How do I access purchased music after cancelling Apple Music subscription?

Does everyone know that if you cancel an Apple Music subscription you lose access to all music in your library, including songs that you have previously purchased? I foolishly accepted a free trial of Apple Music. When I cancelled it at the end of the trial period, all of the music in my library had disappeared. When I contacted Apple, I was told that I need an Apple Music subscription to access it. Should this not be something Apple tells customers before they subscribe to Apple Music? I invested considerable money purchasing music over the years; I will not pay $132 per year to access music that I have already paid for.

[Re-Titled by Moderator]