Discordant notes: the archives of British music

This paper aims to explore the apparent under‐estimation of the importance of the archives of “serious” British music.

It considers what music archives are, their value, management issues, access and preservation efforts, and what needs to be done to ensure their survival. A case example of the Eastbourne Recorded Music Society is presented.

The author concludes that, at all levels, something much more concerted than individual initiatives for cataloguing or digitising specific collections needs to be done if the archival heritage of British music is to survive as it should.

Aims to raise issues relevant for the records and archives of any third sector organisation.