International Music Score Library Project: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 16:28, 18 December 2008

Revision as of 02:30, 19 December 2008

Line 12:

| launch date = February 16, 2006

| current status = Reopened (June 30, 2008) <br>

(Closed October 19, 2007 &nbsp;– June 29, 2008)

}}

The '''International Music Score Library Project''' ('''IMSLP'''), now also known as the '''Petrucci Music Library''' after [[Ottaviano Petrucci]], is a project for the creation of a virtual library of [[public ___domain]] [[sheet music|music scores]], based on the [[wiki]] principle. Since its launch on February 16, 2006, more than 22,000 scores, for 12,000 works, by over 1,200 composers have been uploaded, making it one of the largest public ___domain music score collections on the web.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.freesheetmusicguide.com/classical.htm |title=Classical and Choral Sheet Music |accessdate=2007-11-06 |date=2007 |work=The Free Sheet Music Guide }}</ref> The project uses [[MediaWiki]] software to provide contributors with a familiar interface.

== History ==

=== Overview ===

The site launched on February 16, 2006. The library consists mainly of [[image scanner|scans]] of old musical editions out of [[copyright]]. In addition, it admits scores by contemporary composers who wish to share their music with the world by releasing it under a [[Creative Commons]] license. One of the main projects of IMSLP was the sorting and uploading of the complete works of [[Johann Sebastian Bach]] in the [[Bach Gesellschaft|Bach-Gesellschaft Ausgabe]] (1851–99), a task that was completed on November 3rd3, 2008. Besides J.S. Bach's complete public ___domain works, all of [[Frédéric Chopin]]'s, [[Johannes Brahms]]'s, Handel's, a large percentage of [[Franz Liszt]]'s, and others are nearly all available as well.

Besides providing a digital repository, IMSLP offers possibilities as a [[musicology|musicological]] encyclopaedia, since multiple and historical editions of a single composition can be uploaded, and musicological analyses and historical commentaries accompany the scores.

Line 25:

IMSLP is officially recommended by [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology|MIT]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news-libraries.mit.edu/blog/archives/354 |title=Wiki of public ___domain classical scores |accessdate=2007-11-06 |author=Moore, Christie |date=[[2007-01-05]] |work=MIT Library News }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://libguides.mit.edu/content.php?pid=12401&sid=104163 |title=Research Guides: Music |accessdate=2008-09-04 |date=2008 |work=MIT Libraries }}</ref> which also used it extensively in some of its [[MIT OpenCourseWare|OpenCourseWare]] courses.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/Music-and-Theater-Arts/21M-250Fall-2006/Listening/index.htm |title=21M.250 Schubert to Debussy, Fall 2006 |accessdate=2007-11-06 |author=MIT |date=2007 |work=MIT OpenCourseWare }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/Music-and-Theater-Arts/21M-262Fall-2006/Listening/index.htm |title=21M.262 Modern Music:1900-1960, Fall 2006 |accessdate=2007-11-06 |author=MIT |date=2007 |work=MIT OpenCourseWare }}</ref> It is suggested as a resource by university libraries at [[Oberlin Conservatory of Music]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://oberlinconservatorylibrary.blogspot.com/2007/04/classical-music-in-public-___domain.html |title=Classical Music in the Public Domain |accessdate=2008-09-04 |author=Conlib |date=[[2007-04-26]] |work=News from the Oberlin Conservatory Library }}</ref> [[Manhattan School of Music]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://library.msmnyc.edu/screens/freestuff.html |title=Free stuff on the web |accessdate=2008-09-04 |author=Sharp, Peter Jay |date=2007 |work=The Peter Jay Sharp Library, Manhattan School of Music }}</ref> [[Stanford University]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www-sul.stanford.edu/depts/music/research_help/outsidelinks.html#sheet |title=Outside links of interest |accessdate=2008-09-04 |date=2007 |work=Stanford University, Libraries and Academic Information Resources }}</ref> [[McGill University]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mcgill.ca/music-library/collections/links/onlinescores/ |title=Scores (online databases and indexes) |accessdate=2008-09-04 |date=2007 |work=Marvin Duchow Music Library, McGill }}</ref> [[Brown University]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://dl.lib.brown.edu/gateway/program.php?programid=45&task=internet#32 |title=Selected internet resources for music |accessdate=2008-09-04 |author=Quist, Ned |date= 2007|work=Brown University Library }}</ref> [[University of Maryland, College Park|University of Maryland]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lib.umd.edu/guides/scores.html#section4 |title=Finding Music Scores, UM Libraries |accessdate=2008-09-04 |date=2007 |work=University of Maryland Libraries }}</ref> [[University of Washington]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lib.washington.edu/subject/Music/dr/elsco.html |title=Musical Scores |accessdate=2008-09-04 |date=2007 |work=University of Washington Libraries }}</ref> [[University of Wisconsin-Madison]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://music.library.wisc.edu/resources/scores.html#online-scores |title=Resources: Scores (Printed Music) - Mills Music Library, UW-Madison |accessdate=2008-09-04 |date=2007 |work=University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries }}</ref> and it has been submitted to MERLOT by a member professor.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=243764 |title=Material Detail, IMSLP |accessdate=2008-09-04 |author=Alvira, Jose Rodriguez |date=[[2007-03-18]] |work=Multimedia Educational Resource for Learning and Online Teaching }}</ref>

