Early Music Online Forum Series 2023

“The Quodlibet” – AEC’s online and open forum for dialogue on all matters of Early Music

Quodlibet 1 – March 23, 2023, 18:00-19:30
Historically Informed Performance versus Grammophonically Informed Performance

Guest: Daniel Leech-Wilkinson

Introduction/moderator: Anton Steck

In the past few years we have had access to a sheer endless number of interpretations and performances available on different internet platforms. For a listener this is an incredible opportunity to compare and select and make an own choice according to personal preferences. For a performer on the other hand this raises some questions and problems. If we, for instance, compare Schubert String Quartet recordings of both ensembles, Rudolf Kolisch’s and Adolf Busch’s quartets (both in the 1930s), we can hear two completely different interpretations. They simply did not know the interpretations from each other and were free to do it their own way! The same effect you can find a little bit later in the early baroque recordings of the 1950s and 60s from pioneers like the Alarius Ensemble (J. Rubinlicht). How did they find their interpretation without listening to recordings? 

Some other questions for our Quodlibet could be: 

-What would come out if we completely avoid listening to a piece and study it the “old fashioned” way: First learn the score without playing – then play? 

-Can students find their own creativity if they go the easy way and get for instance ornaments from a recording instead of learning it step-by-step? 

-Getting many clicks for a “fancy” interpretation can evoke a tension between commercial pressures and historical evidence in period-instrument performances. 

-Can recordings be seen as “sources”?

Quodlibet 2 – April 27, 2023, 18:00-19:30

Beyond Europe #1

Early Music Education in Chile, Mexico, Argentina

Our world is a global one indeed! To what extent is Early Music also a global issue? Not just as a product in a world-wide music market, but as a common heritage, especially for those countries sharing part of their history with Europe. Moreover, specialised EM training is not anymore just a European affair: quite a few higher education institutions offer music degrees based on the HIP paradigm in non-European countries. What are their programmes like? How are their specific circumstances shaping their activity? How can we facilitate exchange, foster discussion and promote collaboration in EM education at a global scale?

The second Quodlibet of 2023 will have, as special guests, a group of delegates from higher education institutions leading in the implementation of EM in their respective countries: Mexico, Chile and Argentina.

Introduction and Moderation by Isaac Alonso de Molina

Quodlibet 3 – May 25, 2023, 18:00-19:30

A future for Early Music: Connecting with the audience

For this discussion the AEC will be partnering with REMA, the European Early Music Network, to explore the topic of audience development. What are our expectations of the audience, and what does the audience for the field of historical performance expect from us? We hope to find ways to forge a stronger connection going forward, and to gain insight into ways to cultivate our audience in the future. We look forward to your input!

This forum will take place during REMA’s General Assembly in Pavia, and will serve as a kick-off for the in-depth discussion of this topic in REMA’s Early Music Summit, 30 November-2 December 2023, in which audience development will be a central theme.

Introduction and Moderation by Kelly Landerkin

Video Recordings

Have you missed theQuodlibets 2023? Watch the recordings!

Have you missed the three Quodlibets 2022? Watch the recordings of the fora hosted by the AEC Early Music Task force on the current status of Early Music departments in Europe. on Storytelling! See you in March for the Quodlibet serie 2023!