Music: By Subject Subject Guide
Overview
Musical Theatre
Books about Musical Theatre General and history, ML 1711, ML 2054; production, MT 955; plots, MT 95; scripts, ML 48-50; singing and voice culture, MT 820- (General Stacks)
Encyclopedias: Ref ML 102 .M88; Bibliographies: Ref ML 128 .M78 (Reference)
The Musical: a Research and Information Guide ML 128 .M78 E84 2004
Bibliography mostly of books and articles about music theatre and film musicals, shows and their creators, performers, etc.
Details
American Song: The Complete Musical Theatre Companion and Complete Companion to Tin Pan Alley Song Ref ML 128 .M78 B6 1996
Basic information on 4800 American musicals-Broadway, off-Broadway, and off-off-Broadway, from 1877 to 1995. Vol. 3 lists pop and show songs by songwriter and year. Indexes to song titles and collaborators. Details
Broadway Musicals, 1943-2004 Ref ML 102 .M88 S74 2006
Information on 772 musicals, including casts and credits of pre-Broadway, Broadway, and post-Broadway productions. Appendix lists over 2000 additional shows that did not run on Broadway (or otherwise did not meet the editor's criteria for Broadway musicals). Personnel and song indexes.
Details
Encyclopedia of the Musical Theatre Ref ML 102 .M88 G3 2001
People and shows, with worklists for authors and composers. Details
Ganzl's Book of the Musical Theatre Ref MT 95 .G2 1989
Includes American and European productions. Gives background material, casts, and plots. Details
Musical Notes: A Practical Guide to Staffing and Staging Standards of the American Musical Theatre Ref MT 955 .L8 1986
Info on original productions: plot, songs, instrumentation, and casting requirements. Details
Musicals101.com A comprehensive musical theatre site with history, information on shows and people, reviews, essays, and special features. How to do a show, secure performance rights, etc. Lots of links and other useful information.
Details
The New Broadway Song Companion Ref ML 128. M78 D48 2009
Lists thousands of songs from over 300 Broadway musicals, indicating character, voice type, and song style.
Details
Back Stage: The Performing Arts Weekly Covers New York and the national show scene, with news, jobs, services, etc. In library in Current Periodicals; also online at http://www.backstage.com. (Some parts of the site are available only to members.) Details
IBDB: Internet Broadway Database Provides records of productions from the beginnings of New York theatre until today. Details include facts about pertinent people (producers, directors, actors, etc.) and interesting production statistics. Also includes lists of songs featured in shows. Details
Music Theatre International (MTI) Licensing agency for performance rights and rentals. Provides production information to aid producers and directors in selecting shows.
Sondheim Review Dedicated to work of Sondheim; related links.
Band
Books about Band(s) and Band Music General, ML 1300-1354; Pedagogy, MT 733; Conducting, MT 85 (General Stacks)
American School Band Directors Association Organization dedicated to the support and advancement of band programs in schools.
Bronco Marching Band Official Web site of the WMU Bronco Marching Band.
College Band Directors National Association "The members of the College Band Directors National Association are devoted to the teaching, performance, study and cultivation of music, with particular focus on the wind band medium."
Heritage Encyclopedia of Band Music Ref ML 128 .B23 R43x
Comprehensive encyclopedia of band music. Arranged by composer, with brief biographies and complete worklists. In two volumes plus a supplement. Details
Program Notes for Band Information on band composers and music, based upon the author's other books Band Music Notes (Ref MT 125 .S5 1979) and March Music Notes (Ref ML105 .S64 1986). Details
Chamber Music
Books about Chamber Music General, ML 1100-1165; Pedagogy, MT 728 (General Stacks)
Bibliographies: Ref ML 128 .C4 (Reference)
Cobbett's Cyclopedic Survey of Chamber Music Ref ML 1100 .C7 1963 with supplement
Surveys composers' chamber works with some analysis, with related articles.
The Literature of Chamber Music Ref ML 1100 .C73x 1997
A four-volume set of "program notes" on hundreds of chamber works. Details
Choral
Books about Choral Music Choral literature, ML 1500-1554; Conducting, MT 85; Sacred and church music, ML 2900-3275; Singing and voice culture, MT 820-949 (General Stacks)
Bibliographies of choral music: Ref ML 128 .C48 (Reference)
American Choral Directors Association
Choral Music: a Research and Information Guide Ref ML 128 .C48 S53 2002
Describes monographs, bibliographies, selected dissertations, worklists, journals (some articles), electronic databases, and websites on choruses and choral music in the Western tradition. Details
Choral Public Domain Library Over 2800 scores available free in PDF format. Lists other free sites.
