Music Online: Classical Scores Library | Alexander Street
Music Online: Classical Scores Library
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Music Online: Classical Scores Library

Music Online: Classical Scores Library is a reliable and authoritative destination for in-copyright digital scores of the classical canon, as well as a resource for the discovery of diverse and lesser-known contemporary works. This large five-volume digital collection encompasses all major classical musical genres and time periods from the Middle Ages to the 21st century and includes full, study, piano, and vocal scores. Classical Scores Library’s extensive collection of scores enhanced by powerful educational platform tools supports the teaching and learning of music history, performance, composition, and theory for today’s music scholars.

Why Do Academic Institutions Value Music Online: Classical Scores Library?

Single Destination for Digital Score Needs

Music Online: Classical Scores Library meets music students and faculty’s diverse needs for digital scores in one destination with more than 57,000 titles and 1.4 million pages of the most important scores in classical music from a wide range of genres and time periods.

The collection offers works from more than 4,600 classic and contemporary composers from traditionally studied composers such as Mozart and Tchaikovsky to contemporary artists including Kaija Saariaho, Peter Maxwell-Davies, and John Tavener.

Classical Scores Library’s wide range of genres and time periods means that users don’t need to search multiple resources to find the scores they need saving valuable time. Detailed indexing allows quick discovery via search or browse by title, genre, instrument, people, publisher, time period, or composer.

Saves Time and Budget

This essential collection contains a large selection of in-copyright scores and therefore lessens the need for libraries to curate and license scores from individual composers resulting in budget and time savings. A digital scores collection also saves libraries the time and hassle that comes with maintaining physical collections including binding, circulating multiple parts, and finding replacements and shelf space.

Supports Music Study and Performance

Music Online: Classical Scores Library supports teacher and student workflows with educational tools that enhance study and performance such as the ability to print, view on mobile devices, annotate, and share via Learning Management Systems such as Canvas or Moodle. The platform’s educational tools also include the ability to create and share content through playlists with notes that can be easily shared via Learning Management Systems, email, and embedded links.

About the Volumes

Music Online: Classical Scores Library, Volume I

The first volume of Music Online: Classical Scores Library includes more than 400,000 pages from classical music’s most studied composers, including Bach, Schubert, Mozart, Handel, Beethoven, Liszt, Brahms, Chopin, plus thousands more. Additional material in Volume I includes 100 scores from the Barry S. Brook Center’s collection of French Opera in the 17th and 18th centuries, providing access to the music and libretti of the early operas during an important period in the development of the genre.

Highlights of Content:

  • War Requiem - Full orchestral score, Words from the Missa pro defunctis and the poems of Wilfred Owen, composed by Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)
  • Appalachian Spring Suite (Ballet for Martha), version for 13 instruments, full score, composed by Aaron Copland
  • Music for 18 Musicians, for ensemble, composed by Steve Reich (1936- )

Music Online: Classical Scores Library, Volume II

Music Online: Classical Scores Library, Volume II provides online access to 200,000 pages of scores. In addition to new works from contemporary composers, Volume II includes a range of important composers not represented in the first volume and alternative editions of many of music’s most studied compositions. Featured composers include Claude Debussy, Gabriel Fauré, Maurice Ravel, Andrew Schultz, Moya Henderson, Nicholas Vines, Giovanni Sammartini, Michael Haydn, and many others. This volume also includes The Symphony 1720-1840-- the largest source of 18th century symphonies comprising 550 symphonic works.

Highlights of Content:

Music Online: Classical Scores Library, Volume III

Music Online: Classical Scores Library, Volume III brings together 400,000 pages of in-copyright editions from composers worldwide.  The collection provides editions from major publishers like Chester Music, Novello & Company, Faber Music, Wilhelm Hansen, Donemus, and others. It provides expanded coverage of great choral works and instrumental scores for brass, woodwind, and other instrument groups. Volume III features modern editions of works by Bach, Beethoven, Berlioz, Brahms, Byrd, Gibbons, Handel, Haydn, Mendelssohn, Monteverdi, Mozart, and Purcell, as well as classic works by Elgar, De Falla, Franck, Holst, Joubert, Maxwell-Davies, Musgrave, Saariaho, Sallinen, Stravinsky, Tchaikovsky, and many more.

Highlights of Content:

Music Online: Classical Scores Library, Volume IV 

Music Online: Classical Scores Library, Volume IV is a collection of 300,000 pages of scores that focuses on works of the 20th and 21st centuries, providing digital access to some of the most-studied works in classical repertoire and exposure to lesser-known composers from around the world including Latin America, Asia, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East.

Highlights of Content:

  • Symphonie Fantastique, Op. 14; H 48, New Edition of the Complete Works, composed by Hector Berlioz (1803-1869)
  • Terra Memoria, for those departed, parts for string quartet, composed in 2006 by Kaija Saariaho (1952-)
  • Notations 21, written by Theresa Sauer, drawing inspiration by John Cage's 1968 Notations, this monograph features illustrated musical scores from more than 100 composers from every continent

Music Online: Classical Scores Library, Volume V 

Music Online: Classical Scores Library, Volume V provides digital access to some of the most-studied works in classical repertoire and exposure to lesser-known composers. This collection builds on Classical Scores Library, Volume IV’s collection with an emphasis on contemporary composers and works from the 20th and 21st centuries alongside a selection of scores from medieval, baroque, classical and romantic time periods.  Upon completion, the collection will include 400,000 pages of scores sourced from individual composers and from renowned publishers such as Donemus, Ernst Eulenburg & Co. GmbH, Novello & Company, Chester Music, Faber Music, and Schott Music GmbH & Co. KG, and University of York Music Press. 

Highlights of Content:

  • The Harry Partch Edition,  A large compilation from Schott Music GmbH & Co. KG of the works of Harry Partch who was an American composer, philosopher and instrument builder 
  • Juegos Prohibidos, from Hilda Paredes, a leading Mexican contemporary composer
  • Ang Tren = The Train, from Saunder Choi, Los Angeles-based Filipino composer and choral artist
  • Caccia Soave, from Jo Kondo, Japanese contemporary composer
  • Rise Again, from Vanessa Lann, American-Dutch composer
  • SQUISH!, from Sadie Harrison, Australian composer, performer and academic

Music Online: Classical Scores Library, Volume VI - The Boosey & Hawkes Collection (Coming Soon!)

Volume VI of the Classical Scores Library presents masterpieces from one of the world's most esteemed classical music publishers. This partnership with Boosey & Hawkes, renowned for their extensive industry influence, grants a rich catalog featuring revered masterpieces by classical and contemporary maestros, providing music scholars with rich resources for performance and study.

This collection celebrates influential classical composers alongside emerging voices, featuring groundbreaking works that have left a lasting impact on global music, valuable for both performance and study.

 

Check out what musical scores college music students are studying and why in our latest performing arts blog

Purchase Options

Music Online: Classical Scores Library's volumes are available for perpetual purchase. 

Music Online: Classical Scores Library (all five volumes) is available as a standalone subscription or as part of the flagship music collection, Music and Dance Online. which includes:

 

LibGuide 

See an overview of the database with links to guides, tutorials, and more. Visit the Libguide.



Testimonials

For the professional musician, Classical Scores Library is amazing.

Booklist

The Alexander Street site is by far the largest and most comprehensive product on the market to date. Summing Up: Highly recommended.

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