Intro to the ARS Music Libraries | |
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Have you visited the ARS Online Music Libraries recently? Or at all? These libraries of free-to-members, downloadable music scores are one of the most appreciated resources on the ARS website according to survey responses, but are also unknown to some of our members!
There are six libraries, though the entire collection can be searched and accessed from the main Library page here.
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Play-along Library
This library was created during the time of Covid isolation, when ARS used donated funds to pay teachers and professionals to create content that would prove to be a popular member benefit. This content is available at no charge to members, like all the library music. Much of the music in this library, though not all, is from the Renaissance and Baroque periods. Many of the pieces were recorded live, and some have synthesized parts. For each piece, you will find multiple recordings. For example, if you want to play the soprano part, you’ll find a recording with only the alto, tenor, and bass parts so you can play along. Scores and parts are provided, as well as a recording that includes all the parts. There are currently over 230 pieces in this library.
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Members' Library Editions
Also known as MLEs, these pieces are one of the many benefits that ARS members have received since 1987 as supplements to the American Recorder Magazine. In celebration of the “ARS is 75” anniversary in 2014, these were first made available as free digital downloadable (Adobe .pdf ) editions to members, and new additions are added to the library as they are published. This collection of more than 80 compositions offers a wide diversity of styles; you are sure to find one for every occasion and level of experience.
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Play-the-Recorder Month Library
These compositions/arrangements are published and sent every December with the American Recorder magazine for ARS members to play on Play-the-Recorder Day, the third Saturday in March. Most were written specifically for this event. Established in 1992, this event was instituted to promote the enjoyment of playing new music, recognize the important contribution of contemporary composers/arrangers to the world of recorder music, and to encourage others to play recorder. With one composition published every year, there are currently 22 pieces in this library. In recent years, ARS has provided a play-along video with a recorder professional conducting the piece.
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New Music for Recorder Library
The New Music library includes contemporary music written specifically for recorder players. These are original works for recorder (and potentially other instruments), not arrangements or transcriptions of previous works. This is the largest library, with almost 390 pieces, representing approximately 30 composers.
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Arrangements and Transcriptions Library
Our newest library is Arrangements and Transcriptions. This is where you’ll find recorder arrangements and transcriptions of older music, including pieces from the Renaissance, Baroque, and Classical eras, as well as traditional pieces and more “modern” music such as Ragtime and Blues. At this writing, there are 265 pieces in this library.
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Recorder Orchestra Library
The Recorder Orchestra Library includes music written or arranged for Recorder Orchestra. These may be original works, or arrangements of existing works of any genre, with a minimum of five parts specifically for recorder, with possible accompaniment of other instruments. This is our smallest library, with 18 pieces. (See the qualities that make up a Recorder Orchestra here.)
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Some pieces belong to more than one library. For instance, the composer of a New Music piece may also have recorded play-along files, in which case it will appear in searches of either library.
You can search the collection as a whole, or any of the individual libraries, looking for a specific title, composer or arranger, description keyword, difficulty, style, occasion, and number of recorder parts. You can also display an index (for the whole collection or any library) sorted in a variety of ways: title, composer or arranger name, difficulty, number of parts, or date added.
Our website menu even includes a link to the index sorted by date, most recent at the top, so that you can see what’s been added recently to our libraries.
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The libraries can be found on the website under both the Publications and Resources menu items. If you find a piece you’d like to share with your consort members, you can copy the Composition Share Link URL and send it out. While anyone can search the library, read piece descriptions, see a thumbnail of the first page, and listen to a short recorded clip (if there is a recording), you must be an ARS member, logged into the website, to download scores or listen to full-length recordings. For further instructions on searching the libraries, see the April 2024 ARS NOVA article, titled Using the Online Music Libraries.
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Composers and arrangers may follow the links on our website to submit pieces to the libraries. If a composer has placed any copyright restrictions on a composition, please note and be respectful of that.
The American Recorder Society is most grateful to all the composers, arrangers, and performers who have submitted pieces to our libraries. Please take some time to explore this resource. With over 700 compositions, there’s sure to be something that will work for your next playing session!
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Ruth Seib recently completed ten years of service as a member of the ARS Board. She now has more time to devote to playing in ARS groups -- one chapter and two consorts. She divides her time between Sarasota, FL and Oakland, MD.
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How to Join the ARS
Take advantage of our 1/2 price rate for first-time members! Get immediate access to all the information available on our website, as well as other member benefits including the quarterly American Recorder magazine.
Click here for info
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