Choral Repertoire Ref ML 128 .C48 S57 2009
Presents and discusses choral music of "the most significant composers from the Western Hemisphere throughout recorded history." With biographical information and descriptions of choral works, and lists of works of major composers.
Details
ChoralNet Large site devoted to choral music. Includes Choralist, ChoralTalk, ChoralAcademe, and many resources and links.
Chorus America Information and resources to strengthen choruses and increase appreciation of choral music in the U.S.
Conductor's Guide to Choral-Orchestral Works Ref ML 128 .C48 G7
Information on 20th century works: editions, forces required, performance issues, bibliography. Other volumes by Green (at this call number) are for the works of Bach, Haydn, and Mozart. Details
Cyber Hymnal Lyrics, scores, MIDI files, pictures, history, and other information on over 2,300 Christian hymns and gospel songs from many denominations.
Oxford Book of Carols Ref M 2065 .N48 1992
Many standard carols, with historical commentary.
Translations and Annotations of Choral Literature: Sacred Latin Texts Ref MT 883 .J34x 1988
Mass, requiem, other sacred texts.
Composers
Books about Composers Biographies, ML 410, alphabetical by composer; research guides and thematic catalogs, Ref ML 134.
Biographical Information Guide An in-depth guide to finding biographical information at WMU libraries with an extensive list of print and online sources.
Contemporary Composers Ref ML 390 .C66x
Good articles about a selected number of composers. Includes work lists and bibliographies. Details
Renaissance and Baroque Music Chronology: Composers Timelines of composers and music history, twelfth through eighteenth centuries. Links to other sites.
Research Guides and Bio-Bibliographies ML 134 in Music & Dance Library Reference
A good place to begin research. These have biographical information and list books, articles, and other writings about composers and their works. Some include recordings and other formats.
Thematic Catalogs ML 134 in Music and Dance Library Reference
These sources list a composer's works, often with the opening phrase of music, information on manuscript sources, published editions, and sometimes bibliography.
Contemporary and Computer Music
Books about Contemporary and Computer Music General (1900-present), ML 197; Electronic and computer music, ML 1092-1093, ML 1380 (General stacks)
Amazing Sounds E-zine covering current events in electronic, Ambient, New Instrumental, World, Electroacoustic, New Age, and other "alternative genres."
CCRMA (Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics) Information on activities, programs, research on computer applications, software, links.
Electronic and Computer Music: an Annotated Bibliography Ref ML 128 .E4 W53 1997
Electronic Music Foundation Information about electronic music; support and services for electronic musicians and artists.
International Society for Contemporary Music News and activities of this international organization promoting contemporary music.
New Music Connoisseur Home page of "magazine devoted to the contemporary music scene," published twice a year. Site includes reviews, a blog, and the "New Music Yellow Pages" with links to many sites related to contemporary music. Details
Copyright and Music Industry
Books about Copyright and the Music Industry Copyright, KF 3035; Music industry, ML 3790
Copyright Management Center Information and resources about copyright in the academic community, covering issues such as fair use and distance learning.
ASCAP Music Business Resource Guide Sources of information on copyright and licensing for performance (recording, film/TV, theatre, concert)..
BMI (Broadcast Music International) Broadcast licensing organization.
Music Plagiarism Project This site from the Columbia Law Library provides documents (texts, scores, audio and video files) associated with music copyright infringement cases in the U.S. from 1845 forward. Details
PD Info: Public Domain Music Site explains how to identify music in the public domain and lists some public domain music, primarily songs.
The public domain : how to find copyright-free writings, music, art & more KF 3022 .Z9 F57 2001 Details
US Copyright Office Home Page Information about copyright, application forms, etc. for registering works, links to related sites.
Music Publishers' Association Directory of music publishers, copyright resource center, links.
Musician's Business and Legal Guide ML 3790 .M84 2001 Details
This Business of Music: the Definitive Guide to the Music Industry ML 3790 .S5 2003 Details
African American Music
Books about African American Music General, ML 3556; Blues, ML 3521; Gospel, ML 3187; Jazz, ML 3506-3509; Soul, ML 3537; Rap, ML 3531 (all in General Stacks)
African American Music Reference Contains more than 12,000 pages of text reference, biographies, chronologies, sheet music, images, lyrics, liner notes, and discographies which chronicle the diverse history and culture of the African American experience through music. Covers blues, jazz, spirituals, civil rights songs, slave songs, minstrelsy, rhythm and blues, gospel, and other forms of black American musical expression. AAMR links to the online listening database African American Song, so users may listen to associated music that accompanies the liner notes and album information in the database.
