There are some excellent musicians who are happy to release their music to the public, free of charge. I plan to mention a few through the next few days.

If you’re fond of folk music, there is some excellent music available at the Community Music Project. The performers come from varied backgrounds, some of which make themselves felt in the music. One is of the Bahá’í faith, for example. In general, a clear devotion to nature is transparently evident in the songs. Their vocal talents are often impressive, but the best way to listen to their albums is with the tolerance one shows for a younger sibling. That is their aim, after all: to expand our notions of community and family in a digital age.

Or, if your taste is for something more classical, the Fulda Symphonic Orchestra is worth a look. They are an orchestra of over 100 musicians (mostly amateur). They perform annually for charity, and publish their music online. You can listen to four years of their performances (2000-2003).