Music Preserved Archive

Obtaining copies of sound recordings from the Music Preserved Archive / John RT Davies Collection

Information about the University of York Sound Archives (UYSA) can be found on the Department of Music's web pages. This page concerns how copies of this material can be acquired for study.

Copies of recordings in the University of York Sound Archives can be obtained in a number of different ways:

  • directly through the University
  • through external sound engineers
  • or, in certain circumstances (outlined below), using your own transfer equipment

Copyright and other rights subsisting in recordings

Please note that because copyright and other rights subsist in many of the recordings, all copies are supplied for private study only; further use of copies of recordings in the UYSA may not be made without prior written permission from the UYSA. Please contact the Borthwick Institute for Archives, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, or email us at bihr500@york.ac.uk.

Where other use is contemplated, this must be discussed and agreed with UYSA either at the time of the order for the copy, or subsequently. Please note that a fee may be applied if the copy is intended for publication or other commercial use.

Requests for copies of recordings in the Music Preserved Archive

These are normally handled through a sound engineer external to the University. Fees and charges for this work are entirely the responsibility of the sound engineer, as is the quality of the recording.

Requests for copies of recordings in the John RT Davies Collection

These may obtained directly from the University, through an external engineer, or, in certain circumstances, through engineers using their own transfer equipment on university premises. To obtain transfers through an engineer, please contact the engineer direct:

To obtain transfers directly from the University please contact the Borthwick Institute for Archives, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, or email us at bihr500@york.ac.uk.

Where an engineer would like to make transfers for himself/herself on the University premises, this must be discussed and agreed with UYSA. Please contact the Borthwick for further details.

Requests for copies of recordings that are not in UYSA

The University can also make copies of recordings not in the Sound Archives. Please contact the Borthwick for further details.

University Fees

  • £50.00 per hour where the University creates the copy
  • £30.00 per hour to use your own equipment on the University's premises

VAT will be added at the appropriate rate, as will postage and packing where applicable.

All fees are calculated on the time required to make a transfer, not the length of the original recording. A further fee may be applied if the copy is intended for publication or other commercial use.