African American Song More than 50,000 tracks of music, spoken word, and natural and human-made sounds. Documents the history of African American music. Contains a diverse range of genres such as jazz, blues, gospel, ragtime, folk songs, and narratives, among others.
African-American Sheet Music 1850-1920 Collection of 1,305 pieces of African-American sheet music dating from 1850 through 1920. Includes many songs related to blackface minstrelsy, the abolitionist movement, and Uncle Tom's Cabin.
Archives of African American Music and Culture A repository of research materials at Indiana University, with links to related sites.
Black Grooves A music review site hosted by the Archives of African-American Music and Culture at Indiana University. Monthly updates on new releases and reissues in all genres of popular music as well as classical music composed or performed by black artists. Individuals may subscribe to receive free monthly email updates. Details
Black Thought and Culture A digital collection of monographs, essays, articles, speeches, and interviews by leaders within the black community from the earliest times to 1975. Includes material about African American music and musicians.
CBMR: Center for Black Music Research Devoted to research, preservation, and dissemination of information about the history of Black music on a global scale. Links.
Faber Companion to 20th Century Popular Music "Covers the major players in the vast history of popular music in the twentieth century." Over 2500 entries including many African Americans.
Details
Performing Arts Encyclopedia (Library of Congress) A guide to the performing arts collections and exhibitions at the Library of Congress, including music, dance, and theater. Includes digital collections accessible through the site. Details Includes collections on African Americans in the performing arts and African American music.
Women in Music
Books about Women in Music ML 82 (General Stacks); Bibliographies: Ref ML 128 .W7 (Reference)
International Alliance for Women in Music Links to resources about women in music: online materials about women composers, articles, historical surveys, collections, and databases.
International Encyclopedia of Women Composers 2nd edition, by Aaron I. Cohen
Ref ML 105 .C7 1987
Good source for basic information and worklists for many women composers.
Women Composers and Women's Music More links.
Women in Music: a Research and Information Guide Ref ML 128 .W7 P46 2005
A bibliography of feminist writings and studies about women in music, most dating from 1980 to 2000. Details
Women in Music: an Encyclopedic Biobibliography Ref ML 105 .H6 1993
Index to biographies of women musicians in encyclopedias, dictionaries, and other sources. Covers "all periods and countries."
Percussion
Books about Percussion Instruments and Music General, ML 1030-; Timpani, ML 1036-; Pedagogy, MT 655-725 (General Stacks)
Bibliographies: Ref ML 128 .P23 (Reference)
Encyclopedia of Percussion Ref ML 102 .P4 E5 2007
Includes a glossary of percussion terms, images of instruments, and articles on percussion in the Western tradition and other parts of the world. Details
Percussion Ensemble Literature Ref ML 128 .P23 S62 1998 Details
Percussion Solo Literature Ref ML 128 .P23 S63 1995 Details
Percussionists: A Biographical Dictionary Ref ML 399 .B38 2000 Details
Percussive Arts Society News, activities of PAS; includes resources and links. Some areas restricted to members.
Education
Books about Music Education Theory and history, MT 1-5; Techniques and methods, MT 918-948 (General Stacks); Textbooks: LT (Textbooks location)
Dictionary of Music Education: A Handbook of Terminology Ref MT 1 .E49 2005
Dictionary of terminology common to the music education profession. Also includes lists of textbooks and reference books by subject area, tests, web sites, organizations, and journals/magazines for music education. Details
American Orff-Schulwerk Association Dedicated to teaching and movement methods of Carl Orff and Gunild Keetman.
CAIRSS Research literature in music education, music therapy, music psychology, and music medicine.
ERIC The Educational Resources Information Center indexes and abstracts over 2,000 journals and more than 450,000 reports in education and related fields. Some documents are available full text, the rest are on microfiche in the Education Library. Covers 1966-present. Updated monthly.
This is the FirstSearch version, also available from CSA and from the US government. Tutorial
Lesson Plans and Other Teaching Materials Links to resources with lesson plans in many subjects, selected by librarians in WMU's Education Library.
MENC: The National Association for Music Education Resources for music teaching and learning.
Music Education and Psychomusicology Resources Links to databases and resources in music education and psychomusicology. Details
Music Education Resource Links (MERL) Links to curriculum resources, organized by the nine national content standards as presented by the National Standards for Art Education.
Jazz
Books about Jazz General, ML 3506-3509, ML 3561 .J3; Big band, ML 3518; Blues, ML 3521; Ragtime, ML 3530.
