This essay was written by Lower Sixth Form student Thomas McLean as an Independent Learning Assignment (ILA). It was shortlisted for the 2023 ILA/ ORIS award. The following provides a short introduction to the full essay:
How can we define Early Music?
To understand the impetus of the 20th-century early music revival and the significance of Historically Informed Performance, ‘early’ demands definition. If one utilises a literal lens, the definition of ‘early’ surely gets later as time progresses, as exemplified by the description of the 1776 ‘Consort of Ancient’s repertory of music that was more than just 20 years old – clearly illustrating the slowing of the rate that music has developed over time. However, in the 21st century world of early musicians, early music is generally regarded to be a collective term for the music from the Medieval to the Baroque, encompassing the period from the late 8th century to 1750. This essay will examine the historically informed performance (HIP) of Renaissance and Baroque music in the 20th century.
To view Thomas’s full article, follow this link below:
The Unchained Library 