Karin Paulsmeier was born 1943 in Hamburg, Germany. She began her music studies at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis (SCB), receiving her diploma in 1968, and continuing her formation in musicology at the University of Basel, Switzerland.
From 1970 to 2003 she taught „Notationskunde", the study of musical notation dating from the 12th to 18th centuries, at the SCB. Over the years she has gained international recognition as one of the most knowledgeable professionals in her field. Karin Paulsmeier's particular interest lies in the relationship between notation and musical style as they evolve over time, presenting a history of music through original sources. She frequently advises musicians on the interpretation and performance of music read directly from the original notation.
Apart from her work at the SCB, Karin Paulsmeier continues to share her experience through articles, lectures, and courses. Presently, she is preparing a textbook that will cover musical notation from the Middle Ages to the Classical era.
Karin Paulsmeier’s main interest lies in the interrelation of theoretical and practical aspects of musical notation. She transmits her knowledge and experience through workshops, lectures and articles.
In the spring of 2006 she was a guest teacher at the „Universidad Complutense“, Madrid (Spain), and the „Escuela de Musica de Catalunya“, Barcelona (Spain).
Workshops (selection)
18. - 30. April 2006: Courses in Osaka und Tokyo.
„14th and 15th Century French and Cypriot Repertoire“ (with Valerie Horst)
„Renaissance Notation: Introduction and Review“ (Henry VIIIth Manuscript)
„Introduction to XVIIth Century Notation: Aspects of the „tempo ordinario“ and Proportions in the Time of Frescobaldi“
Amherst Early Music Festival, Bennington (Vermont, USA)
July 2005
„Die Notation des 17.Jahrhunderts“ (with special attention to English music)
Hochschule für Musik Franz Liszt, Weimar
May 2005
„La notación barroca“
Proyecto: Música antigua para nuestro tiempo
Bogotá, Colombia
August/September 2004
„Temporelationen in der Musik des 17. Jahrhunderts“
Hochschule für Musik Franz Liszt, Weimar
April 2001
„Die Notationsgeschichte des 12. bis 18. Jahrhunderts“
Ukrainian National Tchaikovsky Academy of Music, Kiew
October 2001
Introducción a la notación modal“
Escola Luthier, Barcelona
November 1992
„Die Drucke Ottaviano Petruccis und andere Quellen der Musikaufzeichnung um 1500“
Exposition, Petrucci-Festtage Basel (Schola Cantorum Basiliensis)
January/February 2001
Lectures (selection)
10. September 2006: The changing meaning of mensural characters, see www.signographie.de.
„Las raíces de la notación clásica: compases y proporciones del siglo XVII“
Projecto: Música antigua para nuestro tiempo
Bogotá, Colombia; August/September 2004
„Temporelationships in the work of Frescobaldi“
International Harpsichord Symposium, Gemeentemuseum The Hague, Netherlands, January 1999
„Von der Entstehung des „tactus“- Prinzips aus musikalischer Notwendigkeit“
Symposium: Direktion und Dirigieren, Musik-Akademie der Stadt Basel,
November 1999
„Orfeo im Bild - eine Interpretation des „Orfeo“ von Claudio Monteverdi aus der Originalnotation“
Coolloque international: La musique ancienne dans le monde d’aujourd’hui
Philarmonie Bruxelles, May 1998
Articles (selection)
„Der Punkt in der Musik“
in: SIGNA, Beiträge zur Signographie, Heft 4, 2002
Review: Schweizer Musikzeitung
„Argumente gegen die Edition alter Musik“ (PDF, 1.24 MB)
in: Sonderband der Reihe „Basler Jahrbuch für Historische Musikpraxis“, 1992
„Aspekte der Beziehung zwischen Notation und Stil“
Basler Jahrbuch für Historische Musikpraxis X, 1986