Download 16 February 2006 The sounds of Queensland music now online

16 February 2006
The sounds of Queensland music now online
Listen to the sounds of Queensland music as the State Library of Queensland today increases
its collection of digital music.
State Librarian Lea Giles-Peters said 20 historically significant songs from the Music
Queensland website have been recorded by staff and students from the Queensland
Conservatorium Griffith University and streamed to the internet.
“Our historic music collection is one of our strengths and we are leading the way in creating
content by recording these unique Queensland songs,” Ms Giles-Peters said.
“From Down on the Sands at Emu Park to the Queensland Times March; Indooroopilly: the
tongue twisting waltz hit, to Hear our Soldier’s Cry; these sound recordings are a unique
overview of popular music in Queensland in the early 20th century.
“The website, www.musicqld.slq.qld.gov.au, is a fantastic resource for music lovers, students,
performers, families, and social and music historians.
“Having this collection available digitally means that rare and fragile sheet music can be
preserved and protected, and a collection previously only available in the State Library is now
accessible to anyone in the world.”
In addition, the State Library integrated the digitised sheet music and audio-recordings to
produce a virtual score.
“The State Library and multimedia company, Liquid Animation, have developed software that
allows you to ‘turn’ the pages of the sheet music; offering an interactive experience where you
can zoom in on a detail, discover more of the song’s history and listen to the recording,” said
Ms Giles-Peters.
Music Queensland is part of the State Library’s commitment to creatively link Queenslanders
to information, knowledge and each other.
Criteria for inclusion in Music Queensland are music scores that are ‘Queenslandiana’,
published before 1930 and not held in any other Library collection.
‘Queenslandiana’ means the composer, librettist, arranger or editor is a Queenslander,
Queensland is the subject of the music, or the score was published in Queensland.
This second stage of the Music Queensland website has been funded through the State
Government’s OPAL initiative (Online Public Access for Libraries).
Media inquiries: Natasha Geritz 07 3842 9832 or [email protected]