Robert Douglass, a German horn player and MuseScore enthusiast, has a noble project he'd like to share with us. He wants to create a new score and studio recording of J.S. Bach's Goldberg Variations, and place them in the public domain for everyone to own and use without limitations on licensing.
Bach wrote his seminal work over 270 years ago, yet public domain scores and recordings are hard or impossible to find. Robert is determined to change this. He launched the Open Goldberg Variations project and Robert is now looking for sponsors to fund the project.
This project will start by creating a new engraving of the Goldberg Variations using the MuseScore notation software. Robert contacted Werner, the MuseScore lead developer, and explained his goal. The two connected and Werner decided he would engrave the score himself using MuseScore. It would make a great test case for MuseScore and when it lacks some feature, Werner can improve the code. So double win! The edition will be subject to scholarly review, and when it is finished, it will be available to everyone to own and use without limitations.
Then Robert is also working with pianist Kimiko Ishizaka to create a professional studio recording of the Goldbergs. This recording will also be made available to everyone to own and use without limitations.
For more information:
Official Website: http://www.opengoldbergvariations.org
Kickstarter fundraiser: http://kck.st/opengoldberg