|
|
Post by Script on Apr 19, 2010 15:29:33 GMT -5
long sad story: my best music friend passed away in March. She asked if I could be responsible for disposing of her enormous collection of music. I was honoured and said 'yes'. To date: *I have sent tons of e-mails to members of our group *I have sorted music until my back is sore *I have let the music completely overwhelm two rooms of my house: dining room, craft room: for the sorting process *I have bought cheese, crackers, cookies, drinks: as I invited EVERYONE over for Thursday: big music distribution event: 4-7pm *I have had two replies  I was expecting some kind of more positive response. Silly me.... My friend's husband brought over another car-load of music to a professional musician: who didn't want ANY of it. Why? Photocopies are illegal. Some are also illegible. There are very few 'original' published legitimate items in this enormous collection. People's homes are already stuffed to the gills with hand-outs and freebies from workshops and lessons. Old editions are virtually worthless because of better scholarship and musicology. ETC> I am hoping that some more friends will RSVP-----anything in the music collection that has not found a happy home by the end of June is going in the recycle bin. There is EXACTLY one small tote-bag of originals that I can and will donate to my music group's library. aaarrrggghhhhhhh  I am so sad about this situation. |
|
|
|
Post by cando on Apr 19, 2010 15:47:56 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by AnnieOkie on Apr 19, 2010 16:09:43 GMT -5
Script-Can you donate the unclaimed music to a music school or comparable? Maybe a non-profit group working with kids, etc. I do hope you can find a home for the music your friend so dearly loved. Let us know how it turns out.
|
|
|
|
Post by gifted on Apr 19, 2010 16:18:37 GMT -5
script,
I am so sorry of the trouble this has caused you.
I think anyone interested would have let you know before the big event, so I would not hang onto the stuff, expecting a reply.
I find it very sad that so little response was made. Even if folks were uninterested, they could at least have responded, and honored the memory of this friend.
|
|
|
|
Post by shopgirl on Apr 19, 2010 18:07:36 GMT -5
Miss Script, you can feel good about this. You are doing the work that your friend did not have the strength to do in her last days. Your promise to her is being fulfilled, and making that promise to her gave her much comfort.
If photocopies have no value, it is less hurtful for you to hear it from people than if she heard it. She regarded this accumulation as part of her life's work, and acting as the buffer between her and the bad news about its worth is you being a good friend.
|
|
MiSC
Banned
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,611 
|
Post by MiSC on Apr 19, 2010 19:44:57 GMT -5
Miss Script, you can feel good about this. You are doing the work that your friend did not have the strength to do in her last days. Your promise to her is being fulfilled, and making that promise to her gave her much comfort. If photocopies have no value, it is less hurtful for you to hear it from people than if she heard it. She regarded this accumulation as part of her life's work, and acting as the buffer between her and the bad news about its worth is you being a good friend. I agree, script. Part of your position in this situation is that you are that buffer. You can let things go that she couldn't. You'll be no less a friend for doing just that. |
|
|
|
Post by DJ on Apr 19, 2010 21:51:12 GMT -5
what shopgirl said.
and thank you for saying it.
|
|
|
|
Post by def6 on Apr 19, 2010 22:50:58 GMT -5
Dear Script, That is very sad that you invited everyone out and you only got 2 replies. I'm sure it made you feel that what your friend valued so much nobody else was interested in. It is true that technology has changed what is important to keep in terms of hard copies of things. I think you have a better grasp on this then your friend possibly did. Please be true to your resolve and don't keep your friends things . I'm sorry you lost your friend.
|
|
|
|
Post by Butterfly on Apr 19, 2010 23:02:49 GMT -5
I love Shopgirl's wisdom and advice. I, too, am sorry that you lost your friend.
As far as what my treasures are worth...I don't know.
If my house was burning, the most important things to me would be first my kitties and then the letters my beloved Grandmother and Great Grandmother sent me.
|
|
|
|
Post by bigtimetroubles on Apr 20, 2010 3:38:54 GMT -5
wow script I had no idea you were a musical person....hope all goes as you wish with the give aways....hugs btt
|
|
|
|
Post by Script on Apr 20, 2010 6:32:01 GMT -5
Dear friends:
*I have now got three firm YES replies for the open house music sharing: Thursday
*I spent some of my drug mart 'points' and bought crackers, cheese, dips, cookies, drinks: for the group
*I am working slowly to sort things
Why this music is NOT suitable for a school:
*renaissance and early baroque ensembles
*viola da gamba OR recorder
*advanced level
*some parts in 'alto' clef
*the vocal music we have is rarely in English
*not suitable for string ensembles as the range of the parts is not right
*very few schools with recorder ensembles have BASS instruments
thanks for all your kind HELPFUL words
|
|
|
|
Post by ponygirl on Apr 20, 2010 10:15:22 GMT -5
I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your friend.
I agree with ShopGirl's wise reply and also MiSC's observation that you will be able to discard/recycle/process this music with far better objectivity than your friend could have.
Strength to you as you proceed. 
|
|
|
|
Post by success19 on Apr 20, 2010 12:59:09 GMT -5
List it on ebay - then donate the proceeds to charity in your friends name. Or list on Craiglist.
|
|
|
|
Post by Script on Apr 20, 2010 13:34:59 GMT -5
List it on ebay - then donate the proceeds to charity in your friends name. Or list on Craiglist. Just to clarify: besides my own grief, I am having problems because the material in question consists primarily of PHOTOCOPIES of music. These are illegal. NONE of the legitimate organizations will take them: EVEN FOR FREE. I do not want to be responsible for selling or even giving away anything that can be a problem. I know of church choirs that have had trouble with illegal photocopies What is NOT taken by individuals/friends will therefore go into the recycle bin. ps: today I received a donation of 4 bottles of wine [family member] to serve at the Open House. |
|
|
|
Post by howardsgirlfriend on Apr 20, 2010 15:12:07 GMT -5
I admire you for being such a good friend.
Maybe you have already thought of this: perhaps the Society for Creative Anachronism would have interested members?
|
|
