Christmas tune books, for example, are a perennial favorite.

Tunes in any particular book of tunes may be organized by performer, by composer, by publisher, or by the special occasion they celebrate. Songbooks, on the other hand, are bound arrangements of music pieces. Music scores were occasionally published as well for novelty instruments like the guitar, the accordion, or the ukulele. As their name suggests, they were published on a single piece of paper. “Sheet music” specifically refers to the scores of individual songs that are arranged for the voice and the piano. What’s the difference between sheet music and songbooks? Through the 1920s, most of these illustrations were lithographs, but after the 1920s, published music compositions were most often decorated with original photographs. Illustrations: Sheet music antiques are often beautifully illustrated.Scores of Irving Berlin’s songs or tunes by Rogers and Hammerstein are also hot items. Original copies of Scott Joplin’s works are highly sought after, as are other Black Americana musical pieces. Composers: Alternatively, collectors may decide to orient their vintage sheet music archives around popular music composers.Vintage sheet music will be even more highly prized if the original artist autographed the musical composition. Al Jolson, Bing Crosby, Fannie Brice, and Eddie Cantor were all music performers whose signature songs sold many copies. Performers: Collectors may focus on collecting all the songs performed by a particular artist.

Criteria that hobbyists use to organize their antique vintage sheet music collections include: That means you can use practically any criteria you like as a theme for your music sheet collection. How many different categories of sheet music are there?Īn enormous amount of vintage sheet music is to be found in antique stores today. Tin Pan Alley songwriters made most of their money from selling the scores of their songs to amateur piano players. That’s because no way to record music had yet been invented. From the late 19th century through the early part of the 20th century, sheet music was widely distributed. You don’t have to be a musician to enjoy collecting vintage sheet music.

Vintage & Antique Sheet Music & Song Books

A dance of fire and ice sheet music