Sigiswald Kuijken is one of the most important pioneers of the early music scene and celebrates his 80th birthday on February 16, 2024. Throughout his life as a musician, his vision went far beyond conventional "classical" violin playing. As a student, he was already working on baroque playing techniques on the violin and, as a significant milestone in historical playing, developed violin playing without support and chin rest, with the instrument resting freely on the shoulder. He had already learned to play the viola da gamba at a young age through self-tuition. In 2004, he advocated the revival of the violoncello da spalla for the first time and played the cello played on the shoulder, which was the actual basso continuo instrument in the Baroque period and was completely forgotten in the course of history.