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June 15, 2009
Digital Image Archive of Medieval Music
The Digital Image Archive of Medieval Music (or DIAMM) is a database of medieval polyphonic music hosted by the University of Oxford, including all the currently known fragmentary sources of polyphony (mainly vocal) from around 800 to 1550 in the UK. Registration is required (but is completely free), though donations are welcome for the resources.
The archive is a collection of catalog information for all known sources of polyphonic music (mainly vocal), with segments of the database include high resolution scans when available. There are approximately 14,000 high quality scans currently available, mainly from the UK and Western European collections. Specialized digitization equipment for the project allow for extremely high quality scans. For materials that may be brittle or incomplete, the scans may allow for further research and even digital restoration in some cases. The DIAMM has also created its own metadata schema, specific to sheet music. Detailed information about the particular item such as the style of notation and the number of staves and vocal parts will be included on the database during the current phase of the project.
Digitization efforts in this facet of music is important in facilitating a level of access to researchers and music enthusiasts all around the world, since these materials were previously difficult to access. The materials that have not yet been digitized, whether due to rights issues or other reason, are listed in the catalog to at least provide contact information for the researcher about the holding institution and some essential catalog information. With enhancements to the metadata and search features of this database coming in the present phase of the project (to be completed by the end of 2009), this project will one to keep an eye on.
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