Schubertline - The online score service for singers
Instant online printing in any key of hundreds of songs and lieder from the 18th to the 20th century.
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F.A.Q.s

Click on a subject below:

Sibelius Scorch:

Why doesn't the music show up when I click on a song title?
I've tried installing Scorch but the music still doesn't show up.
When I try to download Scorch, it says that Scorch is already installed on my computer, but it doesn't work.
Scorch used to work on my computer, but the music no longer shows up.
Do I need to have Sibelius installed on my computer?

The Index:

Why are there more songs by Schubert than any other composer?
Why isn't there any music by Andrew Lloyd Webber / Benjamin Britten / Vaughan Williams? Where's Nessun dorma?
I typed a song title into the "Search" box, but the title couldn't be found even though I know it is in the Library.
I typed Fauré into the "Search" box, and he couldn't be found - even though his songs are in the Library.

The Library:

Why doesn't the music show up when I click on a song title?
I tried to get the score to "play" but I couldn't hear anything.
I tried to follow the score, but scrolling up and down left lines on the music.
I tried to print a free page or pages and failed.
I transposed the music up and down a few times and ended up with crazy accidentals.
I transposed the music, but some of the text is now hidden by the notes.
Why can't the music on the screen be bigger?

Printing:

I tried to add a score to the Shopping Basket, but the basket remained empty.
I tried to print a score, but the music looks funny.
I purchased a complete score, but I couldn't get the music to print.
Do I have to print my scores right away, or can I do it later?
I purchased a transposed version, but the one presented for final printing was in a different key.
My browser crashed or ran out of memory before I had finished printing the scores I had bought.
Why can't I save the score I purchased on my hard disk?
Where has the MIDI file that I purchased with the score gone to?

Credit/Debit card payment:

How do I know that my card details are secure?
How do I get a refund if I experience problems?

Other Resources:

How can I add or amend an entry to the Singing Teachers' Directory?

Sibelius Scorch

• Why doesn't the music show up when I click on a song title?

You probably need to install Scorch, the free score reader from Sibelius Software. If you use Windows with Internet Explorer as your browser, you will be invited to install Scorch automatically if you try to view a web page which includes a Schubertline score. You may also be invited to upgrade to the latest version of Scorch if the score which you want to view is too recent for the version of Scorch which you have previously installed.

There are alternative installation methods for Mac users, or those using Safari, Firefox, Netscape or Netscape-type browsers such as Opera. If you use one of these systems, click here to install Scorch.

Scorch may not be able to download if you have certain types of virus protection or "Firewall" installed: (for example, software which prevents "Pop-Ups"). You may need to disable this software in order to download Scorch.

In certain circumstances, Scorch may not reinstall correctly if you try to install it after using Add/Remove Programs (in Control Panel) to uninstall an older version. If Scorch was the only plug-in in the plug-ins folder, the Add/Remove program deletes the folder itself, and the new version of Scorch can't find anywhere to install itself. There is a simple procedure to overcome this problem: click on: http://www.sibelius.com/cgibin/helpcenter/search.pl?com=search&type=article&language=1&words=123&log=no

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• I've tried installing Scorch but the music still doesn't show up.

Scorch cannot be properly installed. Try repeating the installation procedure. If you use a Mac on OS 8.6 - OS 9x, the only browser currently able to display the most recent scores is Opera, so you may need to install this free browser to view our complete catalog. All browsers are compatible with Mac OS X.and later. If you use an earlier Mac OS, there are previous versions of Scorch still available for download, but you will not be able to view our most recent scores.

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• When I try to download Scorch, it says that Scorch is already installed on computer - but it doesn't work!

It's possible that Scorch may have installed in the wrong folder. Have you got more than one version of your browser (Internet Explorer or Netscape) on your hard disk? Scorch may have installed in the wrong one. As a last resort, delete or unistall all copies of your browser, install a new version of the browser from the Internet or a CD, and download Scorch again.
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• Scorch used to work on my computer, but the music no longer shows up.

Have you recently upgraded or changed your software? If so, you may need to install Scorch again. However, if you use Windows, installation is automatic. Scorch may not be able to work if you have added certain types of virus protection or "Firewall" installed: (for example, software which prevents "Pop-Ups"). You may need to disable this software in order to use Scorch.

