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Sheet Music

Sheet music is the printed representation of sound. Primarily a construct of European musical tradition, it is the means by which the composer expresses the exact manner in which his thoughts are to be performed. It is also the main method of preserving and dispersing musical compositions.

Traditionally, sheet music was printed on sheets of paper, thus giving it it's name. Music was transcribed by hand from the composer's original score, and was read by the musicians performing the piece. Starting in the late 19th century, printed music became much more popular with the general public, as more households were able to afford musical instruments. Today sheet music can also be digitized. The printing and publishing of music via computers and the internet has become a much more common practice in recent years.

Sheet music was instrumental in the spreading popularity of many American forms of music. Jazz and Pop songs of the early 20th century were spread through the many published works of Tin Pan Alley in New York City. American classical music was firmly established by the publishing of works by composers like Aaron Copeland and Charles Ives.

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