The vision for digitalizing Partitura Mundi originated with its author, architect Dimitar Varbanov. In the late 1970s, well before the Internet’s widespread adoption, he anticipated, in several talks and notes, the potential of using digital technologies in the sciences and arts.
The first printed edition of Partitura Mundi was delayed considerably–published 40 years after the final completion of the original, and this delay coincided with remarkable advances in communication technologies. As discussions about the work continued among those familiar with its content, the need for an electronic version and subsequent digital adaptation became increasingly apparent. Engineer Julian Simeonov, who created the prepress project and supervised the first printing of the book, played a key role in these discussions.
A crucial step in the digitalization process was the English translation, completed by Professor Blagovest Mollov from Sofia University “Kliment Ohridski.”
The development of an online platform has been entrusted to Nikolay Petrov, a data engineer with international IT experience. The digital version of Partitura Mundi will be launched in English and in Bulgarian, with the possibility of adding other languages in the future.
Advantages of Digital Format
A digital presentation significantly enhances Partitura Mundi’s capabilities beyond its print version. While the printed book is impressive in scale and unconventional in nature, it faces inherent limitations:
- Physical space constraints for historical events
- Inability to make corrections or updates
- Fixed content that cannot be expanded upon
The digital format overcomes these limitations and additionally offers:
- Dynamic comparisons across different historical periods
- Ability to juxtapose historical developments across different coutries and artistic disciplines
- Flexible viewing options for both comprehensive and focused historical analysis
- Immediate access to detailed information about specific events
Evolution of Purpose
The original goal of Paritutra Mundi was not to provide comprehensive information about historical events. Instead, the idea was to present history visually on a single plane using graphic forms and concise language. The primary focus was event synchronization, assuming users would either possess prior historical knowledge or would independently research further details about specific events. A digital version will allow users to simultaneously visualize historical events in their broader context and access detailed information about each occurrence.
This transformation positions Partitura Mundi as both an educational tool and a research platform for exploring the interconnected nature of world history and cultural development.