HISTORICALLY INFORMED PERFORMANCE AS A FACTOR IN MUSICAL STYLE FORMATION

Abstract

The focus is on historically informed performance (HIP) as a key factor in shaping musical style in the process of interpreting Baroque music. The phenomenon of the coexistence of freedom and constraint in performance is explored, manifesting through creative freedom and aesthetic limitations conditioned by historical, cultural, and theoretical frameworks. The prerequisites for the complexity of interpreting Baroque music are examined, including the influence of theocentrism, the theory of affects, peculiarities of ornamentation, unequal temperaments, and improvisation. The analytical lens of the study is the interaction of musical and extra-musical factors that shape the style of HIP, as well as its role in contemporary sociocultural discourse.
Research on historically informed performance (HIP) is relevant in the context of contemporary musicology and performance practice, as it allows to rethink Baroque music through the prism of authenticity and modern sociocultural demands. In the era of metamodernism, when society seeks a return to the historical roots of art, HIP becomes not only a way to reproduce the music of the past but also a factor in producing new stylistic meanings. The issue of freedom and constraint in performing Baroque music reflects broader philosophical questions about the coexistence of individual creativity and normative frameworks, resonating with contemporary discussions on identity, tradition, and innovation.
The relevance of the topic is also driven by the challenges faced by performers: the need to master historical instruments, unequal temperaments, improvisational practices, and the analysis of theoretical treatises. In Ukraine, where musical culture has deep traditions but limited access to historical instruments, research on HIP contributes to a deeper understanding of Baroque music and the creation of a foundation for a corresponding performance school.
The aim of the scientific inquiry is to substantiate historically informed performance as a key factor in musical style formation in the process of interpreting Baroque-era music. The study is directed at analyzing the conflict between interpretive freedom and constraint in performance as a professional issue that significantly influences the formation of contemporary styles in performing Baroque music.