Mola Errata List Upd

A MOLA Errata List is a specialized document or database maintained by the Major Orchestra Librarians’ Association (MOLA) that identifies and corrects errors in published musical scores and performance parts. These lists are essential tools for orchestra librarians, as they ensure that performances remain faithful to the composer's intentions by resolving inconsistencies before they reach the stage. The Role of MOLA Errata Lists

Even the most famous and frequently performed works, such as Beethoven’s symphonies, contain printing errors. These inaccuracies can include:

Wrong notes or rhythms: Misprints that can disrupt the harmony or tempo of a piece.

Missing or incorrect dynamics: Errors in volume or articulation markings that affect the emotional delivery of the performance.

Discrepancies between scores and parts: Situations where the conductor's score does not match what is printed on the musicians' individual stands.

By using these lists, librarians can save significant rehearsal time—potentially hundreds of hours for complex sets—by making corrections in advance rather than addressing them during expensive ensemble time. Key Features of a MOLA Errata List

The lists are highly detailed and structured for quick reference. They typically categorize errors by:

Instrument: Specifying which musician's part needs the update (e.g., 1st Violin, Bassoon II).

Location: Precise markers including rehearsal figures, measure numbers, and specific beats.

Publisher: Identifying which specific edition or reprint (e.g., International Music Company, G. Schirmer) contains the error. Accessibility and Community Effort

The MOLA Errata Database currently catalogs approximately 900 titles. While many resources are reserved for MOLA members, some individual lists, such as the errata for Manuel de Falla’s The Three-Cornered Hat, are occasionally shared through public repositories like IMSLP. Mola Errata List

Members can also submit new corrections or additions through the MOLA Errata Committee to ensure the database remains a living document that grows with the collective knowledge of library professionals worldwide. About - MOLA - Major Orchestra Librarians' Association

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

Mola Errata List: A Comprehensive Guide to Common Mistakes

The Mola genus, comprising the ocean sunfishes, is a group of fascinating marine animals that have garnered significant attention in recent years. However, despite their popularity, there are numerous errors and misconceptions surrounding these creatures. In this article, we will provide a comprehensive Mola errata list, highlighting common mistakes and correcting them with accurate information. A MOLA Errata List is a specialized document

Introduction to Mola

Before diving into the errata list, it's essential to have a basic understanding of the Mola genus. Mola is a genus of ocean sunfishes, consisting of three species: Mola mola (ocean sunfish), Mola alexandrini (southern ocean sunfish), and Mola tecta (Hoodwinker sunfish). These fish are known for their unique appearance, with a flattened body and large size, reaching up to 3 meters (10 feet) in length.

Mola Errata List

The following list highlights common mistakes and misconceptions about Mola:

  1. Myth: Mola mola is the largest fish in the world

Reality: While Mola mola can grow up to 3 meters (10 feet) in length and weigh up to 2,300 kilograms (5,070 pounds), it is not the largest fish in the world. The whale shark (Rhincodon typus) holds that title, reaching lengths of up to 20 meters (66 feet).

  1. Error: Mola species are aggressive towards humans

Reality: Mola species are generally harmless to humans. They are known to be slow-moving and curious, often approaching divers and snorkelers. However, they can cause injuries with their sharp fins or by bumping into them.

  1. Misconception: Mola are poisonous

Reality: There is no scientific evidence to support the claim that Mola species are poisonous. While some species of sunfish may have a mildly toxic flesh, Mola species are considered safe for consumption.

  1. Mistake: Mola only feed on jellyfish

Reality: While jellyfish are a significant component of Mola's diet, they also feed on other organisms, including salps, ctenophores, and small fish.

  1. Falsehood: Mola are solitary animals

Reality: Mola species are often found in small groups, and some individuals have been observed swimming together in large aggregations.

  1. Inaccuracy: Mola can dive to great depths

Reality: While Mola species can dive to depths of up to 700 meters (2,300 feet), they typically stay in the epipelagic zone, usually between 10-100 meters (30-330 feet) deep. Myth: Mola mola is the largest fish in the world

Conclusion

The Mola errata list highlights the importance of accurate information and dispels common misconceptions about these fascinating creatures. By understanding the facts about Mola species, we can promote conservation efforts and appreciate these incredible animals. As we continue to learn more about the Mola genus, it's essential to be aware of the potential for errors and to seek credible sources of information.

