# What is Historically Enlightened Performance?
![[Frederick-the-Great-Concert.jpg]]
> [!box] **Historically Enlightened Performance** (**HEP**) is a term I coined in early 2022 to describe what I’ve been working towards for the last 40 years or so.
>
> The Covid-19 lockdowns in 2020 and 2021 gave me a lot of time for reflection. 😀
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The stated aim of the [Early Music Revival](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_music_revival) (well established by the second half of the 20th century) was **‘authentic’ performance**. As this implies an unachievable absolute historical accuracy, the designation [Historically Informed Performance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historically_informed_performance) (**HIP**) is now preferred.
HIP is cool. HIP is fashionable. And is often used in the marketing of performances and recordings.
> [!box] I prefer the designation **Historically Enlightened Performance** (**HEP**).
Not only is **HEP** an older version of the word HIP—in the 1930s a **hep-cat** was a stylish or fashionable person, especially in the sphere of jazz or popular music—but it better encapsulates what we are trying to achieve.
> [!box] **HIP** is a step along the way to **HEP**.
**HEP** highlights the role of **education** and **curiosity** in music performance, encouraging performers to ask “Why should I do this?” instead of merely following instructions.
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## Being Informed versus Being Enlightened
The classic _**How to Read a Book**_ (1940, rev. ed. 1972) by Adler and Van Doren makes the important distinction between being informed and being enlightened:
> To be **informed** is to know simply that something is the case.
>
> To be **enlightened** is to know, in addition, what it is all about: why it is the case, what its connections are with other facts, in what respects it is the same, in what respects it is different, and so forth. …
>
> **Enlightenment** is achieved only when, in addition to knowing what an author says, you know what he means and why he says it.
>
> — Adler and Van Doren
To be enlightened is to have a deep understanding. Understanding leads to insight and comfort with the data.
Quantz talks about this in the Preface to his [[§ Quantz on Performance|Versuch]] (1752). He says that he has endeavoured to purify his taste ‘through long experience and reflection.’ He expands on this in the Introduction:
> For everything in music that is done without reflection and deliberation, and simply, as it were, as a pastime, is without profit. Industry founded upon ardent love and insatiable enthusiasm for music must be united with constant and diligent inquiry, and mature reflection and examination.
>
> — Johann Joachim Quantz
He is describing the search for explanations and understanding, for enlightenment. This is education (discovery) and not just training.
> [!important] Curiosity is key and you need to do the work.
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> [!link] Related Links
> - [[The Task of Historical Performance]]
> - [[Historical Performance - An Introduction]]
> - [[The Performer as Orator]]
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<small>© Greg Dikmans</small>