Scans of Sorabji Scores

[ahinton]

We at The Sorabji Archive have been involved for some time in scanning all of Sorabji's known extant scores (manuscripts, out-of-print publications and handwritten/typeset editions so far made) and have pleasure in announcing that, as of this morning, this project is complete.

We still have to implement a series of backup arrangements (including a small set of DVD copies, in-house HDD backup and remote server backup) for the sake of security and we will shortly afterwards be in a position to offer for auction our entire collection of A4 duplex format paper master-copies from which we have prepared all copies of this material until now, as we will henceforward be making copies direct from our computer and will therefore have no further need of the paper copies.

Anyone interested in invited to contact us direct at sorabji-archive@lineone.net; for further details about The Sorabji Archive, please visit our website at www.sorabji-archive.co.uk.

Best,

Alistair

[jabbz]

Does that mean PC 6 will henceforce be printed more legibly? The copy I have access to bears the mark of a poor photocopy.

[ahinton]

Does that mean PC 6 will henceforce be printed more legibly? The copy I have access to bears the mark of a poor photocopy.

If I can presume you to mean the score of the composer's sixth piano concerto, I have sadly to confirm that we cannot improve upon the copy quality of this or any other ofhis scores whatever we do, since all the copies that we have scanned were the best that could be made from the originals, not all of which were especially legible in the first place; we present most of the scores in A3 format, which allows us to magnify many of them from the original size in order to aid legibility, but the sheer speed at which the composer wrote down his scores, almost always without any preliminary sketching, is the principal reason why legibility is not usually all that great; this is one reason why we have been encouraging the preparation of new editions.

Sorry not to bring better news!

Best,

Alistair

[thalbergmad]

OK, I would like to start the bidding.

85 pence

Thal

[ahinton]

OK, I would like to start the bidding.

85 pence

Thal

Thank you very much - well, for biddding, at least. I am not anticipating ending the bidding for quite some time as we are not yet quite ready to part with the material (as I have indicated), but I should point out that, as the cost inclusive of shipping within UK of one copy each of all the scores in all their formats as usually presented would amount to some £5,000, we had thought to start the bidding at around £100, since what we will be offering is unbound with no covers (each score will be in a sealable plastic wallet) and the format for all will be A4, not the A3 that we use for most of the scores that we distribute. Incidentally, are you confident that that you'd have the storage space for all of this if you eventually place the winning bid? (which, considering your hopeful starting one, nevertheless seems somewhat unlikely)...

Best,

Alistair

[thalbergmad]

If you are selling in bulk, i would expect the final bid to be somewhat less than the sum of the individual scores.

OK, i start at £100, but i come and get it.

Thal

[ahinton]

If you are selling in bulk, i would expect the final bid to be somewhat less than the sum of the individual scores.

OK, i start at £100, but i come and get it.

Thal

Indeed you would and of course you should expect just that (unless bidding were to get to the point at which it exceeds such a sum.

Thank you for your now serious bid. I had not yet gotten around to saying that the buyer collects or pays us to ship the material if that is preferred; in your case, it would be a welcome opportunity to meet you and, since we are now almost within reading distance of Hay-on-Wye, I imagine that this would be just up your street.

I'll keep you posted, but it would be better if this were done from my private email to yours.

Best,

Alistair

[pies]

Burn them

[ahinton]

Burn them

Had I inteded to do that, I would not be considering auctioning them, so your remark is less pithy than it is pointless.

In any event, what would it achieve tio commit them to flames other than make a small contribution to the much-vaunted "global warming"?...

Best,

Alistair

[lostinidlewonder]

Sounds exciting! Many of the scores I have seen have errors, even those that are said to be edited and revised. However if you are at the level to play Sorabji you should be able to fill in the blanks and correct it as you go. Sorabj sheet music, "the music where you have to watch out for mistakes" ^_^ Do errors reduce the value of a score?

[ahinton]

Sounds exciting! Many of the scores I have seen have errors, even those that are said to be edited and revised. However if you are at the level to play Sorabji you should be able to fill in the blanks and correct it as you go. Sorabj sheet music, "the music where you have to watch out for mistakes" ^_^ Do errors reduce the value of a score?

I do not think that the work of any composer or editor in existence now or at any time in the past has been guaranteeable as wholly error-free; composers and editors and human, as it happens! Any question of the extent, if any, to which errors in a score might ne perceived to reduce its value is down to the composer, editor and/or purchaser to answer!

Best,

Alistair

[lostinidlewonder]

Any question of the extent, if any, to which errors in a score might ne perceived to reduce its value is down to the composer, editor and/or purchaser to answer!

Best,

Alistair

Regarding these Sorabji scores i wonder what the answer be, since there is no question about the errors in some of them.

[ahinton]

Regarding these Sorabji scores i wonder what the answer be, since there is no question about the errors in some of them.

The nearest to an actual answer that there can realistically be is the observation that there are indeed some errors and other issues of legibility in places and it is these that the various editors have sought - and continue to seek - to resolve in their editions; lots of composers make mistakes now and then, just as performers do.

Best,

Alistair