What is "Early Music?"

Roughly speaking, "Early Music" refers to classical music composed before the nineteenth century, although there is no exact boundary date. "Historically Informed Performance" (H.I.P.) asks the performer to learn as much specific information as possible about how the music in question was originally performed. H.I.P.'s premise is that each work of music has its own particular performance style and context. Early music performers seek to present the music with an eye to how it may have been performed when it was first composed.