Abstract

This study examines some of the theoretical problems connected to the restoration of vocal music that is not documented by sonic sources. For these repertoires the sources relating to performance aspects are entrusted to verbal texts involving a systematic, in-depth study of lexicon. The conclusions reached here are generally valid as regards the performance of music taken from non-sonic texts. The study goes on to consider contemporary trends relating to research on performance in its historic as well as systematic dimensions, highlighting some of the inclinations and contradictions in contemporary musical culture. It then debates some of R. Taruskin's points on the future of 'ancient' music and its supposed similarity to the modernist stance of the early twentieth century.