Preserving creative process in the digital age: Findings from a survey of contemporary composers

Introduction. Digital tools have become ubiquitous in the process of music composition and documentation of composers’ lives and careers. This material and subsequent scholarship are at risk due to the obsolescence of hardware and software, fragility and variety of digital file formats, media prone to degradation. This paper presents survey results on composers’ process and knowledge of preservation practices. Method. The survey was designed in GoogleForms and distributed through email to music theory and composition faculty at Big10 universities, major conservatories, and professional organization listservs. The survey assessed compositional workflows and respondents’ knowledge and implementation of preservation practices through quantitative and free-response qualitative questions. Analysis. The survey generated qualitative data, examined thematically; quantitative responses were analysed for trends. Results. The results demonstrate a need for a central, open resource to guide composers through implementation of preservation practices to ensure longevity of their work. Conclusion. This survey is the first to bridge the disjunction between composers’ creative process and preservation practices. Results illustrate wide usage of digital tools and proprietary file types and indicate a concerning lack of preservation knowledge. It will inform a toolkit that offers guidance on long-term preservation, to bring composers into confident stewardship of their creative legacies.