Art Reproduced by Performers: Interpretation of Works

Following the differences in performance caused by different performers, the next issue is the interpretation of the work.

If that sounds difficult, to rephrase it, it is a question of how it is desirable to reproduce (perform) this piece.

Desirable means to be in accordance with the true intentions of the composer.

Of course, if the composer is still alive, there is no problem; this arises because they have passed away, and it is also a problem that stems from the fact that a score can only express so much.

Performances that should have been thought through in various ways to align with the true intention are as varied as the people performing them.

The fact that they are never the same means that there are just as many interpretations of the work.

Some of them may perhaps be close to the composer's true intention, but we do not know which ones they are.

In this case, what exactly are the underlying elements that lead to the differences in how the score is read, and why the same presto is played differently—in other words, what else are they seeing through the score?

This, too, can only be imagined, but perhaps it is the composer's character, where they were born, what kind of personality and way of thinking they had, how they lived, or perhaps the situation or life they were leading when they wrote the work.

Or perhaps the era in which they lived, the social background, or the musical situation?

Or maybe it is their friendships in music history (who they were close to, and therefore were influenced by).

After looking at all these matters,

"Therefore, this score must be reproduced in this way."

Having concluded that,

and if they are performing based on that, then even if the result takes a different form, shouldn't we consider it to be persuasive in its own way?

Of course, these elements are common in some parts and show differences in others.

While one could argue that with the progress of research, they shouldn't be that different, here, the performer's own background and way of thinking, the instrument, the venue, and in the case of records, the equipment used for recording and the differences in studios (halls) are also added.

No matter how you look at it, it is clear that they will not be the same performance.