The Secret Life of Musical Notation: Defying Interpretive Traditions (Amadeus)

In this book, Roberto Poli presents original discoveries that have generated ground breaking insights based on years of research and performance: long-standing interpretations of commonly encountered musical signs and symbols, from as early as the 1770s, may fail to reveal the composers' intended, meanings. These misconstrued readings are due precisely to traditions themselves – traditions that have rested largely upon received knowledge rather than historical accuracy. Restoring the original connotation of signs and symbols in the scores can bring us closer to practices that have not gained access to our vocabulary because of decades of misinformed playing and fallacious scholarship. By bringing us closer to intended practices, the restoration of these meanings can give us greater interpretive insight and freedom.

Roberto Poli (Boston, MA) has established himself on and off stage as a powerful and eloquent communicator. The works of Frederic Chopin, which he records for the European label Onclassical, are at the core of his studies. Poli balances his time between teaching, performing, lecturing, writing, and managing the Chopin Symposium, which he created to celebrate the life and art of the composer.