Authenticity versus improvisation?

The terms Improvisation and Authenticity are often used to classify and evaluate musical performances. However, a more precise philosophical reflection brings problems to light. The concept of Improvisation the idea of boundless spontaneity and freedom. However, this remains unattainable because in practice, recourse to existing patterns and rules is unavoidable. What the Authenticity a distinction can be made between a subjective and an objective form of performance. The former aims to ensure that the performers express themselves authentically. Objective authenticity, on the other hand, strives to return to the true origin or supposed intention of a musical work in order to visualize the "original version" and/or the experience behind it. In both cases, however, the question is to what extent full authenticity is realizable or even conceivable.

The aim of the conference is to understand more precisely what improvisation and authenticity could be and how their interrelationship can be described. In particular, both terms will be used to shed light on the concept of the musical work. The conference is interdisciplinary and brings philosophy and musicology into conversation.

In this regard, the conference papers will address the following questions, among others:
- How can improvisation be distinguished from other musical practices?
- What do we mean when we talk about a more or less authentic improvisation talk?
- To what extent can sound recordings also be authentic?
- What can the concept of the work achieve in the context of improvisation?
- What concepts of improvisation can we gain from concrete musical practices and various music theories?
- What does freedom of improvisation mean?

These questions will be examined using both theoretical arguments and concrete examples. The interdisciplinary dialogue will not only bring together knowledge from different disciplines, but also allow different perspectives to stimulate each other. Invited keynote speeches will be given by Julian Dodd (Manchester University), Roger Pouivet (Université de Lorraine) and Bastien Gallet (HEAR, Strasbourg/Mulhouse). These questions will be put to the test in a workshop with the HKB improvisation trio Inniger-daSilva-Spitzenstaetter.