Prior to the Baroque era, the realm of keyboard music was predominantly occupied by compositions for the organ, serving their liturgical purpose within the confines of religious contexts. In the latter stages of the Renaissance period, the virginal, an antecedent to the harpsichord, gained prominence in England. However, it was during the Baroque period that the keyboard truly burgeoned into a distinct solo instrument, unfurling its artistic potential. As it matured, it embraced the art of emulating the diverse genres that coexisted within the musical landscape. One figure who exemplified this artful integration was none other than J. S. Bach, whose keyboard oeuvre artfully interwove various strands of Baroque musical expression. His compositions deftly traversed through divergent stylistic avenues, either adeptly mimicking singular idioms or ingeniously amalgamating them.
The Baroque era's unique attribute rested in its composers' tendency to forgo the explicit notation of interpretative nuances, encompassing elements such as dynamics, phrasing, articulation, tempo, and pedaling. This characteristic, while rendering Baroque music rich in interpretational enigma, also renders its execution more intricate when juxtaposed with musical idioms from subsequent musical periods. During that period, prevailing performance practices were tacitly understood amongst musicians, obviating the need for overt interpretive annotations. Consequently, modern editions of Baroque compositions may deliberately eschew embellishing directives or editorial suggestions. Consequently, a dichotomy arises: some musicians approach Baroque repertoire as if the absence of explicit interpretive cues precludes nuanced expression, while others rigidly adhere to the markings bestowed upon these works by editors—marks that may or may not faithfully encapsulate Baroque performance customs. In our desire as musicians to rekindle the essence of the Baroque era or any era, we should ask ourselves: how can we earnestly endeavor to recapture the period's intricate and captivating musical style?
We must learn the characteristics of the period...