This archive exists to protect music that would otherwise vanish — not because it lacks value, but because it lacks advocates.
From the Benvenuti Collection
The Endangered Music Archive is a digital research archive dedicated to the preservation, documentation, and accessibility of historical music collections that are at risk of loss, neglect, or disappearance.
Many musical repertoires survive only in fragile paper libraries, incomplete catalogues, or uncatalogued private collections. When such materials fall out of use, they risk vanishing — not because they lack artistic or historical value, but because they are no longer visible.
The Endangered Music Archive exists to make these repertoires visible again.
Why “endangered” music?
Unlike paintings or sculptures, music does not fully exist unless it is performed. When the materials that enable performance — scores, parts, catalogues, annotations — are lost or dispersed, entire musical traditions can effectively disappear.
By documenting and contextualising vulnerable music collections, this archive aims to preserve not only the physical evidence of past musical life, but also the knowledge required to understand and revive it.
The collections
The Endangered Music Archive hosts multiple distinct collections, each documented as a historical entity in its own right.
The Benvenuti Collection
A large late-nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century orchestral hire library, providing rare insight into repertoire, instrumentation, and performance practice in Australia during this period.
The Brisbane Citizens’ Band Collection
A historically significant Australian band library reflecting local performance culture, repertoire choices, and the social role of civic bands.
Who is this archive for?
The Endangered Music Archive is intended for:
- musicians and conductors seeking forgotten repertoire
- musicologists and historians
- librarians and archivists
- educators and students
- performers interested in historical performance practice
The archive supports both scholarly research and informed musical rediscovery.
How the archive works
Each collection in the Endangered Music Archive is presented with:
- descriptive metadata
- contextual documentation
- clear statements of scope, methodology, and limitations
The archive does not attempt to create critical editions or modern performance materials. Instead, it aims to document collections honestly and transparently, allowing users to interpret the materials with an understanding of their historical context.
For more information, see:
Stewardship
The Endangered Music Archive is an independent, curator-led project developed to support long-term cultural preservation, responsible access, and historical understanding.
It is not a commercial music publisher, nor a performance library, but a research-oriented archive intended to complement physical collections rather than replace them.
Exploring endangered music is the first step toward ensuring it is not forgotten.