How new music was spread in the medieval times?

Question

I live in the 16th at Paris and a new symphony was created in Vienna. How can I hear it and know about it?

In: 62

Answer 1

You could buy sheet music, at least by the 18th century. Georg Philipp Telemann was perhaps the most prolific composer ever, and he self-published and sold his works, including to fellow composers, including some better known today like Handel and Bach. Selling music for a “mass market” of sorts may have been Telemann’s innovation.

How would you know what music to buy? You could buy just by name. You could also read which music was good, maybe in papers and maybe in letters from friend. Or you might hear it somewhere and then acquire the sheet music to play yourself or have played for you by your own musicians.