All About Jazz Newsy jazz resource with reviews, articles, artist profiles, discussion topics, sound files, a bulletin board, links to many other jazz sites.
Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz Ref ML 102 .J3 F4 1999
Brief biographies of hundreds of jazz artists. Besides basic information, each entry lists individuals and groups with whom the artist performed.
Details
Blues Bibliography Ref ML 128 .B49 F67 2007
Lists more than 26,000 articles, books, internet resources and record liner notes for blues artists, ranging from acoustic country blues to R&B and modern blues performers.
Details
DownBeat.com Site for the popular jazz magazine, with news, artist bios, reviews, festival directory, jazz education, etc.
ejazzlines.com Commerical site, "the global resource for jazz." CDs, DVDs, charts, books, fakebooks, and other jazz resources for sale. Details
Jazz Music Library Listen to more than 60,000 tracks of all types of jazz by solo artists and ensembles from throughout jazz history to the present day. Make and save playlists for listening for classes or just for pleasure. Also accessible through Music Online.
Jazz Resource Library Jazz history, glossary, information on musicians, images, links to other resources. Details
Jazz Scholarship and Pedagogy: a Research and Information Guide Ref ML 128 .J3 M34 2005
A comprehensive bibliography listing books and other materials (excluding articles) on all aspects of jazz. Expanded from the author's Jazz Reference and Research Materials (1981 and 1995). Details
New Grove Dictionary of Jazz Ref ML 102 .J3 N48 2002
The major jazz encyclopedia. Also included in Oxford Music Online.
Red Hot Jazz Archive History of jazz before 1930. Profiles of musicians; streaming audio of over 1,000 recordings.
Keyboard
Books about Keyboard Instruments and Music Organ: instruments, ML 549.8-; music and playing, ML 600-; pedagogy, MT 180-
Piano, harpsichord, etc.: instruments, ML 649.8-; music and playing,ML 700-; Pedagogy, MT 220-
The Piano: an Encyclopedia Definitions of terms, information on composers and piano builders; history of piano industry by country. Details
Guide to the Pianist's Repertoire Ref ML 128 .P3 H5 2000
Briefly describes pieces, rates difficulty, and lists published editions. Other keyboard bibliographies by Hinson are shelved at the same call number. Details
Notable Twentieth-Century Pianists: A Bio-Critical Sourcebook by John Gillespie and Anna Gillespie
Ref ML 397 .G45 1995
Piano Pedagogy Forum Online journal focusing on topics related to pedagogy and teaching.
The Organ: an Encyclopedia Definitions of terms, information on composers, organists, and organ building throughout the world. Details
Dictionary of Pipe Organ Stops Ref MT 189 .I78 1983 Details
Directory of Composers for Organ Details
Organ Literature: A Comprehensive Survey Ref ML 600 .A76 1995
Historical survey of organ music, with biographies and worklists of composers. Details
Harpsichord and Clavichord: An Encyclopedia Definitions of terms; information on composers, players, and builders; history of building by country.
Details
Westfield Center "A national resource for the advancement of keyboard music."
Opera
Books about Opera General and history, ML 1700-1715; production, MT 955; plots, MT 95; librettos, ML 48-50; singing and voice culture, MT 820- (General Stacks)
Dictionaries & encyclopedias: Ref ML 102 .O6; Bibliographies: Ref ML 128 .O4 (Reference)
Aria Database Search for arias by title, opera, language, voice type. Some translations are included. Links to other opera sites.
Classical Singer A magazine of practical information for a singing career. View current and previous issues, classifieds. Some portions are available only to subscribers.
The library also has a print subscription. See Current Periodicals area for latest issues.
Gilbert and Sullivan Archive Devoted to G & S operettas and light opera in general. Librettos, plot summaries, pictures, song scores, audio files, links to other Web sites, etc.
Guide to the Aria Repertoire Ref ML 128 .O4 C53 2007
Background and descriptions for more than 400 opera arias. Organized by voice type but also listed by title, opera, language, and historical period. Details
Lyric Opera of Chicago Information on season, schedule, ticket availability and ordering.
Opera America A service supporting opera production, presentation, and education. The site features information on seasons, repertoire, new works, and more.
Opera Glass Information on operas (performance history, libretti, etc.) and composers, performers, companies.
Opera in Video When complete, will contain 250 opera performances, captured on video through staged productions, interviews, and documentaries. The full range of operatic composition is represented, from the Baroque to the 20th century.
Operabase Monthly performance data on 600 international opera houses. Search details of over 38,000 opera performances by singer/role, conductor, or producer; composer, title, location, and dates.
