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This article is from the Classical music FAQ, by Gabe M. Wiener gabe@panix.com with numerous contributions by others.

17. What is "authentic performance practice"? (Classical music)

Any musical work can be interpreted in a variety of different ways.
Authentic performance practice stresses scholarship and an
understanding of the performance characteristics in vogue during the
composer's lifetime, those actually intended by the composer, or those
which the composer might have heard, performed, or been aware of.
Therefore, a performance of the Chicago Symphony playing a Bach
orchestral suite, for instance, would probably fail to impress
authentic performance aficionados, because Bach never even heard (let
alone intended the piece for) such a large ensemble.

Authentic performance practice can extend to the selection of
instruments themselves (you don't see hurdy gurdies or recorders in
modern orchestras), instrument construction, string material, tuning
and temperament, seating arrangements, trills and figures, numbers of
performers on a given part, tempo, doublings, and of course, overall
playing technique. Compare an authentic performance and a modern
performance of the same work. One is likely to notice substantial
differences between them. The choice as to which one prefers is left
as an exercise for the reader.

 

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