In certain circumstances, Scorch does not reinstall correctly if you try to install it after using Add/Remove Programs (in Control Panel) to uninstall an older version. If Scorch was the only plug-in in the plug-ins folder, the Add/Remove program deletes the folder itself, and the new version of Scorch can't find anywhere to install itself. There is a simple procedure to overcome this problem: click on: http://www.sibelius.com/cgibin/helpcenter/search.pl?com=search&type=article&language=1&words=123&log=no

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• Do I need to have Sibelius installed on my computer?

No, anyone can use Scorch whether or not they are Sibelius users.
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The Index:

• Why are there more Schubert songs than any other composer?

One of the long term aims of Schubertline is to provide a complete online library of all Schubert's songs. Much as we would like to do this with all other great song composers, such a project is impractical in the forseeable future. However, we intend to provide a large and representative selection of songs by every great composer from the 18th century onwards.


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• Why isn't there any music by Richard Strauss / Benjamin Britten etc. - or Nessun dorma / O mio babbino caro etc.

We only publish works that are in the public domain, or new works of which we hold the copyright. To be in the public domain under UK law, music and text must have been written by composers or lyricists who died at least 70 years ago. The librettist of Nessun dorma and O mio babbino caro died only 35 years ago.
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• I typed a song title into the "Search" box, but the title couldn't be found even though I know it is in the Library.

The Search facility looks for exact matches of letter sequences. Use a maximum of 3 words. If you are looking for "Die Forelle", you can find it by typing in "die forelle", or "forelle" or even "elle" or "for", but it is no good typing in "trout". Of course, if you typed in "Die" or "die" you would be presented with a lot of possible results! It doesn't matter whether you use lower or upper case letters, but don't use the + symbol to join words together; this will produce a nil report.
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I typed Fauré into the "Search" box, and he couldn't be found - even though his songs are in the Library.

Don't include parts of words that should have accented letters. You could find this composer by typing Faur, or even Fa. Don't link composer's names with a + symbol, or type in the first names or initials.
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The Library

Why doesn't the music show up when I click on a song title?

You probably need to install or upgrade Scorch, the free softwarefrom Sibelius Software. If you use Windows, you will be invited to install or upgrade Scorch automatically, if you need to do so. If you use Macs, Opera or Netscape you can install Scorch by clicking here
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I tried to get the score to "play" but I couldn't hear anything.

The "play" controls are on the Scorch toolbar, and are operated exactly like those of a CD player or tape player. You can either start at the beginning of the song, or select a later point with the mouse. However, make sure that your computer's sound system is turned on first... You can select the sound system you want to use by clicking on the "Music Notes" button on the Scorch toolbar: your computer may have more than one system installed.

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I tried to follow the score, but scrolling up and down left lines on the music.

Use the "up" or "down" arrows on the keyboard, instead of the mouse. Scorch turns the pages for you automatically.
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I tried to print a free page or pages and failed.

Click the printer icon on the Scorch toolbar, NOT "print" on the browser toolbar, or "print" from the File menu.
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I transposed the music up and down a few times and ended up with crazy accidentals.

To return to the original key, click "refresh" or "reload" on your browser's toolbar. Problems with accidentals can arise because Scorch cannot read your mind about "enharmonic" changes; e.g. when it is more appropriate to write in 4 or 5 flats rather than 8 or 7 sharps. Note that Scorch gives you alternative options for transpositions of a half-step/semitone/minor second, which sometimes helps. The surest way to transpose to the required pitch is to return to the original key, and then transpose in no more than 2 steps, possibly via an "open" key (C major or A minor).
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I transposed the music, but some of the text is now hidden by the notes.

All titles have a high and low key option. It is best to select the most appropriate option and then move the notes by only 1 or 2 semitones. Scorch adjusts most elements of notation to the new pitch, but if large shifts are made, words may become hidden by stems of notes which have to change direction or slurs which "flip over" to suit the revised notation.
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Why can't the music on the screen be bigger?

The on-screen score size has been chosen to make it possible to see a complete page of music on a 17-inch monitor with a resolution of 1024X628. A larger score size would require constant use of the scroll bar.
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Printing

I tried to add a score to the Shopping Basket, but the basket remained empty.

