European Voices IV presents new perspectives on two basic performance styles of traditional music of Europe: 1) Solo playing on single instruments with the possibility for multipart texture, for instance different bagpipes and bowed instruments. 2) Practices of playing in small ensembles with a leading role of the violin and later of wind instruments, widespread in Central and Eastern Europe. 14 renowned ethnomusicologists from eleven countries offer new insights on style, repertoire, ways of musical thinking and performance behaviour. Their studies are based on historical sources as well as of a vivid exchange with local musicians during in-depth ethnographic fieldwork.