Guide de l'édition musicale numérique

The “Guide de l’édition musicale numérique” is a comprehensive, up-to-date manual designed to accompany researchers and practitioners through the intricacies of digital music editing, with a particular focus on scholarly critical editions and the European research context. It is the result of collaborative work within the Huma-Num MUSICA2 consortium in Tours.The Guide addresses the conceptual foundations, technical strategies, and best practices essential for conceiving, producing, and disseminating digital editions of notated music. It systematically distinguishes between “digitized” and genuinely “digital” editions, emphasizing the importance of interoperability, sustainability, and the FAIR principles that dominate the digital humanities landscape.Core topics include the selection and use of notation software, detailed descriptions of encoding formats such as MusicXML, MEI, and Humdrum, and guidance for the conversion, visualization, and long-term archiving of encoded music data. The Guide clarifies legal responsibilities, collaborative workflows, and the integration of metadata and source references—crucial elements for traceability and scholarly citation.It devotes substantial attention to the creation and management of critical apparatus, annotation spaces, and dynamic links between digital editions and primary sources, especially through IIIF protocols and digital “twins”. The text includes a typology of current notation and editing tools, recommendations for quality control, and active encouragement to use open standards and open-access practices to maximize reusability and impact.The Guide situates digital music editing in the wider landscape of European cultural policies, research funding expectations, and technological change, advocating for adaptability and technical literacy among editors. Practical elements include step-by-step checklists for project planning, metadata entry, visualization tools, and the identification of trusted data repositories for long-term preservation.By synthesizing recent research, technological developments, and institutional frameworks, the Guide provides a vital roadmap for both experienced musicologists and newcomers seeking to navigate the dynamic field of digital music publication.