# Finding classical sheet music **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 5, 2003, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-classical-sheet-music/159213 "2003-03-05T08:01:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SolGrundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@SolGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolGrundy)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2003, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-classical-sheet-music/159213/1 "2003-03-05T08:01:28Z")
The thread about “great moments in music” reminded me about a project I’ve had in mind for a while: I want to do an all-synthesized version of Aaron Copland’s _Appalachian Spring_ and _Rodeo_ (inspired by Wendy Carlos’ Switched-on-_X_ stuff). I want to call it _808: Hoedown_. Not for profit, or anything, of course – just for fun. The problem is that I have no musical talent, and can just barely read music. So there’s no way I could reproduce it from memory, or even by ear, so I’m going to need the sheet music. All the online resources I’ve been able to find, though, seem to be targeted towards school music programs and such, selling only complete orchestral arrangements for hundreds of dollars. How do people who are just casual fans/performers of music do it? Is there any relatively-affordable way to get a fairly-complete arrangement (as in, not $50 for just the timpani part) of a specific piece of music? ---
**Author:** ![Jpeg\_Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/4bbf92/32.png) [@Jpeg\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jpeg_Jones)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2003, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-classical-sheet-music/159213/2 "2003-03-05T08:47:57Z")
[http://www.sheetmusicplus.com](http://www.sheetmusicplus.com) Search on _Appalachian Spring_ and you’ll find a miniature score in the under-$20 range. ---
**Author:** ![SolGrundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@SolGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolGrundy)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2003, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-classical-sheet-music/159213/3 "2003-03-05T22:28:22Z")
That’s perfect, thanks! I can’t explain why I didn’t find that sooner; I swear to God I did a google search on “sheet music” and didn’t come up with that site before… ---
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2003, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-classical-sheet-music/159213/4 "2003-03-05T22:46:35Z")
You might also want to check out [Volkwein’s](http://www.volkweins.com). I’m lucky. Not only are they in my city, but when I was in college, they had a huge store just across the Allegheny River from downtown Pittsburgh, so I could walk in and browse to my heart’s delight. I’ve no idea how they are on-line, but I know their store is wonderful! CJ ---
**Author:** ![av8rmike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/edb3f5/32.png) [@av8rmike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/av8rmike)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2003, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-classical-sheet-music/159213/5 "2003-03-06T00:31:55Z")
Ummm… if you can’t read music, just how do you intend to accomplish this project? I have the _Appalachian Spring_ score, and it’s not the simplest music to follow. Maybe I’m just missing something. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2003, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-classical-sheet-music/159213/6 "2003-03-06T00:44:56Z")
Perhaps a midi file would be useful to you as a starting point. Google turned up a raft of Copland midi files.