Have lost original iTunes music files on my MacBook Air

Hi, can someone help?
My purchased music files are no more aviailible on my mac, probably i have deleted them. Although on iTunes they are indicated under "purchased" but unfortunately I cannot access them. The list of music albums and songs still is availible, and if i want to activate one of songs, i receive the information, that the file could not be found, would i like to locate it? But when i go to "locate", the file appears to be empty at the end. Have i lost all my music files without a possibility to recover them? Any suggestions?
Appreciating your suggestions.

iTunes: Finding lost media and downloads - http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1408
The easiest way to get back missing items? Restore your whole hard drive with all your irreplaceable things like photos in about 20 minutes from the backup clone you make on a regular basis because you know for sure one day your drive will stop functioning, probably without warning.
Downloading (using iOS or computer) past purchases from the App Store, iBookstore, and iTunes Store - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht2519 - enabled with iTunes 10.3 and newer; not all media formats are available in all countries (see: iTunes in the Cloud, iTunes Match, and iTunes Radio availability by country - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5085); apps, books (not audiobooks), music, t.v. shows, and movies (some - not all studios have permitted this). Downloading previously purchased movies and TV shows requires iTunes 10.6 or later. Discontinued items not available. For items not included in the iCloud list (e.g., ringtones, audiobooks), or locations or computer systems where iCloud is not (yet?) available, you only get one download per fee paid. Apple recommends, "You always back up your iTunes library in the event that a purchased item is no longer available on the iTunes Store," (http://support.apple.com/kb/ht2519).
Additional tip at https://discussions.apple.com/message/24176756
Select the iTunes Store on the left side of iTunes if you have the sidebar displayed, or with the button at the top right.
Click on Purchased on the right side under Quick Links.
You can re-download your available previous purchases.

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rergm
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Copying from iPod to Computer threads...
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=5044027&#5044027
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=893334&tstart=0
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=797432&#797432
Also these useful internet articles...
http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/articles/comments/copying-music-from-ipod-to-co mputer/
http://www.engadget.com/2004/11/02/how-to-get-music-off-your-ipod/
http://playlistmag.com/secrets/2006/12/twowaystreet20/index.php
http://playlistmag.com/help/2005/01/2waystreet/
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Have lost original iTunes music files on my MacBook Air

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