International Music Score Library Project: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 19:06, 7 October 2023

Revision as of 18:25, 23 October 2023

Line 57:

}}

The '''International Music Score Library Project''' ('''IMSLP'''), also known as the '''Petrucci Music Library''' after publisher [[Ottaviano Petrucci]], is a [[for-profit corporation|for-profit]] subscription-based [[digital library]] of [[public ___domain|public-___domain]] [[sheet music|music scores]]. The project, which uses [[MediaWiki]] software, has uploaded more than 630,000 scores and 73,000 recordings of more than 195,000 works by 24,000 composers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://imslp.org/wiki/IMSLP:News#News_Archive|title=IMSLP:News - IMSLP: Free Sheet Music PDF Download|website=imslp.org|access-date=2022-02-14}}</ref> IMSLP has both an [[App Store (iOS)|iOS app]]<ref name="IMSLP on the App Store"/> and an [[Android (operating system)#Applications|Android app]].<ref name="play.google.com"/>

==History==

===Overview===

The site was 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 the 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 3, 2008. Besides J.S. Bach's complete public ___domain works, many or all available public ___domain works of [[Ludwig van Beethoven]], [[Johannes Brahms]], [[Joseph Canteloube]], [[Emmanuel Chabrier]], [[Ernest Chausson]], [[Frédéric Chopin]], [[Joseph Haydn]], [[Arcangelo Corelli]], [[Claude Debussy]], [[Vincent d'Indy]], [[Paul Dukas]], [[Gabriel Fauré]], [[Pierre-Octave Ferroud]], [[George Frideric Handel]], [[Jean Huré]], [[Albéric Magnard]], [[Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina]], [[Maurice Ravel]], [[Albert Roussel]], [[Erik Satie]], [[Florent Schmitt]], [[Franz Schubert]], [[Robert Schumann]], [[Alexander Scriabin]] and [[Jean Sibelius]] are available, as well as a large percentage of [[Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart]], [[Franz Liszt]], and the works of many others as well.<ref>{{Cite webcitation needed|title=Category:People with recordings - IMSLP: Free Sheet Music PDF Download |url=https://imslp.org/index.php?title=Category:People_with_recordings&memberitst=Recordings |access-date=2023-10-07May |website=imslp.org2018}}</ref> Some less played scores of these composers remain unavailable, as well as many scores being available only as the composer's original manuscript.

Besides providing a digital repository, the IMSLP offers possibilities as a [[musicology|musicological]] encyclopaedia, since multiple and historical editions of a single composition can be uploaded. Also, pages on publishers provide valuable information, and the work pages themselves often contain a large quantity of information, e.g. roles in an opera.

Line 77:

===Awards===

In 2009, the IMSLP won the [[MERLOT]] Classics award for Music.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://taste.merlot.org/MERLOTAwards/2009awards.html|title=MERLOT Awards: Exemplary Learning Materials|access-date=2009-08-25|year=2009|work=MERLOT|archive-date=2010-07-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100715192012/http://taste.merlot.org/MERLOTAwards/2009awards.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> It was named one of the [[List of most-visited websites|Top 100 Web Sites]] of 2009 (in the "Undiscovered" subsection) by [[PC Magazine]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2350565,00.asp|title=The Top 100 Web Sites of 2009 – Undiscovered: Info – Reviews by PC Magazine|access-date=2009-08-25|date=2009-07-27|work=PC Magazine|archive-date=2018-06-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625213447/https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2350565,00.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2018, Edward Guo was honored with The Helen Rice Award by the [[Associated Chamber Music Players]] (ACMP) Foundation in recognition of those who have moved the [[chamber music]] world in a new directions.<ref>{{cite web |title=Associated Chamber Music Players (ACMP) Honored Edward Guo, Founder of the International Music Score Library Project (IMSLP) |url=http://aaartsalliance.org/events/associated-chamber-music-players-acmp-honored-edward-guo-founder |publisher=Asian American Arts Alliance |access-date=28 May 2019}}</ref>

===Closure and reopening===

On 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 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071023090807/http://imslpforums.org/Second%20U-E%20Cease%20and%20Desist%20Letter.pdf |url-status = dead |archive-date = 2007-10-23 |title = Cease and Desist Letter from Universal Edition AG |access-date = 2007-10-20 |last = Clark |first = Ken |date =2007-10-05 |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 following death, but are protected by the 70 years following death term in some other countries, were available in those countries. The administrator of the website, Edward W. Guo, also known under the nickname Feldmahler, decided to close down the [[Repository (version control)|repository]], but left the forums online so that discussions into the best way to proceed could be made:<ref name="multiple"/>

{{blockquote|text=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.|sign=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|mailing-list=Book People|author-link=Michael S. Hart|date=2007-10-23|url=http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/bparchive?year=2007&post=2007-10-23,2|access-date=2007-12-29}}</ref> This offer was declined by Guo, 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|access-date=2008-02-02|last=Feldmahler |date = 2007-10-19 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071210084314/http://imslp.on-wiki.net/Open_letter |archive-date = December 10, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> On November 2, 2007, [[Michael Geist]], a prominent 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 |access-date = 2007-11-03 |last = Geist |first = Michael |author-link = Michael Geist |date = 2007-11-02 |publisher = BBC News |archive-date = 2016-01-20 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160120044259/http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/mpapps/pagetools/print/news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7074786.stm |url-status = dead }}</ref>{{Quote box|quote=This case is enormously important<br />from a public ___domain perspective.|source=[[Michael Geist]]}}

IMSLP went back online on June 30, 2008. Since its reopening, the site has been using a strict copyright policy wherein uploaded files are made accessible for download only after the copyright status for three most frequent copyright regimes has been reviewed by staff members. Although the server is located in Canada, files that are not public ___domain in the US were until July 2010 flagged [TB], for 'Technical Block' or 'Temporary Block', and could not be viewed. The FAQ posted in their forum stated, "Unfortunately, these 'temporary' blocks will be until further notice – possibly all the way until the expiration of term in the USA."<ref>{{cite web|url = http://198.137.202.16/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=3319|title = FAQ Works in TB Status|access-date = 2010-05-22|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120331064636/http://198.137.202.16/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=3319|archive-date = 2012-03-31|url-status = dead}}</ref> After an initial phase, [TB] flagged items have essentially disappeared thanks to the introduction of regional servers operated by unaffiliated organizations (see next).