(34:00) Early European music is commonly defined as music from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, sometimes also including the Baroque. Therefore, the music in question is between 300 or 400 years old. It has its own specifics and should not be confused with classical music.
The question of how to perform music from earlier periods was not particularly relevant until the 19th century, when Europeans began looking back at ancient cultures; as a consequence, the musical riches from earlier centuries were very much in vogue. The concept of performing early music more ‘authentically’ - commonly described as ‘historically informed performance’ - continued to evolve throughout the 20th century, resulting in the modern revival that still continues today.
We had a chance to speak to the members of the early music ensemble Harmonia Antiqua Labacensis at their rehearsal for the Festival Radovljica, an annual Slovenian early music festival. You are cordially invited to get to know early music through their personal experience and reflections. Despite being created centuries ago, this particular musical genre still sounds quite fresh and new in its own way.
