The Handel and Haydn Society has presented HIP performances since 1986 when Christopher Hogwood assumed the position of Artistic Director. Under his guidance, the Society has emerged as one of the nation's preeminent period orchestra. Many of Handel and Haydn’s period instrument players come from Boston; some even travel from New York, Washington, and Europe to perform with the group.

Of the instruments themselves, several used in the orchestra were actually built in the Baroque or classical periods; the others are replicas designed with specific Baroque and classical models in mind. The most visible differences between modern and period orchestras can be seen in the woodwind section, where the instruments have few keys and are actually made of wood, and in the brass section, where the instruments have simpler lines and no valves. Differences less apparent to the eye than to the ear include the use of gut strings instead of steel, and lower pitches.

But it takes more than period instruments to create a HIP performance. Handel and Haydn concerts utilize the most up-to-date scholarship, often through newly edited scores. Audiences have the opportunity to hear the unique textures afforded by period instruments, as well as appropriate tempos and dynamics.

Christopher Hogwood, one of the founders of the Historically Informed Performance movement, sums up his philosophy this way:

"There is no reason to say that the modern piano is better or worse than the piano that Mozart played. But you can say that there is congruence between the music Mozart wrote and the instruments of his day. Once you replace the instruments with modern ones, that congruence is lost. It's like putting Mozart in a Porsche -- a wonderful bit of engineering that he didn't have."

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