Classical Scores Library (CSL) provides searchable access to full‐page views of classical music scores, including in copyright and public domain editions. CSL is published by Alexander Street Press, which is also known for its Classical Music Library streaming‐audio collection (RR 2006/40). Upon completion in December 2010, CSL will contain 400,000 pages of classical scores from works by major and minor composers spanning the Middle Ages to the twenty‐first century. CSL supplies full scores, study scores, piano and vocal scores, and piano reductions of musical works. While searching and browsing by instrument is possible within CSL, instrument‐specific parts beyond the full scores do not appear to be included in this resource.
CSL provides a ubiquitous keyword search form in the website's header, as well as a link to an Advanced Search form which allows searching by keyword, title, work/opus number, composer, genre, instrument, time period, key, score type, duration, language, and publisher. Boolean and wildcard searching are permitted, and CSL also provides a Browse alphabetical listing of scores by composer, genre, instruments, titles and time periods.
Each record within CSL includes hyperlinked fields describing the composer, genre, and instrumentation, as well as a persistent link to that record, useful for inclusion within external webpages and course management systems. CSL users may also create their own “Playlists” of scores for annotation and sharing, if desired. If a library also subscribes to Alexander Street Press's Classical Music Library, a “play” icon will appear next to matching score titles appearing in CSL, so users may listen to a performance of that musical work.
The rest of the interface is generally intuitive, and users may opt to view the website (not the scores) in English, Spanish, or Mandarin Chinese languages. The inability to navigate back to search results from within a score was somewhat surprising, and required use of a browser's back button to accomplish this function. The CSL interface also does not allow users to jump forward or backward to specific pages within a score, or to similarly jump between thumbnail pages. Users can only navigate to the next or previous pages by clicking an arrow icon one or more times. CSL's Help pages were comprehensive in their scope, though lacking in the use of screen captures or other images which might aid users. A toll‐free number and email address for technical support are displayed within the Help pages.
CSL is compatible with major web browsers and does not require any browser plug‐ins for displaying scores. Users cannot readily download or export scores from CSL, but can print all or selected pages from the full record view. On two occasions however, this reviewer encountered significant delays in how CSL rendered and displayed multi‐page scores for printing. CSL scores are only to be used for individual study or classroom instruction; not for musical performances according to the site's FAQs page. Administrators should note that IP authentication and COUNTER usage statistics are available for CSL, and no simultaneous usage limits apply.
Classical Scores Library is recommended for academic and special libraries supporting music programs, though selectors should also compare CSL to Library Music Source (see www.librarymusicsource.com/musicians_info.php) (RR 2010/34) or Naxos Music Library Sheet Music (see www.naxosmusiclibrary.com/home.asp?rurl=%2Fdefault%2Easp) for pricing, functionality, and licensing terms.