Oxford Reference Online - Performing Arts Online access to Oxford Concise Dictionary of Opera, Grove Book of Operas, New Grove Book of Opera Singers, Oxford Dictionary of Opera Characters.
Public Domain Opera Libretti and Other Vocal Texts Links to sources of opera libretti and secular and sacred song texts.
Orchestra and Orchestral Music
Books about the Orchestra and Orchestral Music General, ML 1200-1270; Pedagogy, MT 730; Orchestration, MT 70-71; Conducting, MT 85; Program notes, MT 125 (General Stacks)
Bibliographies: Ref ML 128 .O5
Polyphonic.org: The Orchestra Musician's Forum Information and networking source for orchestral musicians. Articles, orchestra profiles, blogs, streaming video, and a lot more. Requires a free registration. Details
The Symphony: An Interactive Guide Information about symphonies and their composers, orchestra instruments, links.
Performing Times of Orchestral Works Ref ML 128 .O5 A75
Lists duration for hundreds of works composed before 1959. Details
American Symphony Orchestra League Provides support and education for and about American orchestras and orchestral music. Some areas for members only. (ASOL was founded in 1942 by Leta Snow, manager of the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra.)
American String Teachers Association Primarily about string music education, school orchestras. Details
Theory and Composition
Books about Music Theory and Composition General, MT 6-; Composition, MT 40-; Improvisation, MT 68-; Orchestration and instrumentation, MT 70-; Analytical guides, MT 90-145; Pedagogy and techniques for instruments, MT 170-810 (all in General Stacks)
Society for Music Theory Links to music theory resources, including computer-aided instruction, and to the society's e-journal, Music Theory Online (also below).
Center for the History of Music Theory and Literature Provides access to several music history- and theory-related databases: Doctoral Dissertations in Musicology Online; Musical Borrowing: An Annotated Bibliography; Thesaurus Musicarum Latinarium and Saggi musicali italiani (databases of theory treatises).
Music Theory Online (MTO) Bi-monthly e-journal by Society for Music Theory. Each issue contains 1-2 articles, commentary, reviews, job listings, notices of new dissertations, books, etc.
Analyses of Nineteenth- and Twentieth Century Music, 1940-2000 Ref ML 113 .H695 2007
Locates analyses of works by over 1,000 19th- and 20th-century composers appearing in journals and other print sources from 1940 through 2000. Details
Music Analyses: An Annotated Guide to the Literature Ref ML 128 .A7 D5 1991
Where analyses may be found in books, periodicals, and dissertations.
Musictheory.net A collection of simple music theory tutorials and interactive exercises. Entire site can be downloaded for offline use. Details
Therapy
Books about Music Therapy ML 3920; RC 489 (General Stacks)
American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) Information about the profession, careers, internships, research, news and events, more.
CAIRSS Research literature in music education, music therapy, music psychology, and music medicine.
Music Therapy Research Full text of articles from Journal of Music Therapy (1964-2003), Music Therapy (1981-96), and Music Therapy Perspectives (1982-84, 1986-2003). Details
Music Therapy Today Quarterly, international journal "examining music as therapy." Content freely accessible in English and German in HTML and PDF format." Details
Music Therapy World International site providing free access to journal articles, research papers, conference reports, and other research materials. Includes an index to articles in 12 music therapy journals; some articles available full-text.
MuSICA: Music & Science Information Computer Archive Provides all issues of MuSICA Research Notes, a newsletter of analysis and commentary on research related to music and behavior, including evolution, brain mechanisms, child development, perception, learning, memory, performance, health and related topics education, child development, psychology, cognitive sciences, neuroscience, clinical medicine, music therapy and allied fields. Details
Voices: a World Forum for Music Therapy Online community and publication forum with free access. Articles, essays, discussions. Details
World Music
World Music Research Tips A guide to WMU library resources and websites with information about world music and musical instruments.
Books about World Music Africa, ML 350-350.5; Asia, ML 330-345; Arab countries, ML 348-348.5; Australia and Oceania, ML 360-360.5; Europe, ML 240-325; Central America, ML 220; North America, ML 200-215; South America, ML 199, 230-239 (all in General Stacks)
Garland Encyclopedia of World Music Online
A comprehensive online resource devoted to music of all the world's peoples. Includes more than 9,200 pages of material in ten volumes, each volume containing an overview of the region, a survey of its musical heritage, traditions and themes; and a description of specific musical genres, practices, and performances, Includes: audio examples, illustrations, photographs, maps, drawings, and more. Print edition also available: see below.
