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To the IAML Newsletter

Monday July 19, 9:15 - 10:45

The Broadcasting and Orchestra Libraries branch held two sessions. The first was devoted to a visit to the Library of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra where the Librarian, Wynne Cole, described her work and the evolution and development of the library which has recently moved to its fourth home. The orchestra library is now located in the new part of the Town Hall of Wellington, and the orchestra is performing just round the corner, in the Michael Fowler Hall. The library comprises some 4.000 works plus complete editions of classical composers. The librarian manages to service over 200 concerts a year with the help of only one part-timer. We were also able to see a demonstration of OCTAVES, an automated orchestral management system.

Wednesday July 21, 11:15 - 12:45

Our second session comprised four papers. Roger Flury of the National Library of New Zealand described the history and development of union finding lists for orchestras and vocal sets in New Zealand. Because of New Zealand's relative isolation from other sources of performing materials these lists are particularly important for both professional and amateur performers, and the comprehensiveness of the available lists is a tribute to the great spirit of cooperation which we could see in all sessions with a New Zealand theme. The creation of a union catalogue began already in 1960's, and the national branch of IAML and especially its founder, Dorothy Freed have continued the work.

Keith McEwing of the National Library demonstrated the online SING (choral repertoire) catalogue and described the degrees of ingennity which go into fulfilling some user requests. SING began in 1991 and it comprises materials of New Zealand's choirs and choir societies.

Mary O'Mara of the University of Queensland gave a summary report of progress on the Australian union catalogue of orchestral scores, the second edition of which, published in 1998 contains entries for some 9.000 items. The wind band materials are not included.

A paper entitled "A discussion of various editorial trends and how a conductor's decision to use a particular edition may impact the librarian" and cowritten by Robert Sutherland of the Metropolitan Opera and Clinton Nieweg of the Philadelphia Orchestra was distributed.

In the branch elections, supervised by Alison Hall, Kauko Karjalainen was reelected for a further term as chair. Wynne Cole of NZSO was newly elected as vice chair and Marco Feklistoff of Swedish Broadcasting Corporation as secretary.

This year saw a guest appearance as temporary secretary by the former chair, Helen Faulkner.