sheet music international

About Sheet Music International

Sheet Music International: Your Premier Digital Music Library

Sheet Music International offers a vast, free virtual library of public domain sheet music, readily available for download worldwide. Designed with performers in mind, our platform provides easy access to multiple historical editions of individual works, accompanied by several performance videos for each. Dive deeper into the music with comprehensive program notes that include composer biographies and historical context for specific pieces. For optimal viewing, many individual pages are carefully cropped and cleaned, and we provide external links for further exploration of each work.


Tailored for Musicians, Built for Convenience

Our meticulously curated collection is perfect for musicians who value ease of use and efficient access to a well-organized library. Each user receives a personal library where they can bookmark favorite editions or works for quick reference. This private space also allows users to upload their own music and securely share it for a limited time with select individuals. Imagine an orchestra sharing an entire program, including copyrighted works they own, with all members via a single click – Sheet Music International makes it simple.


Our Leadership & Editorial Team

photo of carlCarl Reiter Founder and Curator

Music Director, Scottsdale Philharmonic Carl Reiter is a professional conductor, educator, and innovative entrepreneur who has left an indelible mark on the cultural landscape of Arizona. He earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at Arizona State University and completed doctoral work at Northern Arizona University. As the Music Director of the Scottsdale Philharmonic, he has led the orchestra through 15 seasons of providing free classical music to the community.

His distinguished performance career includes tenure as a violinist and violist with the Phoenix Symphony and Tucson Symphony, and he has had the honor of performing for the Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. He also founded the Phoenix String Quartet and Scottsdale String Quartet.

In addition, Mr. Reiter has dedicated decades to music education, serving on the faculty of Grand Canyon University and teaching within the public school system. This unique blend of performance expertise and pedagogical experience drives his mission as the founder of Sheet Music International, where he curates one of the world's premier digital libraries for musicians.


photo of NancyNancy Reiter, M.M.A.

Violinist, Scottsdale Philharmonic | Educator & Pedagogue Nancy Reiter is a distinguished violinist and dedicated educator with an extensive career in performance and pedagogy. She holds degrees from Western Michigan UniversityArizona State University, and a Master of Musical Arts from Western Kentucky University.  

Currently a member of the Scottsdale Philharmonic and the Phoenix String Quartet, her performance history includes the Lexington Philharmonic and Arizona Opera. A retired educator from Mesa Public Schoolsshe directed the Chaparral and North Canyon High School orchestras in performances at the Lincoln Center in New York City.


photo of joy

Joy Partridge, CPA

Co-Founder, Scottsdale Philharmonic | Principal & Owner, Partridge and Associates Joy Partridge offers a unique combination of financial expertise and artistic leadership. As the owner of Partridge and Associates, she provides the professional acumen necessary to sustain major non-profit arts organizations.

She is a co-founder of the Scottsdale Philharmoic  and has been a pivotal figure in the creation of numerous ensembles, including Musica Nova and the original Scottsdale Symphony. An accomplished violist, she currently performs in the viola section of the Scottsdale Philharmonic and formerly served as the Principal Violist of the original Scottsdale Symphony.

 


photo of walter

Dr. Walter Cosand

Professor Emeritus, Arizona State University | International Steinway Artist Dr. Walter Cosand is a world-renowned concert pianist and Professor Emeritus at the Arizona State University Herberger Institute. During his tenure at ASU, he served as the head of the piano department—recognized at the time as the 6th largest music school in the United States.

He holds a prestigious Performer’s Certificate from the Eastman School of Music. As an International Steinway Artist,  Walter Cosand has performed in premier venues worldwide, including Carnegie HallHis personal website, WalterCosand.comis a globally recognized resource for public domain sheet music.

 

 


A Rich History, A Diverse Collection

What began in 1993 as a collaborative effort among music teachers sharing student compositions online has evolved into the comprehensive collection you see today, meeting the needs of a wide range of users.

Our extensive collection includes:

  • Master Composer Library: Featuring the standard classical repertoire.

  • All Composers Library: A vast archive that also includes lesser-known works.

  • School Music Library: Specifically designed for school band and orchestra students.

  • Church Music Library: Includes hymns, with works cross-linked to music used by churches in other libraries.

  • Personal Library: Your customizable space to bookmark music from any of our libraries, or to upload and store music from other sources. Music in your personal library can be shared with others on a limited, temporary basis.

     Sheet Music International is a public repository that serves as a collection agency with servers in Canada and the United States. We assume no liability or responsibility for downloading or uploading files not in public domain in your country. Please respect copyright laws in your country.

 

Promoting Classical Music: A Shared Mission

Sheet Music International is a key partner of the Scottsdale Philharmonic, driven by a mutual commitment to make classical music more available and accessible to global audiences.

Sheet Music International operates one of the world's largest collections of public domain classical sheet music. To ensure this vital cultural resource is widely shared, we offer completely free and unrestricted access to this archive in all languages.

This effort is fully aligned with the Scottsdale Philharmonic's vision to enhance the cultural environment. The Philharmonic achieves this through initiatives like affordable ticket prices, free concerts for students and veterans, free live streaming, and youth programs that provide high-quality music education to all students, regardless of background or ability.

