Who’s got the hottest paradigm?
Performance studies under scrutiny
Manuel Bärtsch
Performance studies belong to the thematically very broad fields of enquiry, getting one’s way around is sometimes difficult even for insiders. This article provides an outline of the field by presenting a few emblematic contributions to the research on piano music. The sharp distinction of this approach lies mostly in paradigmatic positions, the meaning of which will be questioned. The author proposes a hybrid orientation model fuelled with these contributions; an analysis of two interpretations of the “Arietta” from Beethoven’s op. 111 will help appraise the potential of such a perspective.