Garland Encyclopedia of World Music Ref ML 100 .G17 1997
Comprehensive encyclopedia of world music. Each volume covers a continent or region. Details
Contemporary World Music Explore music from all regions and from every continent in this audio streaming database: reggae, worldbeat, neo-traditional, world fusion, Arab swing, African film, Bollywood, Indian classical, flamenco, klezmer, gospel, gagaku, and more. Over 20,000 tracks.
Smithsonian Global Sound More than 35,000 tracks of music and other sound, including American folk and blues idioms, American Indian, world music, jazz, children's songs, historical spoken word, and many natural and human-made sounds. Browse the collections, search for specific recordings, create playlists.
Ethnomusicology, Folk Music, and World Music Links to organizations, institutions, archives; bibliography, periodicals, and online publications; recordings; websites by geographical region. Details
American Music
Books about American Music U.S. music history: ML 200-200.8 (in General Stacks)
American Memory Multimedia collections from the Library of Congress of digitized documents, photographs, sound recordings, motion pictures, and texts. Over 100 collections, including, for example, African-American pamphlets, Chautauqua flyers, Depression photographs, Coca-Cola advertising, and the papers of Alexander Graham Bell, to name just a few. Includes music collections: folk, jazz, sheet music, women; Bernstein and Copland archives; and much more.
American Music Center National service and information center for new American music. Link to NewMusicBox, their monthly web magazine. Some services on the site require membership.
American Song Contains more than 50,000 tracks, including songs by and about American Indians, miners, immigrants, slaves, children, pioneers, and cowboys. Also includes Civil Rights songs, songs of political campaigns, Prohibition, the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, anti-war protests, and more.
New Grove Dictionary of American Music Ref ML 101 .U6 N48 1986
Encyclopedia covering all types of American music and musicians.
Performing Arts Encyclopedia (Library of Congress) A guide to the performing arts collections and exhibitions at the Library of Congress, including music, dance, and theater. Includes digital collections accessible through the site. Details This site brings together thousands of materials digitized from the Library's vast collections of sheet music, sound recordings, moving images, manuscripts, photographs, and oral histories, along with essays by researchers in the performing arts. Special presentations feature collections such as patriotic songs, sheet music, jazz, etc.
Society for American Music (formerly Sonneck Society) Links to Web resources on all types of American music.
Voice
Books about Singing and Voice Culture Physiology, methods, techniques, MT 820-893; Phonetics and diction, MT 883; Teaching children, MT 898-949; Song texts and translations, ML 54.6. See also: Choral, Musical Theatre, Opera, Songs.
Classical Singer A magazine of practical information for a singing career. View current and previous issues, classifieds. Some portions are available only to subscribers.
The library also has a print subscription. See Current Periodicals area for latest issues.
NATS Online National Association of Teachers of Singing website, with information and links to resources for singers and teachers. Details
Voice Foundation "World's leading organization dedicated voice medicine, science, and education." Information on voice disorders and health. Details
String and Plectral Instruments
Books about String and Plectral Instruments and Music String instruments and music: General, ML 850-; Violin, ML 870-; Viola, ML 900-; Cello, ML 910-; Bass, ML 920-; Others, ML 927-; Pedagogy (techniques, methods, orchestral excerpts): MT 259-338
Plectral instruments and music: Harp, ML 1005-; Lute, ML 1010-; Others, ML 1015- (Guitar, ML 1015 .G9); Pedagogy, MT 539-654
String Music in Print Ref ML 128 .S7 .S76x and supplements
String Quartets: A Research and Information Guide Lists books, articles, and other print sources of information related to string quartets: general reference, histories, composers, aspects of performance, and editions.
Details
The Violin: A Research and Information Guide Lists books, articles, and other print sources of information related to the violin, including acoustics and construction, playing and performance practice, violin music, violinists, and teachers. Details
American String Teachers Association Primarily about string music education, school orchestras. Details
International Society of Bassists See also their Online Journal of Bass Research
Internet Cello Society Newsletter, forums, resources, many links.
American Harp Society Supports performers, teachers, and students of harp.
Guitar Foundation of America Largest multinational guitar organization. News, events, links, more.
The Viola Web Site News, information, links to viola societies and resources.
Songs and Sheet Music
Books about Songs Secular, ML 1600-2881; Sacred, ML 2900-3275; Texts and translations, ML 54.6 (Reference and General Stacks)
American Song: The Complete Musical Theatre Companion by Ken Bloom
Ref ML 128 .M78 B6 1996
Basic information on 4800 American musicals-Broadway, off-Broadway, and off-off-Broadway, from 1877 to 1995. Vol. 3 lists pop and show songs by songwriter and year. Indexes to song titles and collaborators.
