Preserving the recordings of the Composers Forum: A case study

We propose to present a case study of the preservation and digitisation of the reel-to-reel recordings of the concerts of the Composers Forum, 1951-1977, presented in New York, under the joint auspices of Columbia University and the New York Public Library.
We will describe these archival recordings, their identification within the archives of the Columbia-Princeton Electronic Music Center, and the subsequent challenges and solutions that we encountered in preservation and digitisation, in areas such as obtaining funding for preservation, creating catalogues with sufficient metadata, designing an audio delivery model that works within the restrictions inherent in the materials, copyright challenges, and coordinating project work within different areas of our institution. Our model is not presented as an ideal outcome, but rather as an illustrative example of how to push ahead on "some access" rather than waiting for "perfect access", especially important given the fragility of the materials.

Date: 
10 OCTOBER WEDNESDAY
Start time: 
12:00
Venue: 
Conference Room 1
Title (author 1): 
Ms
First names (author 1): 
Elizabeth
Surname (author 1): 
Davis
Other authors: 
Nick Patterson
Institution: 
Music & Arts Library, Columbia University
Country: 
UNITED STATES
presentation type: 
spoken