I was randomly surfing around the Web last night and happened upon a couple great resources: first is the Library on Congress’ Internet Resources for Music, Theater and Dance. It is a page designed primarily for researchers looking for in-depth information that can be found in the major repositories of musical manuscripts and primary sources. From this list I found the Loeb Music Library at Harvard College Library. They happen to have a few gems of manuscripts and first editions – including Mozart’s opera The Magic Flute, and a rare first edition printing of Mozart’s Opus X Quartets (the set of six dedicated to Joseph Haydn) – all of which you can view on your computer screen in minute detail.
The Library of Congress also has a pretty extensive digital collection, especially concerning American music.
[click on images below to view full-size versions.]
Aaron Copland composing in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, September 1942.
Letter from Aaron Copland to Leonard Bernstein.
Sketches for Appalachian Spring ballet.