Cyber Hymnal Lyrics, scores, MIDI files, pictures, history, and other information on over 2,300 Christian hymns and gospel songs from many denominations.
Encyclopedia of National Anthems Ref M 1627 .E53x 2003
Folk Song Index An index to folk and traditional songs from around the world with an emphasis on English-language songs. Contains more than 42,000 entries from more than 2,200 anthologies.
Details WMU Libraries owns some of the anthologies that are indexed. Once you have found a song and identified an anthology in which it appears, search the WMU library catalog for the anthology's title.
National Anthems MP3 files of vocal and instrumental versions of national anthems. Lyrics provided, along with some English translations.
Oxford Book of Carols Ref M 2065 .N48 1992
Many standard carols, with historical commentary.
Popular Song Index Ref ML 128 .S3 H4
Use to find popular songs in collections. Lists over 35,000 songs in more than 700 collections published between 1940 and 1988. Includes folk, popular, children's, hymns, spirituals, blues. Details
SongCite: An Index to Popular Songs Ref ML 128 .S3 G65x 1995
Lists thousands of songs published in collections since 1987. Supplements the Popular Song Index (described above). Details
A-Z Lyrics Universe Lyrics of about 50,000 songs. Browse or search by artist, song, or album. Site users may submit lyrics, so more are being added all the time. Sources aren't always clear, however. Details
Lied and Song Texts Page Indexes by composer, poet, first line, title. Texts in the public domain are available, along with some translations.
Public Domain Opera Libretti and Other Vocal Texts Links to sources of opera libretti and secular and sacred song texts.
Song Lyrics Links to sites with opera libretti and lyrics to songs of all kinds. Details
Historic American Sheet Music: 1850-1920 Presents over 3,000 pieces of sheet music from collections at Duke University. Includes minstrels, protest songs, Southern antebellum and Confederate music, spirituals and plantation songs, and more, including some piano music.
Lester S. Levy Collection of Sheet Music Contains over 29,000 pieces of music focusing on popular American music from 1780 to 1960. Images of covers and pages of music are retrievable if music was published before 1923 and is in public domain.
Music for the Nation: American Sheet Music, 1820-1860, 1870-1885 Includes over 15,000 pieces of sheet music copyrighted between 1820 and 1860, and 47,000 from 1870 to 1885...popular songs, piano music, sacred and secular choral music, solo instrumental, band and orchestra music, method books and instructional materials.
Sheet Music Collections A master list of sheet music collections throughout the U.S. Links to digital collections.
Details
Woodwinds
Books about Woodwind Instruments and Music General, ML 930-; Flute, ML 935-; Oboe, ML 940-; Clarinet, ML 945-; Bassoon, ML 950-; Saxophone, ML 975-; Bagpipes, ML 980-; Others, ML 990-
Pedagogy (techniques, methods, orchestral excerpts): MT 339-538; Bibliographies of music: Ref ML 128 (alphabetical by instrument).
Bassoon.org Resources and information for bassoonists.
International Clarinet Association
International Double Reed Society World-wide organization of double reed (oboe and bassoon family) players, instrument manufacturers and enthusiasts. Membership required for some areas of the site.
Dayton C. Miller Flute Collection (Library of Congress) Nearly 1,650 flutes and other instruments, iconography, books, music, patents, and other materials mostly related to the flute.
Saxophone Resources on the Internet Information on players, ensembles, bands, manufacturers, other resources and links.
Brass
Books about Brass Instruments and Music General, ML 930-; Horn, ML 955-; Trumpet/cornet, ML 960-; Trombone, ML 965-; Tuba, ML 970-; others, ML 990-
Pedagogy (techniques, methods, orchestral excerpts): MT 418-497; Bibliographies of music: Ref ML 128 (alphabetical by instrument). Details
Historic Brass Society History, music, literature, and performance practice of early brass instruments from antiquity to 20th century.
International Trombone Association
International Tuba and Euphonium Association Formerly Tubists Universal Brotherhood Association (TUBA).
Online Trombone Journal Articles, news, resources about the trombone and its players.
Instruments
General resources about instruments. See other categories such as Brass, Keyboard, Percussion, String/Plectral, Woodwinds.Books about Instruments General, Ref ML 102 .I5, ML 460-; Keyboard, ML 549-; Strings, ML 750-; Winds, ML 930-; Plectral, ML 1000-; Percussion, ML 1030-; other, ML 1050-1093; Pedagogy, MT 170-733
Instrument Encyclopedia Information about instruments around the world, beginning with the collection of the Stearns Museum at the University of Michigan. Good starting place for research. Links.
