Based on a conception in which a musical composition determines aesthetic-normative properties, a distinction is drawn between two notions of performance: the "autonomous", in which a performance is regarded as a musical work on its own, and the "intentionalistic", in which it is regarded as essentially of a particular work. An ideal…

The author reviews several perspectives on the relationship between the composer and the performer of a musical work. Specifically, he examines the boundaries of that relationship, seeking to define the extent to which the performer may creatively interpret a work without violating the composer's intentions or established musical tradition. (SJL)

Using Bob Dylan's three somewhat different versions of "It Ain't Me, Babe," the author investigates the variables of Dylan's performances and how they alter the meanings of his songs, and suggests that the more we know about popular song the more we will understand the songs we subsequently encounter. (KC)