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New world of New Zealand music on SOUNZ website
SOUNZ, the Centre for New Zealand Music has launched its new website, which promises to transform the way in which people access, explore and discover the music of New Zealand composers.
For more than a decade, the SOUNZ website has provided information about the music of New Zealand composers. A massive redevelopment project has enhanced the website, which provides extensive data about works and composers, performers and events, venues and news, and a means to search and sift through this information, supported by a wide range of digital resources.
SOUNZ received major funding through the Community Partnership Fund of the National Digital Strategy and Creative New Zealand to work in partnership with the Composers Association of New Zealand (CANZ) and Radio New Zealand Concert to build a web-based catalogue and website.
SOUNZ Executive Director Scilla Askew says that SOUNZ Online is the most extensive and crucial development the organisation has undertaken since its inception in 1991.
"Geographic isolation and the size of New Zealand have been challenges to the publication and dissemination of all kinds of New Zealand music," Scilla Askew says. "SOUNZ Online will transform these challenges into opportunities, particularly for New Zealand composers, and enable us to fulfil our mission: Created in New Zealand, heard around the world!"
The system was developed by New Zealand companies Catalyst IT (website and software applications) and Springload (web design).
The project has entailed several major innovations. At the heart of the changes is a new music cataloguing system based on FRBR (Functional Requirements of Bibliographic Records). Visitors will be able to explore not only the composers and their works but also the different instrumentations, scores, resources, recordings and performances, along with the associated performers, venues, publishers, commissioners, events and so on.
Faceted searching has been chosen for the website to ensure that visitors - whether they are experts or new - will be able to discover the music through different perspectives and be encouraged to explore further. The visitor will be able to see what scores, CDs, books or DVDs of a work are available and whether they can be borrowed from the SOUNZ collection or purchased. Sample score pages or audio will be available for many works. Members of SOUNZ will also be able to purchase and download scores and audio files directly from the website, as well as enjoy other benefits such as discounts and email newsletters.
"The best and most effective way to experience this great leap forward in the accessibility of the music of New Zealand composers is to use our website and enter a whole new world of New Zealand music," Scilla Askew says.
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Creative New Zealand supports SOUNZ with annual funding ($182,500 in 2007) for its programme of activities.
Composers Association of New Zealand
