The Harpsichord and Basso Continuo Lab was established in December 2020 by Rector prof. dr hab. Hanna Kostrzewska, and is operating within the Department of Historical Performance Practices. It was originated and founded by prof. dr hab. Maria Banaszkiewicz-Bryła, Head of the Department.

The activity of the Lab is focused on the didactic, educational, artistic and academic areas. It is aimed at broadening knowledge and improvement of practice in the art of harpsichord playing and basso continuo performance, as well as broadly understood performance of early music. As part of the Lab, two research projects are carried out:

• “The Influence of National Elements on the Keyboard Music of the 17^th and 18^th centuries” – project managed by prof. dr hab. Maria Banaszkiewicz-Bryła
• “Harpsichord Literature in the Works of Contemporary Polish Composers (20^th and 21^st centuries)” – project managed by dr Natalia Hyżak.

The Lab’s tasks also include organizing courses, conferences, academic and artistic sessions, recordings, festivals and concerts, as well as creating academic publications in collaboration with the Paderewski Academy of Music Press. The activities are aimed at developing the technique of playing historical keyboard instruments, with particular emphasis on basso continuo practice, as well as at broadening the knowledge and educating staff and students of the Academy in the field of historically informed performance. Work is also planned on editing and developing source musical note materials for educational, academic and popularizing purposes, as well as translating important texts related to early music, which have not yet found their way into the Polish language.

The projects include collaboration with teachers, artists and ensembles both from Poland and abroad.