The performer’s body in creative interpretations of repertoire music

Abstract

Recent developments in the performing arts have led Western classical instrumentalists to reconsider their own creative input in their interpretative practice. Still recognising the composer as a main creative source, a fresh approach to interpretation specifically embraces possibilities for shared creativity. Such a shift of perception is particularly obvious when working collaboratively with artists from other genres including dance, theatre, literature or mixed media. In these combinations, several performative elements such as, for example, each performer’s corporeality, presence, actions and perspectives become part of the interpretative concept and product. This paper introduces a recent practice-based research project called Creative Embodiment of Music, which focuses on possibilities for a musician’s extended creativity and how this can be realised in live music performance.