Sheet music from the Internet! How What Where? (Part 3)
Competence Ensembles Musician
Sheet music from the Internet! How What Where? (Part 3)
Competence Ensembles Musician

Sheet music from the Internet! How What Where? (Part 3)

The Internet is full of interesting things; for example, many sheet music, even non-saleable ones! But where and how can you find them?

Search sheet music with Google?

In Google, you can search more precisely using the abbreviation site:

  1. Suchen innerhalb einer bestimmten Website:
    Search within a specific website:
    For example, to search for the term Ode to Joy on the imslp.org site, enter the following in the Google search field -> site:imslp.org Ode to Joy
  2. Search within a specific type of website:
    To search for Ode to Joy only within the website type with for example the ending .edu, enter the following into the Google search box -> site:edu Ode to Joy
  3. Search by file type
    filetype:  plus the three-letter file extension (suffix) to the request. For example filetype:PDF Ode to Joy, if I only want to find PDFs for Ode to Joy. (List of file types supported by Google search)
  4. Special characters for an optimal search
    “…” (quotation marks) to search for an exact phrase. For example: “Ode to joy”.

    * (asterisk) The placeholder to replace unknown text parts. Useful if you know the title only partially. For example: * to the joy

    – (Minus) With a minus you can exclude terms. The following example finds websites that contain the words “Ode to Joy” but not the word “Symphony”: Ode to Joy – Symphony

Editable Scores:

  • Bach-Cantatas – As PDF or Capella file for download (Capella Reader is the free version of the Capella notation software)
  • cpdl.org – LilyPond-editable pieces in the Choral Public Domain Library
  • Hausmusik – Scores in various editable formats.
  • kunstderfuge.com – Listen to or subscribe to 5 files per day for free and listen to/download unlimited MIDI and ZIP files as e-books (PDF)
  • MuseData – Electronic library
  • MuseScore –  MuseScore is open source, free software for editing music (highly recommended). The website has a file sharing area where MuseScore users upload phrases, arrangements and original works
  • Mutopiaproject – 2’038 music tracks in PDF, MIDI and editable LilyPond file formats for downloading, copying, modifying, printing, etc. – all in public domain or under Creative Commons licenses.
  • NEUMA – A digital music library encoded in MusicXML.
  • openmusicscore.org – XML Editable sheet music
  • Project Gutenberg – The project is stopped, but you can still download sheet music (final files).
  • scoreexchange.com – Movements, original compositions and arrangements by Sibelius users (e.g.: Accordo Sheet Music). Most are for sale at very reasonable prices (less than $5). You will need Sibelius or Scorch (the free, lightweight version of Sibelius) to read the files.
  • Tobis-Notenarchiv – Bach, Mozart, and much more. Capella files
  • KernScores – A library of virtual scores. Total stock: 7’866’496 notes in 108’703 files (MIDI, MuseData, MusicXML, ABC+, Guido).
  • Piéces de la renaissance – Over 100 works as PDF and Encore.

Important: The libraries and directories mentioned above provide access to works that may be protected by copyright. We do not assume any liability for possible copyright infringements.