=== Closure and reopening ===

On 19 October 19, 2007 the IMSLP closed following legal demands from [[Universal Edition]] of [[Vienna]], [[Austria]].<ref name=cd>{{cite web |url = http://imslpforums.org/Second%20U-E%20Cease%20and%20Desist%20Letter.pdf |title = Cease and Desist Letter from Universal Edition AG |accessdate = 2007-10-20 |last = Clark |first = Ken |date =[[2007-10-05]] |format = PDF |publisher = Aird & Berlis LLP}}</ref> The cease and desist letter expressed concern that some works that are in public ___domain in the server's ___location in Canada with [[copyright]] protection of 50 years post -mortem, but which are protected by the 70 years post mortem term in some other countries, were available in those countries. The administrator of the website, known under the nickname Feldmahler, decided to close down the repository, but left the forums online so that discussions into the best way to proceed could be made:<ref name="multiple" />

{{quotation|On Saturday October 13, 2007, I received a second Cease and Desist letter from Universal Edition. At first I thought this letter would be similar in content to the first Cease and Desist letter I received in August. However, after lengthy discussions with very knowledgeable lawyers and supporters, I became painfully aware of the fact that I, a normal college student, has neither the energy nor the money necessary to deal with this issue in any other way than to agree with the cease and desist, and take down the entire site. I cannot apologize enough to all IMSLP contributors, who have done so much for IMSLP in the last two years.|Feldmahler (project leader)}}

In response, director [[Michael S. Hart]] of [[Project Gutenberg]] offered support to keep the project online.<ref>{{cite mailing list |last =Hart |first=Michael |title=Re: Three quick links on digitizations and their constraints |mailinglist=Book People |authorlink=Michael S. Hart |date=[[2007-10-23]] |url=http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/bparchive?year=2007&post=2007-10-23,2 |accessdate=2007-12-29}}</ref> This offer was declined by Feldmahler, who voiced concern about having the project hosted in the [[United States]], and consulted the Canadian wing of Project Gutenberg.<ref name="multiple">{{cite web |url = http://imslp.on-wiki.net/Open_letter |title = Open letter |accessdate = 2008-02-02 |last = Feldmahler |authorlink = User talk:Feldmahler |date = [[2007-10-19]] }} </ref> On November 2, 2007, [[Michael Geist]], a prominent [[Canada|Canadian]] copyright academic, wrote an article for the [[BBC]] discussing the specifics and the wider implications of this case.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/mpapps/pagetools/print/news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7074786.stm |title = The day the music died |accessdate = 2007-11-03 |last = Geist |first = Michael |authorlink = Michael Geist |date =[[2007-11-02]] |publisher = BBC News}}</ref>{{Quote box|quote=This case is enormously important<br>from a public ___domain perspective.|source=[[Michael Geist]]}}

IMSLP went back online on 30 June 30, 2008.

== Similar projects ==

* [[Mutopia project]]: focused on [[typeset]] scores.

* [[Choral Public Domain Library]]: focused on choral and vocal music.

* [[Werner Icking Music Archive]]: contains mainly [[early music]].

* [http://www.musopen.com/sheetmusic.php Musopen Public Domain Sheet Music]

== References ==

{{reflist|2}}

==See also==

*[[List of online music databases]]

== References ==

== External links ==

{{reflist|2}}

== External links ==

* [[scores:Main_Page|IMSLP Official Homepage]]

* [http://imslpforums.org IMSLP forums]

* [http://imslp.org/wiki/IMSLP:Open_Letter_(Reopening) Announcement of reopening]

* [http://www.musopen.com/sheetmusic.php Musopen Public Domain Sheet Music]

[[Category:Digital libraries]]

[[Category:WikisInternet services shut down by a legal challenge]]

[[Category:Music websites]]

[[Category:Public ___domain music]]

[[Category:Online music and lyrics databases]]

[[Category:InternetPublic services___domain shut down by a legal challengemusic]]

[[Category:Public ___domain musicWikis]]

[[ca:International Music Score Library Project]]