If you've got access to the internet, you've now also got access to a whole new world of New Zealand music; SOUNZ, the Centre for New Zealand Music, has launched their new website. As well as providing a whole load of information about works and composers, performers, events, venues and news, the new site offers a way to search this bounty that encourages visitors to discover new things and make the most of a wide range of digital resources.If you've got access to the internet, you've now also got access to a whole new world of New Zealand music; SOUNZ, the Centre for New Zealand Music, has launched their new website. As well as providing a whole load of information about works and composers, performers, events, venues and news, the new site offers a way to search this bounty that encourages visitors to discover new things and make the most of a wide range of digital resources.Through the new website, SOUNZ will be able to better support the many individuals and organisations involved in the music of New Zealand composers: its creation, presentation and dissemination.

One of the project's innovations is a new music cataloguing system based on FRBR (Functional Requirements of Bibliographic Records), which allows visitors to search not only the many elements that belong to the music, but also the relationships between these elements. This means you can explore not just the composers and their works but also the different instrumentations, scores, resources, recordings and performances along with the associated performers, venues, publishers, commissioners and events.

Faceted searching has been chosen for the website to ensure that visitors - whether they are experts or new - will be able to discover the music through different perspectives and be encouraged to explore further.

The visitor will be able to see what scores, CDs, books or DVDs of a work are available and whether they can be borrowed from the SOUNZ collection or purchased. Sample score pages or audio will be available for many works. Members of SOUNZ will also be able to purchase and download scores and audio files directly from the website as well as enjoy other benefits such as discounts and email newsletters.

SOUNZ Online is the most extensive and crucial development undertaken by the Centre since its inception in 1991. SOUNZ received major funding through the Community Partnership Fund of the National Digital Strategy and Creative New Zealand to work in partnership with CANZ and Radio New Zealand Concert to build a web-based catalogue and website. The system has been developed by New Zealand companies Catalyst IT and Springload.

Geographic isolation and a small society have long been challenges to the publication and dissemination of all kinds of NZ music. SOUNZ Online promises to transform these challenges into opportunities - particularly for our composers - and gives SOUNZ the means to fulfil their mission: "Created in New Zealand, heard around the world".

27/11/07