Musical Performance
A Guide to Understanding

This accessible guide unravels the complexities of musical performance for students, teachers and performers at all levels.

John Rink (Edited by)

9780521788625, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 12 December 2002

260 pages, 20 music examples
24.4 x 17 x 1.4 cm, 0.539 kg

"Overall this volume eschews theorizing, and several of the authors rely heavily on empirical studies to confirm what only anecdotal evidence has previously supported.... accessible for performers and teachers at all levels...." Choice

This accessible guide for students, teachers and performers at all levels unravels the complexities of musical performance and focuses on key aspects of learning, playing and responding to music. A survey of performance through the ages leads to a presentation of basic historical, analytical and psychological concepts. Four chapters follow on teaching, development, practice and memorisation. The next section considers the 'translation' from score to sound, physical projection, ensemble playing and performance anxiety. The final section addresses the act of listening, the legacy of recordings, music criticism and 'performers on performance'.

Introduction John Rink
Part I. Conceptions and Preconceptions: 1. Performing through history Colin Lawson
2. Historical performance and the modern performer Peter Walls
3. Analysis and (or?) performance John Rink
4. Understanding the psychology of performance Eric Clarke
Part II. Learning to Perform: 5. On teaching performance Janet Ritterman
6. Developing the ability to perform Jane Davidson
7. Preparing for performance Stefan Reid
8. Memorising music Aaron Williamon
Part III. Making Music: 9. From score to sound Peter Hill
10. Communicating with the body in performance Jane Davidson
11. Ensemble performance Elaine Goodman
12. The fear of performance Elizabeth Valentine
Part IV. Interpreting Performance: 13. Listening to performance Eric Clarke
14. The legacy of recordings Peter Johnson
15. The criticism of musical performance Raymond Monelle
16. Performers on performance Jonathan Dunsby.

Subject Areas: Techniques of music / music tutorials [AVS], Individual composers & musicians, specific bands & groups [AVH], Theory of music & musicology [AVA]