The Essential Role of Improvisation in Musical Performance

Abstract

Western musicians generally distinguish jazz from classical performances in part by observing that the former are improvised, while the latter are prepared and interpreted. They presuppose, therefore, that interpretation does not essentially involve improvisation. In this discussion, however, we shall argue that all musical performance, no matter how meticulously interpreted and no matter how specific the inscribed score, requires improvisation. Interpretation is the player's conceptual realization of the musical score in performance, and, by necessity, interpretation involves improvisation. We offer here an analysis of improvisation that will show how jazz and classical performers alike interpret their pieces and improvise in doing so. The jazz performer may do so to a greater extent; a classical performer may use it more restrictedly. We submit thatjazz and classical performances differ more in degree than in kind.