12/2018: A seminar on digital editions at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis

On December 6, 2018 the Polifonia Sforzesca research team engaged the community of the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis in a debate over digital editions of early music. We briefly presented our perspective and illustrated some case studies of existing editions, before opening a discussion with performers, teachers, scholars, and students, about such questions as:

• Have you ever used a digital edition of music? If yes, how did you use it?
• In an existing or imaginary digital edition, what features do you find most useful, or, on the contrary, useless?
• How do you combine or balance the use of facsimiles and that of modern editions for purposes of study, analysis, performance?
• Editions of vocal music often provide extensive critical notes about the sung texts, besides an historical introduction and the critical apparatus regarding both text and music: how often do you consult these different resources?
• Ultimately, what do you wish from a new edition of the music you are interested in?

Both theoretical thoughts and practical examples from the participants’ daily life animated a vibrant and thought-provoking conversation.

Thanks to Martin Kirnbauer for hosting us in the series Donnerstags-Akademie, and to all the numerous participants for sharing their ideas with us.