Editing Classical Archives

{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Advert|date=December 2018}}
{{Infobox online service
| name = Classical Archives LLC
| image = [[File:ClassicalArchivesScreenShot.png|301px]]
| caption  = Classical Archives Homepage, June 21, 2010
| launched = {{start date and age|2000|08}}
| pricing = Downloads for purchase, unlimited streaming by subscription
| website = {{URL|http://classicalarchives.com}}
}}

'''Classical Archives LLC''' is an [[Online music store|online digital music store]] that solely focuses on [[classical music]]. Originally opening as the Classical MIDI Archives in 1994 primarily as a repository for free [[MIDI]] sequences of classical music works, in August 2000 the site incorporated as Classical Archives, LLC, and has since been also offering commercial label recordings for both streaming and downloading.

Both members and non-members can access detailed [[Music history|musicological]] information for each work: [[Movement (music)|movements]], [[Music genre|genre]], principal [[Musical instrument|instruments]], year of composition, and [[Key (music)|key]]. Additionally, nearly every [[Composer|composer's]] biography is provided.<ref>{{cite web |title=Piano Sonata No.14 in C#-, Op.27, No.2 ('Moonlight')|website=Classical Archives |access-date=9 September 2023
|url=http://www.classicalarchives.com/work/3962.html#tvf=tracks&tv=about}}</ref> Free radio streaming is available for computers and mobile devices that also includes a device to close the connection in one hour, if desired.<ref name="classicalarchives.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.classicalarchives.com/radio |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060813094403/http://www.classicalarchives.com/radio/ |archive-date=2006-08-13 |title=CLASSICAL ARCHIVES INTERNET RADIO}}</ref>

Classical Archives uses a proprietary system (called the Contextual [[Metadata engine|Metadata Engine]]) that allows for the ingestion and cataloguing of all recordings based on musicological accurate and uniform metadata. Because of the Contextual Metadata Engine, visitors can search and cross-reference by various relevant criteria: composer, work title, artist, albums, historical period, instrument, and genre, in order to find and compare different recordings.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://app1.kuhf.org/articles/1243372763-The-Front-Row,-Tuesday,-05-26-2009.html|title = News & Information}}</ref> The website also includes a section on composers (the greats, the notables or all), which include [[Leonard Bernstein|Leonard Berstein]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Greats - Classical Archives |url=https://www.classicalarchives.com/newca/#!/theGreats}}</ref> [[George Gershwin]] and more.

Classical Archives was founded by CEO Pierre R. Schwob.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pierre Schwob {{!}} Linkedin |url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/pierreschwob/}}</ref> The cataloguing of the Classical Archives database is carried out by a team of [[musicologists]] led by Chief Musicologist and Artistic Director [[Nolan Gasser|Dr. Nolan Gasser]].<ref name="online.wsj.com">{{cite news |last=Jurgensen |first=John |date=May 8, 2009 |title=New Ways to Buy Bach Online |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB124174826897199479 |work=The Wall Street Journal}}</ref>

==File types==
The site provides 320 kbit/s [[MP3]] files for downloads and 160 kbit/s [[Advanced Audio Coding|AAC]] files for streaming. Sample clips are streamed at 60 kbit/s for non-members.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.classicalarchives.com/about.html|title=About|website=classicalarchives.com|access-date=9 September 2023}}</ref>

==Database==
As of May 22, 2011, the Classical Archives database features 12,046 composers, 42,744 recording artists, and 26,697 Albums from 268 labels. These include the classical catalogues of [[Universal Music Group]] ([[Deutsche Grammophon]], [[Decca Label Group|Decca]], [[Philips Records|Phillips]], [[ECM Records|ECM]], etc.), [[Sony Masterworks|Sony]] ([[RCA Records|RCA]], [[Columbia Records|Columbia]], etc.), [[Naxos Records|Naxos]] ([[BIS Records|BIS]], [[Chandos Records|Chandos]], [[Hänssler Classic]], etc.), and many independent labels through [[Independent Online Distribution Alliance|IODA]] ([[Harmonia Mundi]], [[Nimbus Records|Nimbus]], [[Summit Records|Summit]], etc.). As of June 2011, the Classical Archives has 904,230 registered members.

==Other site features==
* Exclusive Interviews: Artistic Director Nolan Gasser has conducted exclusive interviews with international performers and composers including [[Marin Alsop]], [[American Brass Quintet]], [[Vladimir Ashkenazy]], [[Joshua Bell]], [[Ray Chen]], [[Gloria Coates]], [[John Corigliano]], [[Jeremy Denk]], [[Danielle de Niese]], [[Simone Dinnerstein]], [[JoAnn Falletta]], [[Renee Fleming]], [[David Finckel]], [[Alan Gilbert (conductor)|Alan Gilbert]], [[Vittorio Grigolo]], [[Hélène Grimaud]], [[Hillary Hahn]], [[Wu Han (pianist)|Wu Han]], [[Paul Hillier]], [[Daniel Hope (violinist)|Daniel Hope]], [[Sharon Isbin]], [[David Lang (composer)|David Lang]], [[Lang Lang]], [[Mark Padmore]], [[Sondra Radvanovsky]], [[Ryuichi Sakamoto]], [[Stile Antico (early music vocal ensemble)|Stile Antico]], [[Trio Mediaeval]], Susan Wadsworth, Xiayin Wang, and [[Eric Whitacre]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.classicalarchives.com/features/?navID=0|title = Classical Archives: Exclusive Presentations}}</ref>
* Free One Click Concerts™: A concert length program of selected tracks based on either a special theme, composer, period, or genre.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.classicalarchives.com/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010331212941/http://www.classicalarchives.com/ |archive-date=2001-03-31 |title=Classical Archives (c) 2001 Classical Archives, LLC}}</ref>
* Free Classical Archives Internet Radio Stream Broadcast for computers and mobile devices <ref name="classicalarchives.com"/>
* About pages for composers and works. Powered by [[All Music Guide]], biographies and work descriptions provide musicological and historical background.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.classicalarchives.com/composer/Ludwig_van_Beethoven?navID=1#tvf=tracks&tv=about |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012122709/http://www.classicalarchives.com/composer/Ludwig_van_Beethoven?navID=1 |archive-date=2012-10-12 |title=Ludwig van Beethoven - Classical Archives}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|website=classicalarchives.com
|url=https://www.classicalarchives.com/newca/#!/Work/4018|title=Piano Sonata No.29 in Bb, Op.106 ('Hammerklavier')|access-date=9 September 2023}}</ref>
* [[Playlists]]: Members have access to playlists that are created by other members and Classical Archives staff.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.classicalarchives.com/playlists/featured.html?navID=1 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012122739/http://www.classicalarchives.com/playlists/featured.html?navID=1 |archive-date=2012-10-12 |title=Classical Archives: Featured Playlists}}</ref>
* Essentials: For each composer, a list of historically important works is presented.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.classicalarchives.com/composer/Ludwig_van_Beethoven#tvf=tracks&tv=essentials |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100302214821/http://www.classicalarchives.com/composer/Ludwig_van_Beethoven |archive-date=2010-03-02 |title=Ludwig van Beethoven - Classical Archives}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{official website|https://www.classicalarchives.com/}}

{{Music digital distribution platforms}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Classical Archives}}
[[Category:Online music stores of the United States]]