COPAM Guidelines

1. The Shape of the Series. In preparing its roster, COPAM has set forth “wholeness” and “representativeness” as guiding principles. “Wholeness” declares COPAM’s intent to seek a reasonably proportionate breadth and balance among historical eras, musical genres, composers, performance media, and ethnic groups. “Representativeness” indicates that each edition is chosen to represent a significant achievement or chapter in the history of American music making. Each MUSA volume is introduced by a substantial essay in which the music’s significance, as well as its character and context, is addressed.

2. Types of Editions. The series includes single works, collected or selected works of single composers, and collections from a variety of composers or performers. The collections include genre anthologies (short pieces chosen to illustrate the work of American composers and performers within a particular genre), core repertory anthologies (chosen, by “objective” means, to represent the heart of a given genre's repertory), and anthologies based on other premises.

3. Traits of Works. To win a place in MUSA, a work or group of works is measured against several criteria. These include:

• Quality (Does the work embody artistic excellence within its genre?)
• Influence (Is the work the first of its kind or a model for others? Is the work an example typical of its kind?)
• Representation (Does the work aptly represent a particular period of time, a region, an ethnicity, genre, or gender? Among unavailable works by a particular composer, is this one both representative and artistically worthy?)
• Popularity or currency (Did the work win wide acceptance either on a long-term or short-term basis?)
• Feasibility (Having passed muster on other fronts, does the work remain a good choice for a scholarly edition? Are the sources complete and sufficiently varied? Can print rights or permissions be obtained? Is there a qualified scholar ready to work on the edition? Can COPAM and the publisher fund the edition?)

The proposals accepted by COPAM reflect the priorities of the series as a whole. As a group, the projects reflect the multivalent universe of American music, where so many different individuals and social groups have found their own compelling reasons to make music, each project has been measured against the criteria set out above before winning a place on the MUSA roster. The editions listed here are offered, therefore, as evidence of COPAM’s intent to pursue “wholeness” and “representativeness” within the possibilities open to us.