The Shopping Basket requires "cookies" to be enabled on your computer. They store information for later use. (Some people disable them as an anti-virus measure, but you can opt to approve cookies individually if you wish and the Shopping Basket won't work without them) If you have set your Internet Privacy/Security level to "High", or if you have certain types of virus protection or Firewall installed, your computer may not be able to accept messages from our server and the Shopping Basket won't fill. Reduce the privacy level to Medium or Low, and try disabling anti-virus or Firewall software (such as software designed to prevent "Pop-Ups".) You should be able to change the settings to maintain your protection at the same time as accepting messages from our server; please consult the information that came with the software in use.
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I tried to print a score, but the music looks funny.

Schubertline uses a music font called Opus, which is automatically installed with Scorch. If the notes look funny, Scorch cannot be correctly installed. Delete or un-install it and try downloading again. You can get advice about this by going to our Problems with Printing page, which can be accessed via "Library and Scorchsop".
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I purchased a complete score, but I couldn't get the music to print.

After payment, you are taken to a "How to Print" page. You only get one chance to print your score, as it is not possible to save the score on your hard disk. Make sure you click the "print" icon on the Scorch toolbar - not "print" on your browser. Don't "cancel" printing: you may lose the chance to print. If you follow the instructions the score will print, but if you encounter problems (for example, your browser may run out of memory, or your browser may crash) contact us and we will help.
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Do I have to print my scores right away, or can I do it later?

If you want to defer printing until later, you can leave scores in your "shopping basket" until your next visit to Schubertline. Even if you re-start your computer or re-open your browser, your purchases remain in your shopping basket until you remove them from the basket or pay for them. Once you have paid for them, however, you ought to proceed to printing without interruption. It is not possible to "save" scores.
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I purchased a transposed version, but the one presented for final printing was in a different key.

Transposition is remembered at the checkout provided "cookies" are enabled on your computer. (Some people disable them as an anti-virus measure.) To check if cookies are enabled, click here. Transposition is cumulative, and if you make more than 2 or 3 transposition changes before adding the song to your shopping basket, there is a possibility that Scorch will misunderstand your requirements. However, you can still make final changes to the transposition after paying for the score, and you are asked to check that the score is in the required key before clicking on "print".
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My browser crashed or ran out of memory before I had finished printing the scores I had bought.

Don't put more than 4 scores into a single shopping basket. If you want to buy more, make another visit: it won't cost any more. You are advised to increase your browser's memory to at least 15MB in order to avoid difficulties with printing shopping baskets. (This problem particularly affects Mac OS 9 users with Internet Explorer or Opera: the default memory on older Macs is set too low to cope with more than one or two songs). If your browser crashes BEFORE you have paid for a score, simply re-open it and carry on from where you left off: your selected scores will still be in your shopping basket. If your browser crashes AFTER payment has been made, you may forfeit the opportunity to print the scores. Contact us for help.
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Why can't I save the score I purchased on my hard disk?

Schubertline scores are encrypted and cannot be saved or stored by any computer program for later re-printing. If you try to save the webpage, the music part of it will be blank. This is a copyright requirement.
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Where has the MIDI file that I purchased with the score gone to?

In the Schubertline setup, the MIDI file is embedded in the score file and cannot be "saved" on your hard disk. However, you can return to the MIDI file for free at any time by re-selecting the score from the Library. You can listen to it for free as many times as you want by going offline.
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Credit/Debit card payment

How do I know that my card details are secure?

Payments are handled by WorldPay plc (a division of the Royal Bank of Scotland), the largest online credit card payment bank in the UK. Schubertline never sees any of your card details, You are taken to WorldPay's secure website with its SSL server. All details are encrypted and cannot be read in transit. WorldPay sends you an immediate receipt and a transaction number for your payment, before returning you to the Schubertline website to print your scores.
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How do I get a refund if I experience problems?

Use "Contact Us" to send us an email quoting your WorldPay transaction number and telling us what happened.
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Other Resources

How can I add or amend an entry to the Singing Teachers' Directory?

Select "Other Resources: submit a Directory entry".
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