The origin of the attempt to distinguish early from modern music and t

1) From the 1st paragraph, ‘standard repertory’ music is music before the time of Bach and Handel. Bach and Handel composed music in the first half of the 18th century therefore music before their time must have been before 1700 which makes the answer E).

2) Performance practice included:
• Deciphering obsolete musical notation.
• Transcription of obsolete music notation into modern notation.
• The study of outdated instruments.
• Re-establishment of lost oral tradition with forgotten repertoires.
• Unannotated performing traditions. The music and Bach and Handel was classified as Performance practice because it called for this.
All the choices are mentioned in the first half of the 2nd paragraph except choice D).

3) POE can be used to arrive at the answer. The analysis and answer can be found in the 2nd paragraph.
A) Special was knowledge was actually required to decipher pre-1750 music because it was considered obsolete in contrast to music from the latter half of the 18th century. This is explained from the 2nd paragraph in the line beginning with: “In contrast,….” Incorrect.
B) There is no evidence of this. All we are told is that music with unannotated performing traditions was considered obsolete and we are given the example of Bach, Handel and Telemann. Incorrect.
C) The answer is wrong because of the word ‘only’. There is no evidence directly given that only music performed before 1750 had ceased to be performed. Incorrect.
D) This answer is contrary to the info given in the passage. We are told that Bach and Handel’s music did actually contain unannotated performing traditions. Incorrect.
E) This answer directly ties in with the definition of performance practice as defined in analysis of question 2 above. Correct.

4) A) There is no mention of what is mainstream or not. Incorrect.
B) There is no mention of how ‘disciplined’ one has to be to perform performance practice compared to standard repertory. Incorrect.
C) There is no mention of performance practice being performed at German universities. Incorrect.
D) This is probably why it is a historical sub discipline because it requires special attention due to its obsolete nature in its musical notation, use of instruments and annotation. Correct.
E) We are not told anything about performing the works. Incorrect