Dec 03, 2024  
Course Catalog 2024-2025 
    
Course Catalog 2024-2025

Historical Performance


Mark T. C. Edwards, Associate Professor of Harpsichord; director

David Breitman, Associate Professor of Historical Performance
Vincent Grappy, Visiting Assistant Professor of Organ
Edwin Huizinga, Assistant Professor of Baroque Violin
Michael R. Lynn, Professor of Recorder and Flute
Kathryn M. Montoya, Assistant Professor of Baroque Oboe
Jonathan W. Moyer, Associate Professor of Organ
Steven E. Plank, Professor of Musicology
Christa Rakich, Visiting Professor of Organ
Rebecca Reed, Assistant Professor of Viola da Gamba and Baroque Cello


Visit the historical performance web page for more information on this division and its faculty and instructional staff.


Historical Performance Courses

Historical Performance is a way of looking at music, one in which the performer takes on some of the responsibilities of a scholar. Our aim is to provide students tools with which to make historically informed decisions about the pieces they perform. This requires an understanding of the music’s cultural context, familiarity with the practical aspects of historical instruments and performing conventions, and an appreciation of how performance styles and traditions have changed over time.

Historical Performance Courses: Classroom

Almost all Historical Performance course offerings are open to Conservatory and College of Arts and Sciences students (subject to prerequisites for individual courses). These courses will be granted HPRF (Historical Performance) credit on student transcripts.  HPRF 302 and 312 may be taken to fulfill an upper-division music history requirement; to receive music-history credit for these two courses, a student must register using the music-history numbers MHST 302 and 312.

HPRF 111-114 is a series of courses, each focused on the music of a different country.  Open to all students, these team-taught courses give an overview of the repertoire, exploring its historical context and examining some of the problems associated with its performance.

Introduction to Performance Practice (HPRF 302/502 or MHST 302) is designed to introduce the non-specialist and specialist alike to the nature of a historically informed approach to performance; Special Topics in Performance Practice (HPRF 312/512 or MHST 312) explores a variety of subjects (e.g. Chopin, Bach and the Clavichord) on a rotating basis and is open to all qualified students; HPRF 303 and 512 are intended for students majoring in Historical Performance.

Historical Performance Courses: Applied Studies

These offerings include private study (principal or secondary) on historical instruments, and coached ensembles or applied study classes in which the emphasis is on a historically informed approach to performance.

Private study is available on harpsichord, fortepiano, organ, recorder, Baroque flute, Baroque oboe, Baroque violin, Baroque cello and viola da gamba.

Programs

    MajorMinorGraduate

    Courses

      Applied StudiesHistorical Performance