Fostering Openness and Accessibility of Music Archives through Multilayer Formats

This paper explores the critical intersection of openness and accessibility in the context of digital music archives, emphasizing the challenges posed by rare, fragile, and often handwritten materials. Building upon previous research, the study introduces multilayer representation formats, particularly the IEEE 1599 standard, as a viable solution to bridge gaps in usability, inclusivity, and interpretability for diverse user groups, including those with sensory, motor, and cognitive impairments. Through two case studies drawn from the Ricordi Historical Archive, the paper demonstrates how multilayer formats enable synchronized access to musical content across various modalities, including symbolic notation, audio, visual media, and metadata. The adaptability of these formats not only facilitates richer and more equitable access for scholars and the general public but also supports the design of assistive technologies and personalized interfaces. Ultimately, the work highlights the potential of multilayer approaches to transform music archives into inclusive, interactive spaces that preserve cultural heritage while democratizing engagement with music.