Starting Jan. 10 and continuing through the end of the month, Lawrence University’s Seeley G. Mudd Library is hosting the 2006 recipients of the Music Publisher’s Association Paul Revere Awards. The exhibit contains 50 scores, which will be displayed in rotation throughout the month.
The Paul Revere Awards display draws attention to the vital role of publishing agencies in the musical world, and honors their contributions and innovations towards the art form.
Since the awards honor achievements in the visual design and appearance of music rather than composition, they do not favor any particular style. Chamber music, vocal works, orchestral pieces and popular music are all featured and considered.
According to music librarian Antoinette Powell, “The scores on display feature all kinds of instrumental and vocal music, from popular music [such as “Shark Tale”] to a work for five percussionists and orchestra [“Rituals” by Ellen Taaffe Zwilich] to choral and chamber works,” showing the diverse range of music in the exhibit.
This display is Lawrence’s first hosting of a MPA exhibit.
Powell said, “Lawrence volunteered to be a part of the tour for the 2006 award winners and is the fifth stop on the tour. At the beginning of February the exhibit will be sent to Connecticut College’s Greer Music Library in New London, Conn.”
When told about the exhibit, conservatory student Erin Moore said, “I think the idea itself is interesting. I don’t usually think of music as the actual score.”
Music publishers submit works for the Paul Revere Awards under several categories, including folios for chamber ensembles, children’s educational music, general educational works, full score, popular music, solo with accompaniment, vocal score and standard music.
Further categories include octavo sheet music for musical collections, large-scale works and single titles, as well as quarto or off-size sheet music.
Often, when we think of awards granted to musical works, we only think of composers or artists receiving praise for their compositions or performances. We usually forget the physical presentation of the music itself.
Without clear musical notation, composers and artists would certainly face considerable difficulty communicating their ideas to their audience.
Hopefully the new exhibit featured at the Mudd may change that perception.
Paul Revere Awards displayed
