A Description. GSJ 41, 1988
  • Zappulla, Robert. Figured Bass Accompaniment In France. Brepols, 2000
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