Why are books and music so expensive?
The relatively small market for recorder and viol music means that music is printed on demand or in small runs, at higher costs. Much of the music we stock is printed in Europe - exchange rates have not been favorable lately, and freight costs are very high, often adding 25-30% or more to the price.
Why should I buy music when I can download it free off the internet?
Many libraries now make digital copies of their holdings available online, but printed facsimile editions are painstakingly cleaned up to restore original details and improve legibility. Free modern editions vary wildly in quality; some are quite good, while others are full of wrong notes and other mistakes, or are poorly laid out with regard to page turns. Published editions bring the scholarship of a knowledgeable editor and useful perks like well-researched critical notes and a realised keyboard part.
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