Unlocking the Art of Composition: Playing with Purposefully Incomplete Keyboard Notations in Northern Europe

In recent decades, the performance practice of classical musicians in historical styles has undergone a profound transformation. While traditional higher music education has long emphasized the reproduction of written music, an increasing number of institutions are now reviving classical improvisation—encouraging not only faithful execution but also spontaneous musical creation. This project explores how historical methods can be applied today to foster compositional creativity on keyboard instruments through historically informed approaches. While much research has focused on the 18th-century Italian soloistic thoroughbass tradition—particularly in Naples and Bologna—this study aims to illuminate similar yet less explored practices in Northern Europe. The project follows a twofold methodology. First, it reconstructs incomplete thoroughbass sketches from notated keyboard repertoire, offering new insights into the creative processes embedded within these works. This reverse-engineering approach enables modern players to engage with historical creative practices. Secondly, it examines how keyboard musicians in Northern Europe (1600–1800) may have learned composition at the keyboard, using historical examples of incomplete notation to shed light on their pedagogical and artistic significance.