 

The Vision Behind Sheet Music International

The impact of our library extends back to a revolutionary concept in music education. In 1993, our founder established one of the first music publication companies to grant educators the explicit right to photocopy materials for their students. This addressed a critical need for affordable access in the classroom and served as the direct precursor to this digital repository.

As a seasoned educator who has taught at the K-12 level and at Grand Canyon University, the goal has always been to democratize musical resources. This foresight into the potential of the internet led to the creation of SheetMusicInternational.com, which grew to become a premier global resource for musicians and students.

This commitment to the musical community is also reflected in the founding of the Scottsdale Philharmonic in 2012. Established to provide professional symphony concerts free of charge to the community, the orchestra represents a dedication to making high-level performance accessible to all.

The artistic foundation of this site is built on decades of professional performance. From receiving a first contract as a violist at age 14 to performing with the Phoenix and Tucson Symphonies, the standards of this library are set by active musicians. Our leadership has had the distinct honor of performing for the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court and the Vice President of the United States, cultivating a caliber of musicianship that informs every score in our collection.

Today, Sheet Music International continues this legacy, breaking down barriers to music learning and performance for a global audience.

General Copyright Guidelines

General Copyright Guidelines

USA: Works published before 1923 are generally in the public domain. For works published after this date, copyright typically lasts for the life of the composer plus 70 years.

European Union, United Kingdom, and USA: Copyright generally lasts for the life of the composer plus 70 years.

Canada, Japan, China, New Zealand, South Africa: Copyright lasts for the life of the composer plus 50 years. (Note: Some countries, such as Canada and Japan, have recently moved or are moving toward a Life + 70 standard to comply with international trade agreements; it is advisable for users to check local amendments).

About This Website:
Sheet Music International is affiliated with the scottsdale Philharmonic, furthering our mission to make classical music available to audiences worldwide.

www.ScottsdalePhilharmonic.com
https:www.youtube.com/@ScottsdalePhilharmonic

Discover Sheet Music International: Your Free Classical Music Resource

Sheet Music International (SMI) is your go-to destination for free, downloadable public domain classical music. Our extensive online platform features six distinct public libraries and two powerful search engines, designed to help you quickly find the music you need.


Intelligent Search Capabilities

SMI offers two intuitive search engines: Composers and Compositions.

  • Searching by Composer: For best results, enter only the composer's last name (e.g., "Beethoven" instead of "Ludwig Von Beethoven"). Our system works most effectively with broader searches; over-specifying can limit your results.

  • Searching by Composition: If you know the title but not the composer, use the Composition search box. Again, simpler is better – searching for "Eroica" will likely yield better results than "Beethoven Symphony 3 The Eroica."


Explore Our Diverse Libraries

SMI's rich collection is organized into several specialized libraries:

  • Renowned Composers: Our most popular library features the complete works of classical masters like Beethoven, Brahms, Haydn, and Mozart. Organized alphabetically by composer, you'll find sub-folders categorizing music by format (e.g., symphonies, concertos) and instrumentation (e.g., viola, piano). The piano section, for instance, offers various types of music, including dances, minuets, sonatas, and waltzes, alongside famous pieces like "Für Elise" and "Moonlight Sonata." This library also includes a folder dedicated to "Hymns (Greatest of Traditional and other Hymns)."

  • All Composers: This comprehensive library encompasses all composers, including those found in the Renowned Composers section. While more extensive, it may require more Browse time. It also features a robust collection of hymns with easily projectable text pages and sheet music. Many hymn folders offer alternate tunes, and you can search by meter (e.g., 6.6.8.6) to find compatible melodies.

  • Church Music and Hymns: This dedicated page serves as an index for music commonly used in churches, including hymns, cantatas, oratorios, Doxologies, Canticles, and Mass settings. Music is categorized by church year (e.g., Easter, Epiphany) and by topic (e.g., ascension, baptism, worship and praise). Custom text below many hymn folders, such as "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God," provides useful information for specific services. You'll find hymns from various denominations, including Methodist, Catholic, and Lutheran.

  • School Music: Tailored for educational use, this library contains compositions and arrangements organized by difficulty level and ensemble. It includes sheet music for Band, Full Orchestra, Strings, and Stage Band, along with method books suitable for classroom or individual instruction.

  • Personal Library: This invaluable tool allows you to bookmark any arrangement or music for quick future reference. You can also upload your own complete works or edited parts. For sharing music that you own (even copyrighted material not in the public domain), use the Temporary Performance Tab. Easily copy works to this tab, share them for a limited time, and then remove them after a performance, ensuring access is revoked for shared copyrighted materials. This is perfect for sharing an entire concert program with a single click.

  • Repertoire: More than a library, the Repertoire tab offers hand-generated lists of standard literature for specific instruments. Each list is uniquely formatted by our editors. For example, the violin repertoire list indexes solos, duets, concertos, and studies, and even provides a table of works by difficulty level – an excellent resource for teachers. Remember, these lists are curated suggestions, and further exploration within individual composer folders may reveal even more works.


Complementing Other Resources

While SMI and other large libraries like IMSLP contain much of the same music, each often holds unique works. If you don't find what you're looking for in one, we encourage you to try the other.

 


Sheet music international