Creating a market for original editions and obscure PD works

[Starrmark]

Musicians of my acquaintance have collected original editions of PD works not to be found on this website nor in the catalogues of many (I can't say all) major music libraries. Over the years, some of these musicians have collected pieces of considerable musical interest by composers so obscure they are not to be found on IMSLP, and obscure works by known composers. When I ask them what they plan to do with this music, invariably they reply that it just takes up shelf space, that they don't play these pieces anymore, that these editions must be worth something to somebody so they can't throw them out -- and, most importantly, if they could find someone who would make them interesting offers on particular pieces, they would be more than willing to part with them.

I suspect there is just as much unscanned PD music in old editions lying on musicians shelves the world over as there is scanned music in IMSLP. If there was a readily-accesible online market somewhat similar to EBAY for old editions of sheetmusic, I am sure all sorts of musical treasures would emerge from the shadows. And as night follows day, some of those editions bought and traded would end up scanned on IMSLP. To put it another way, if this music is not sold or traded, inevitably it will disappear over time, perhaps forever.

It seems to me that a forum such as this one -- if the powers-that-be chose to do so -- could serve as just such a direct market for old editions, without the middlemen of antiquarian dealers. What I am suggesting is this: that a new area of this forum be created, entitled: Old Editions: for sale or trade. Someone might submit a post along these lines: "I have an original edition (Leduc) of Tivadar Nachez's Danses tziganes d'apres des Airs hongrois for violin and piano, in very good condition. Any bids? Contact: email." Incidentally, I do have an original edition of Nachez's Danses, but it isn't for sale.

If the goal of the IMSLP is to make accessible all the treasures of PD music, here is one sure-fire way to bring a large quantity of obscure or difficult-to-find works out into the open. Once they emerge, pleas can be made to scan these works and donate the scans to IMSLP.

MS

[sbeckmesser]

Since I believe that the emphasis at IMSLP should always be the preservation of the data -- not the artifact -- I could only support any scheme hosted by IMSLP that has money changing hands without IMSLP getting a cut if the scores involved were required to be scanned at reasonably high quality and posted at IMSLP either before or after the sale. How this could be implemented I leave as an exercise for the student, but it won't be easy or self-regulating.

--Sixtus

PS: There's often a good reason why pieces and composers are obscure or forgotten. And while I applaud any effort to have everything appear at IMSLP, such a program only points out the masterpieces by big-name composers that are still missing here, music that truly does deserve time and attention.

[Philidor]

if the scores involved were required to be scanned at reasonably high quality and posted at IMSLP either before or after the sale.

From a moderation point of view it would be easy to enforce: you make it a rule that no score can be offered for sale or exchange on IMSLPForums.org until it's been scanned and is online at imslp.org. Or, to put it another way, if someone offers a score for sale or exchange before it's online at imslp.org, their post gets deleted and they're sent a nice PM: thanking them for their interest, referring them to the rules, inviting them to comply with them, and suggesting they advertise the score again once they've complied.

The legal position regarding facilitating the sale or exchange of stolen goods might need to be clarified, with IMSLP covering itself with an appropriate form of words. Those using the forum for such transactions might need to be asked to sign an undertaking that (a) the score is theirs to sell or exchange and (b) indemnifying IMSLP should (a) turn out to be false. A sticky at the top of the dedicated forum might do the trick.

But is there much of a market for stolen scores of obscure PD composers? I can't imagine the Russian Mafia wanting to penetrate IMSLP...

Having said all that there may be good reasons for keeping IMLSP well away from the second hand score market. I'll be interested to know what others think.