PAPER HERITAGE
PRINTED MUSIC is just one little part of that which we call 'paper heritage', together with books, documents, leaflets, manuscripts, and other paper ephemera.
We all know how fragile paper is and how it is so easily perishable through the effects of water, excessive heat, humidity, fire, insects, or the result of our own carelessness. Sometimes the contents written or printed on paper are no longer relevant and that paper is consequently disposed of without a second thought. So much printed music has been callously thrown away simply because the music printed on it was no longer fashionable. Much has been thrown into recycling bins to be forever lost.
This site aims at awareness of the importance of preserving and conserving our Printed Music as an important part of our Paper Heritage.
DAMAGE TO PAPER
So many things can contribute to the deterioration and destruction of paper. First of all, it must be said that not all paper is of the best quality. The poorer quality paper can look burnt and will literally break off easily at folds and creases. Better quality paper will survive longer. Spines, folds and page corners which are frequently bent and fingered are also likely to tear and break off. This often leads to missing edges and lost front and back covers.
The following are just a few of the most common issues that will require intervention by a conservator.
Bookworm - Bookworm known to us in Maltese as 'susa' is actually an invasion of various types of insects, beetles and moths that lay their larvae inside books. They create a serious problem eating up and destroying paper, in extreme cases leaving nothing legible, or even nothing of the paper. This infestation has to be treated in order not to spread.
Cockroach, termites, silverfish and rodents can similarly destroy paper.
The first stage of the Brocktorff Project was the conservation of some of the locally-printed 19th century sheet music in the Anna Borg Cardona Collection.
This required several stages of professional treatment depending on the severity of the damage on each piece of music. Finally, protective sleeves and purposely-made storage boxes will be created for this sheet music, aiming at preserving it for future generations.
This time-consuming work of treatment, conservation and storing has been undertaken by professional paper conservator Dr Theresa Zammit Lupi. The above photographs of damaged paper show just a few of the problems she faces. She kindly allowed us to follow some of her conservation work as it progressed.
1. CLEANING
Printed music dating from the 19th century will have been played and handled over the years and then left to collect dust and stains. Most of it is between 150 and 200 years old! It will first of all need careful cleaning. Dr Zammit Lupi demonstrates how this is done with a special eraser called a 'smoke sponge' which is gentle and leaves no residue on the paper. All materials used are tested and are of conservation grade in order not to damage the paper.
All the music will have to go through this same time-consuming procedure of initial cleaning. Most of the music will also have several other issues that will need to be dealt with.
2. STRENGTHENING FOLDS
Very often, as all musicians are aware, well-used music pages will come apart at the centre fold and may need to be put together again, or they may just need strengthening. If there is adhesive tape it first has to be carefully taken off and treated. For the repair of tears a very fine type of tissue is used known as 'Japanese paper'. Traditionally made in Japan, this is made of vegetable fibres. It is almost transparent and not at all intrusive or damaging.
A thin strip of Japanese paper is carefully cut to fit over the fold between pages. The glue used to fix this 'guard' on to the paper is not ordinary glue, but a special cellulose-based adhesive. Similarly, any infills are also carried out with the same fine Japanese paper. All materials used in conservation are safe and will not damage the paper.
TO BE CONTINUED