| Pattern / Page | Location | Error | Correction | |----------------|-----------|-------|-------------| | Fish Mola (p. 12) | Step 4, cutting diagram | The dorsal fin cutout shape is shown reversed (mirror image). | Use the corrected template available at [URL/QR code]; or cut as a mirror of the printed shape. | | Bird Mola (p. 18) | Materials list | Missing black fabric for the eye detail. | Add 2" × 2" black cotton. Eye appliqué requires black layer under top orange layer. | | Turtle Mola (p. 24) | Stitch diagram | Arrow indicating "blind hem stitch" points to wrong edge. | Stitch should catch the folded edge of the top layer only; corrected diagram online. | | Geometric Border (p. 31) | Color key | Colors swapped for olive green and dark brown. | Olive = Layer 2; Dark Brown = Layer 3 (the opposite of printed key). |
For the first printing and some Kickstarter fulfillment copies, minor component issues were noted:
As of 2025, the Mola Errata List has evolved. It is no longer just a static list of "don’ts." A group of 3D modelers at the University of Zurich are turning it into an open-source digital sculpting guide. Meanwhile, a children’s book publisher was recently forced to recall a title because their sunfish illustration violated Erratum #1 and #3.
The list has also expanded to cover the other sunfish species (Mola alexandrini and Mola tecta, the Hoodwinker Sunfish). Each has its own errata profile.
This is a catastrophic error: thread tension fails, and the bobbin thread loops into a tangled “nest” on the reverse. While many molas have messy backs, a true bird’s nest that distorts the front fabric’s flatness is an automatic reject for serious collections.
A turtle motif must have an uncracked, geometric shell. If the appliqué lines show a "crack" (deliberate or accidental) in the shell design, it symbolizes a fractured journey to the afterlife. These are frequently sold as "practice molas" but appear on every Errata List as culturally non-functional.
The Common Error: Giving the sunfish a distinct brow ridge or a deeply set, angry eye. Why It Happens: Artists confuse the lateral line canals (sensory pits) on the sunfish’s face for muscular ridges. The Correction: The sunfish’s eye is large and sits relatively flush with the contour of the head. The bumps on its face are sensory, not skeletal. Unless you are illustrating a diagram of the lateral line system, omit the brow.
Have you found a sunfish illustration that violates the Mola Errata List? Consider it your duty to file a gentle correction.
A MOLA Errata List is a standardized document created by orchestra librarians to record and correct errors found in musical scores and parts. MOLA (Major Orchestra Librarians’ Association) maintains a private database of nearly 900 titles to save ensembles from wasting rehearsal time on "wrong notes" and formatting bugs. 📋 Formatting the Errata List
A professional errata list must be organized so that musicians can find their specific correction in seconds. Use the following hierarchy for your guide:
Header Info: Include the Title, Composer, Edition (e.g., Bärenreiter, Luck’s), and Source of the errata.
Instrument: Group corrections by instrument family (Woodwinds, Brass, Percussion, Strings).
Location: Use the Movement, Rehearsal Letter/Number, Measure, and Beat.
Specifics: State the exact error (e.g., "Violin I, Mvt II, m. 45, beat 3: natural should be 🛠️ Core Steps for Drafting
Identify the Source: Determine if you are comparing the parts against the Full Score, a Critical Edition, or a Manuscript.
Compare Score to Parts: Discrepancies often occur between the conductor’s score and the individual player's stand.
Prioritize "Rehearsal Stoppers": Focus on errors that would stop the music, such as: Missing bars or incorrect measure counts in rests. Missing or incorrect clef/key signature changes. Conflicting dynamics or articulations across sections.
Verification: Have a second person (or a professional proofreader) verify the correction before it is distributed to the orchestra. 💡 Professional Best Practices
Standard Notation: Use absolute terms (e.g., "Measure 10" rather than "10 bars after A") to avoid confusion if rehearsal letters differ between editions.
Language Match: The errata list should typically be in the same language as the score’s markings (e.g., Italian for dynamics, English/German for performance instructions).
Distribution: For major errors, librarians should physically mark the parts before rehearsal. For minor ones, distributing a printed list for players to fix themselves is acceptable.
🔗 You can find more detailed preparation standards on the MOLA Public Resources page or the MOLA Guidelines for Music Preparation available in multiple languages. About - MOLA - Major Orchestra Librarians' Association
MOLA Errata List is a vital database maintained by the Major Orchestra Librarians' Association (MOLA)
. It serves as a centralized resource for performance librarians to identify and correct errors in published orchestral scores and parts. Purpose and Utility Rehearsal Efficiency:
By correcting errors before a set goes on the stands, librarians save expensive ensemble rehearsal time that would otherwise be spent identifying discrepancies between parts. Error Volume:
Even standard repertoire can contain significant mistakes; for example, some works have been noted to contain between 750 to 1,000 errors requiring correction in both scores and parts. Global Collaboration:
The list allows for a global pooling of information, where librarians from member orchestras share findings to support the broader library professional community. kennethwoods.net Access and Contributions Online Database: Members can search the errata database directly through the MOLA website Submissions: Mola Errata List
Members are encouraged to submit new errata directly through the site, including the ability to upload PDFs for review by the Errata Committee New additions to the database are frequently highlighted in , MOLA’s quarterly newsletter. or find the errata for a particular composer FAQs - MOLA - Major Orchestra Librarians' Association
MOLA Errata List —maintained by the Major Orchestra Librarians' Association (MOLA)
—is a critical professional resource that documents thousands of musical errors found in printed orchestral scores and parts. Rather than being a single document, it is a vast, evolving database containing over 1,000 specific lists that help librarians and conductors correct inaccuracies before they reach the rehearsal stage. The Role of MOLA Errata Lists
Music publication is notoriously prone to human error. Even "definitive" editions of masterpieces, such as Beethoven’s symphonies, often contain incorrect notes, missing articulations, or rhythmic discrepancies. In a professional setting, these errors are more than just academic concerns—they can waste expensive rehearsal time and disrupt the creative flow of a conductor and ensemble. Key aspects of the MOLA Errata List include: Detailed Cataloging
: Each entry typically identifies the composer, work, movement, measure number, and instrument, followed by the specific correction (e.g., "F-flat s/r F-natural"). Urgency Codes
: Lists often use status codes to denote priority, such as "Critical" (would stop a rehearsal) or "Necessary" (should be done prior to performance). Global Pooling of Information : The database functions as a shared repository for MOLA members
worldwide, allowing a librarian in London to benefit from corrections discovered by a peer in New York. Importance in Performance Librarianship
For the orchestra librarian, the MOLA database is a tool for "editorial triage". By consulting these lists, a librarian can proactively mark corrections into a set of rented or owned parts, ensuring the musicians have the most accurate material possible.
While many individual errata lists are available through scholarly journals like the Journal of the Conductors Guild or specialized groups like the Orchestra Librarians Information (OLI)
, the MOLA database remains the most comprehensive centralized resource for the profession. during the part-preparation process? About - MOLA - Major Orchestra Librarians' Association
The air in the scriptorium smelled of ozone, old vellum, and the distinct, metallic tang of a reality that had been edited too many times.
Jory wiped the ink from his fingers—ink that was less pigment and more liquefied shadow—and stared at the ledger before him. The book was bound in the skin of a beast that no longer existed, a creature erased from the timeline three centuries ago. On the cover, embossed in fading gold leaf, were the words: Mola Errata List.
"Mola" was an ancient word, a remnant of the First Language. It translated roughly to "millstone," but in the context of the Guild of Rectifiers, it meant "The Weight."
Jory was a Third-Class Rectifier. His job was simple: the universe made mistakes, and he corrected them. He checked the List.
"Item 4,091," Jory muttered, reading the spidery handwriting that had manifested on the page that morning. "Location: The Kingdom of Orey. Error: The sun failed to rise. Correction: Insert Class-4 Stellar Ignition agent."
He sighed, dipping his quill into the shadow-ink. He ticked the box. Outside the high window of the tower, the sky flickered. For a brief second, the darkness turned a bruised purple, then blinding white. A new sun roared into existence over Orey.
Down in the manuscript, a new line of text bled through the parchment, fresh and wet.
Result: Successful. Crops incinerated. Adjusting.
Jory frowned. "Incinerated?" He tapped the page. "That wasn't supposed to happen."
The ink swirled, forming a response that hadn't been there a second ago. Correction to the Correction: The sun was positioned 0.04 degrees too close. Error acknowledged.
This was the danger of the Mola Errata List. It wasn't just a log; it was a conversation with a sentient, bureaucratic universe. And the universe was a terrible editor.
"Jory," a voice cracked from the doorway. It was Elara, an Apprentice, her face pale. "We have a bleed-over in Sector 7."
Jory didn't look up. "Is it the dragons again? I told them to remove the wingspan parameters."
"No, sir. It’s a... narrative bleed. Someone is editing the List."
Jory froze. The quill dripped a blob of darkness onto the floor, where it hissed and ate through the stone. Only the Grand Rectifiers could write on the List. To edit the List itself was to put a knife to the throat of causality.
He stood up, his chair scraping loudly against the silence. "Show me." | Pattern / Page | Location | Error
They ran through the corridors of the Spire, past shelves containing the biographies of every soul who had ever lived—most of them dusty, some of them smoldering. When they reached the Observation Deck, Jory looked down at the world below.
It was... wrong.
A mountain range in the north had been replaced by a vast, bottomless ocean. In the south
In the quiet, dust-moted sanctuary of the Metropolitan Symphony library, Elias Vance
was a king of paper and ink. As a performance librarian, his job wasn’t just to organize scores—it was to ensure they were actually playable. On his desk lay the MOLA Errata List, a sacred text compiled by the Major Orchestra Librarians' Association (MOLA).
To the uninitiated, the list looked like a dry spreadsheet of typos: Piccolo, m. 132, beat 2: add duration dot. To Elias, it was a map through a minefield.
The orchestra was preparing for a premiere of a rediscovered 1950s suite. The conductor, a man whose temper was as legendary as his baton technique, was already on edge. Elias opened the MOLA Errata List for the piece, his eyes scanning for the "ghost notes"—errors etched into the original plates decades ago that had never been fixed. "Found you," Elias whispered.
Measure 202. The first violins had an E-flat that, according to MOLA’s collective wisdom, should have been an F. If he didn’t mark it now, the rehearsal would grind to a screeching halt tomorrow morning. The conductor would bark, the concertmaster would argue, and twenty minutes of expensive rehearsal time would vanish into the air.
He spent the evening hunched over the desks, a pencil his only weapon. He wasn't just fixing a score; he was preserving the legacy of the music. Every "duration dot" added to a rest and every accidental corrected was a silent contribution to the harmony of the coming night.
The next morning, as the first chord of the suite filled the hall, Elias sat in the back, watching. When measure 202 arrived, the violins soared through a perfect, resonant F. The conductor didn't stop. He didn't even look up.
Elias smiled. In the world of the MOLA Errata List, silence from the podium was the highest form of praise.
Here are some feature ideas for a "Mola Errata List" application:
Core Features
User Management
Errata List Management
Notifications and Communication
Analytics and Insights
Integrations
Miscellaneous
The MOLA Errata List is a resource maintained by the Major Orchestra Librarians' Association (MOLA) to document and correct errors in published orchestral scores and parts. These lists are vital for orchestral librarians and conductors to ensure that the music being performed is accurate and matches the composer's original intent. Common corrections found in these lists include:
Pitch and Rhythm: Fixing wrong notes or incorrect durations in specific instrument parts.
Dynamics and Articulation: Adding missing markings (like p, f, or accents) or removing misplaced ones.
Rehearsal Markers: Correcting rehearsal numbers or letters to ensure the conductor and orchestra are synchronized.
Formatting: Addressing discrepancies between the full conductor's score and the individual parts given to players.
For example, the MOLA errata for Darius Milhaud's La Création du monde includes corrections like adding missing rests in the percussion ("Batterie") section and inserting rehearsal numbers where they were omitted by the publisher, Max Eschig.
If you are looking for a specific piece of music, I can help you find the relevant corrections if you provide the composer and title. As of 2025, the Mola Errata List has evolved
The MOLA Errata List (or Database) is a comprehensive catalog of corrections for orchestral scores and parts, maintained by the Major Orchestra Librarians' Association (MOLA). It is a vital tool used by professional orchestra librarians to ensure musical accuracy and save time during rehearsals by addressing errors before musicians ever see the music. Key Features of the MOLA Errata Database
Comprehensive Coverage: The catalog includes errata for approximately 900 titles, ranging from standard repertoire like Beethoven symphonies to modern works.
Broad Scope of Corrections: Beyond wrong notes, MOLA defines "errata" as anything that hinders a rehearsal, including bad page turns, poor fonts, inappropriate clefs, or discrepancies in "Frankenstein sets" (mismatched editions).
Standardised Reporting: Corrections are typically organized by instrument, rehearsal figure, measure number, and beat to provide clear, actionable instructions for librarians.
Collaborative Maintenance: The database is overseen by an Errata Committee, which sets standards for submission and updates the membership when new lists are available. Access and Use
Restricted Access: The full errata database is generally a benefit reserved for MOLA members. Non-members may need to consult a MOLA librarian to access specific lists.
Integration with Other Tools: MOLA often works in conjunction with other resources, such as the Daniels' Orchestral Music database, to provide a complete picture of a work's performance requirements. Policies and Bylaws - MOLA
The MOLA Errata List is a legendary internal database maintained by the Major Orchestra Librarians' Association (MOLA). It serves as a collective "defense system" for the world’s elite performance libraries against the thousands of errors found in printed music. Why It Matters
Classical scores, even those from prestigious publishers, are often riddled with "ghost notes," missing rests, or incorrect pitches. For an orchestra, discovering these errors during a rehearsal is a disaster—it wastes the time of 100 expensive musicians. Key Features of the List
Collective Intelligence: Librarians from major orchestras (like the Berlin Philharmonic or Metropolitan Opera) contribute corrections they have verified during actual performances.
Detailed Surgical Fixes: Entries often include instructions such as "Remove ink splotch below dotted D" or "Add rehearsal ‘I’ to measure 176".
Efficiency: It allows a librarian to fix a piece of music before the first rehearsal, ensuring the conductor doesn't have to stop the music to argue about a wrong note. Notable Examples Typical "stories" found in these errata lists include:
The "Ghost Note": A speck of dust in the original printing process that looks like a staccato dot, causing generations of oboists to play a note short when it should be long.
Transposition Errors: Entire sections of music printed in the wrong key, which can cause a sudden, jarring dissonance in a famous symphony.
Shostakovich Corrections: Famous for being complex, his Symphony No. 9 has known errata where entire notes (like a Cello E-flat) must be manually changed by the librarian.
💡 The Librarian's "Invisible" Job: Performance librarians often spend hundreds of hours per season marking these corrections into every individual player's part by hand to ensure a "clean" performance.
If you'd like to dive deeper into how orchestras prepare for a specific piece, or if you want to see more examples of famous musical errors, just let me know! American Salute - Wind Repertory Project
The MOLA Errata List is a critical catalog of corrections for orchestral scores and parts maintained by the Major Orchestra Librarians’ Association (MOLA). This report outlines the structure and purpose of these lists, which save ensembles significant rehearsal time by identifying errors in printed music before they reach the stage. Overview of MOLA Errata Lists
Purpose: To document discrepancies between the full score and individual instrumental parts, as well as general errors in notation, dynamics, and articulations.
Database Scope: The catalog contains approximately 900 titles, ranging from major symphonic works to minor repertoire.
Access: While some sample lists are available publicly through platforms like IMSLP, the full database is typically a member-only resource used by professional performance librarians. Standard Report Structure
A typical MOLA Errata report follows a structured format to ensure clarity for musicians and librarians: Description Work Info
Composer, Title, Original Publisher, and Reprint Publisher (if applicable). Instrument
The specific part requiring the correction (e.g., "Horn II", "Violin I"). Location
Defined by Movement, Rehearsal Letter/Number, Bar (measure), and Beat. Error
Description of the original mistake (e.g., "missing accent", "wrong pitch", "missing '63'"). Correction The intended musical marking or instruction (e.g., "Add ", "Corrected pitch is Contribution and Governance