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Getting Started
If you’re new to DAS Works, and what’s being offered at this website, here’s an overview and some guidance to help you get started.
First, the website offers recordings and PDF scores of the composer’s music. The audio is available via streaming membership, or as downloadable audio files in mp3, flac, and wav formats. You can preview all of the recordings before purchase via the menu “Music->Audio Recordings”. There are over one hundred recordings which can be searched by instrumentation and / or liturgical use. (For choir directors, there’s also a difficulty search capability.)
All of the recordings have their respective PDF score available. By searching and selecting either a recording or a score you will be brought to that title’s particular page. From there, as well the search pages, you can add recordings and PDF files to your cart.
The “Canticum verborum”, or “Song of words”, which is where you are now, provides essays and commentary relating to the music in one degree or another. For example, choir directors will find the essay “Extending the use of Two-Part Motets”. Also, more information about sacred music in general is found in the essay “What is Sacred Music?”. You’ll want to regularly check back here for newly added essays, as there are several in the planning stage.
There’s a lot of helpful information under the “About” main menu labelled “About DAS Works” which goes into greater detail regarding the listening aspects of what is presented here.
For centuries composers sold their music to publishers, along with the copyright, distribution and performance rights. This arrangement allowed composers to freely pursue their craft without having to run a music business on the side. Of course, there’s a storied history regarding this relationship between composers and publishers, and certainly Beethoven provides several interesting examples. As the 19th century draws to an end, this arrangement begins to deteriorate, and the frustrations between the two becomes intolerable. Composers start writing music that is, shall we say, more artistically centered, while the economics of publishing become increasingly tenuous.
By the second half of the 20th century the relationship is no longer. Composers have become their own agent, handling all the printing, distribution, copyrights, and promotion. Meanwhile, publishers go out of business as their profits continue to decline. Even the quality of paper and printing becomes so poor that customers begin to refuse to make purchases and composers are forced to go it on their own.
Today this situation has dramatically changed, we have the internet and the amazing world of websites. Composers still self-promote, so nothing new, but electronic production and distribution has revolutionized everything. PDF scores, audio files, and online video performances are now commonplace. Yet the one remaining challenge composer’s face is artist protection (technically called Intellectual Property), meaning that their work is a precious commodity. The internet makes free sharing and distribution so simple and easy that it can become impulsive. There’s a willingness to forget about the very real person whose precious commodity is being abused. There are, of course, copyright laws and penalties, and fortunately they’re pretty clear: seventy years after the death of an author, a work’s copyright expires and the work falls into public domain.
Slowly, too slowly, the freewheeling internet distribution practice is become aware of infringement and is taking steps to avoid it. PDF stamping is one of those steps. All of the PDF music scores downloaded from DAS Works is stamped with the purchaser’s name and email address. All of the downloadable recordings contain ISRC and ISMN identification numbers allowing ASCAP and BMI to monitor public performances and distribution. Of course, the best solution is personal honesty and respect for a composer’s long hours of hard work.
By all means share your enthusiasm and discoveries of the music presented here, but please don’t become a distributor! Tell your friends, family members, and even choir members, and encourage them to visit dasworks.com and share your passion with them for the music of DAS.