Sources:

By spreading accurate information and promoting a better understanding of Mola species, we can contribute to their conservation and protection.

Erratum #1: The Phantom Tail Fin

The Common Error: Depicting the Mola mola with a large, crescent-shaped tail fin (like a tuna or a mackerel). Why It Happens: Early naturalists, including some 18th-century Dutch painters, assumed the fish’s stubby back end was a result of damage, so they "restored" a forked tail. The Correction (Per the Errata List): The sunfish has no tail. Instead, it has a clavus—a scalloped, rudder-like structure formed by the fusion of dorsal and anal fin rays. It looks less like a fin and more like a flattened, fringed baseball mitt. If your illustration has a distinct, separate lobe for a tail, you have failed the Mola Errata List.

Example Entries

| Errata ID | Title | Version / Section | Type | Reported Date | Impact | Proposed Correction | Status | |---|---:|---|---|---:|---|---|---| | MOLA-ERR-001 | Incorrect example for array indexing | 1.2 / 4.3.1 | Bug | 2026-03-15 | High — causes runtime misinterpretation | Change example index from 1..n to 0..n-1 and add note about zero-based indexing. | Implemented | | MOLA-ERR-002 | Ambiguous definition of "merge" operation | 1.2 / 7.1 | Ambiguity | 2026-03-20 | Medium — different implementations behave differently | Clarify merge semantics: define precedence, conflict resolution rules, and order of application. | Proposed | | MOLA-ERR-003 | Typo: "commas" -> "colons" in grammar | 1.1 / Appendix A | Typo | 2026-02-02 | Low — documentation only | Replace "commas" with "colons" in grammar production G-12. | Accepted |

The Origin Story: Who Wrote the Mola Errata List?

The list does not have a single author. It was a collaborative "rage-compilation" on the now-defunct Gulf of Maine Science Illustration Forum around 2012. The primary contributor was a biological illustrator known only by the handle Clavus_Zero, who posted a 5,000-word breakdown titled "Every Sunfish You Have Ever Drawn is Wrong."

Clavus_Zero compared 75 images of Mola mola from Wikipedia, stock photo sites, and encyclopedias. They found that 92% contained at least one major anatomical error. The post went viral within niche natural history circles, and the term Mola Errata List was born. It has since been maintained by the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists (ASIH) as an unofficial reference for science illustrators.

How to Build Your Own Mola Errata List for Research

No single official "Mola Errata List" is published by the Guna General Congress. Instead, savvy collectors maintain their own. To start yours:

  1. Photograph the reverse. Many errata are only visible from the back (loose threads, tension errors).
  2. Measure stitch density. Count zigzags per inch. Fewer than 10 is an errata (tourist grade). Over 25 is masterwork.
  3. Apply bleed test. Dab a wet white cloth on the red fabric. If color transfers, note PR-14 on your list.
  4. Consult iconography guides. Buy a copy of Mola: Cuna Life Stories and Art by Marcilene Wittmer. Compare animal shapes against her plates. Any deviation is a Cultural Errata.

How to Use the Mola Errata List for Your Own Work

If you are an artist preparing to illustrate Mola mola, treat the Errata List as your pre-flight checklist.

  1. Source Live Reference: The list explicitly warns against using taxidermied specimens. Use video of live sunfish from the Monterey Bay Aquarium or the wild.
  2. The Clavus Check: Before inking, circle the posterior end. Do you have a forked tail? Erase it. Do you have a rounded, bumpy clavus with 8-12 distinct ossicles? Keep it.
  3. Mouth Neutrality: Draw the mouth closed. The line of the mouth should be straight or slightly downturned. Add no teeth (they are fused into a beak-like plate, but invisible from the outside).
  4. Parasite Inclusion: The list actually encourages artists to add a single Pennella worm or a sea lice cluster to be scientifically honest. "A clean sunfish is a sterile fantasy."
  5. Scale Check: The sunfish is massive. Its dorsal fin is proportionally tall (often as high as the fish is long). Do not shrink the fin for aesthetic balance.

Cleaner Fish

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