New Grove Dictionary of Musical Instruments Ref ML 102 .I5 N48 1984
The largest encyclopedia about instruments. See other reference books on instruments at Ref ML 102 .I5.
Microsoft Musical Instruments CD-ROM station in Music and Dance Library
Illustrates and describes instruments, with sound examples.
Virtual Instrument Museum Information about and images of hundreds of musical instruments from around the world. Includes audio and video files. Details
Instruments (Worldwide Internet Music Resources) Links to many sites, organized by instrument.
International Directory of Musical Instrument Collections A international directory of public and private instrument collections, large and small, listed by location. Details
Pop/Rock/Rap/Folk
Books about Popular, Rock, and Folk Music Rock, ML 3532; Rap, ML 3531; Soul, ML 3537; Reggae, ML 3532; Country, ML 3524; New Age, ML 3529; Folk music, ML 3550-3780 (all in General Stacks)
Dictionaries & encyclopedias: Popular music, Ref ML 102 .P66; Rock music, Ref ML 102 .R6 (Reference)
Billboard Charts Current top albums, singles, videos, etc. Membership required to access archives.
Billboard Top 10 Charts, 1958-1997 Ref ML 156.4 .P6 W444 1998
There are many similar sources shelved near this one, including Billboard's Hottest 100 Hits and charts from Cash Box. Details
Contemporary Musicians: Profiles of the People in Music Ref ML 385 .C615
Each volume profiles a number of musicians-classical, jazz, rock, country, religious, etc.-and has a cumulative index to the set.
Credo Reference (Formerly Xreferplus) Full text online from over 400 encyclopedias, dictionaries and other reference books. Search a topic, build a concept map or browse information sources organized by subject. Find text, images, sound files, sortable data tables and more. Includes Continuum Encyclopedia of Popular Music of the World and Faber Companion to 20th Century Popular Music.
Literature of Rock Ref ML 128 .R6 H6, etc
Lists periodical articles and other sources about rock music. Details
RoJaRo Index (Rock-Jazz-Roots) From Norway, an index to articles, discographies, and reviews in hundreds of music publications worldwide on rock, jazz, blues, country, soul, rap, metal, reggae, punk, world music, progressive, folk, etc.
Caribbean Popular Music: an encyclopedia of Reggae, Mento, Ska, Rock Steady, and Dancehall Ref ML 102 .P66 M67 2005
Includes artists and other personalities as well as some terms. Details
Encyclopedia of Rap and Hip Hop Culture Ref ML 102 .R27 B96 2006
Definitions of terms and short articles on artists and other people in rap and hip hop. Details
hiphopbibweb (Hip Hop Webliography) Links to many hip hop sites, including directories, conferences, ezines, etc.
Rap and Hip Hop Resources Bibliography of all kinds of information sources for research in hip hop and rap. Details
Folk Song Index An index to folk and traditional songs from around the world with an emphasis on English-language songs. Contains more than 42,000 entries from more than 2,200 anthologies.
Details WMU Libraries owns some of the anthologies that are indexed. Once you have found a song and identified an anthology in which it appears, search the WMU library catalog for the anthology's title.
History and Musicology
See also Guides to the Field in the Music: General guide for more books on music research and library skills and resources.Books on Music History and Musicology General histories, ML 160-161; by time period, ML 162-197; by country, ML 197-350 (General Stacks)
Musicology/Ethnomusicology: ML 3797-3799 (General Stacks)
Guide to Library Research in Music Ref ML 3797 .B29 2008
A textbook on library and computer-based research for music. Explains the research process, offers instruction in information-searching techniques and library-based organziational systems, and introduces an array of electronic and print music resources.
Details
Music in Words: A Guide to Researching and Writing About Music ML 3797 .H537 2009
This is both a textbook and a reference book "about the way we research music and write about it." Of British origin, this edition has been adapted for use in North America. Recommended for graduate students. Details
American Musicological Society Established in 1934 to advance research in various fields of music. Especially useful is their comprehensive list of "Web sites of interest to musicologists."
Center for Research Libraries Music Collections CRL's music collections include source materials related to opera, English church music, jazz, instruments, American music prior to 1830, and many others. WMU faculty and students may borrow CRL materials through interlibrary loan.
Center for the History of Music Theory and Literature Provides access to several music history- and theory-related databases: Doctoral Dissertations in Musicology Online; Musical Borrowing: An Annotated Bibliography; