ABSTRACT
Since 2000 the amount of work undertaken in the field of musical performance studies has grown exponentially. This chapter reflects on what has been achieved over the last two decades and where performance studies might head in the future. It also highlights certain frictions with and within the ‘artistic research’ community, which at times has pursued conflicting agendas. One aim of the chapter is therefore to generate greater synergy within this broad area of research and to find a way out of the corner into which some have painted themselves. A case study focusing on a singular performance by the pianist Alfred Brendel is presented with the particular purpose of demonstrating how the separation sometimes posited in the literature between ‘academic researchers’ and ‘artist researchers’ might be challenged or overcome. Consideration is also given to what musical performance studies and artistic research offer performers themselves in terms of theoretical insight on the one hand and artistic inspiration on the other.
