Ornementation& improvisation

Comme l’écrivait Bruce Haynes en 2010 : « Modern performers (including many HIP performers) tend not to be very interested in extemporization. Although we all improvise with language for hours every day, most of us have had the child’s delight in improvising music trained out. The natural ability to play “off the page”, to fake it when necessary, is drummed out of us nowadays before we’re half finished with conservatory training. Where seventeenth- and eighteenth- century musicians had a casual view of written music, and no doubt “improved” pieces regularly, a modern performer usually feels a definite constraint about altering anything. »

The goal is to explore the practices of musicians from the past, cultivate an appreciation for them, and comprehend the extent to which they empower contemporary musicians to deepen their understanding of scores, refine their connection with the instrument, and enhance their instrumental technique.

The Improvisation and Ornamentation course strives to equip musicians with the theoretical and technical skills required to approach various musical styles through the lenses of improvisation and ornamentation. It also aims to foster the development of a musical personality capable of expressing and evolving musical ideas through their instrument.

In a rapidly evolving musical landscape, adopting a historically informed approach is crucial for performers. It not only adds depth but also retains a creative and spontaneous dimension. In this context, improvisation is essential to emotionally engage with the audience and comprehend the language of a specific period and place through its compositional mechanisms. The course comprises modules that delve into specific aspects, jam sessions, and coaching on the instrument's repertoire.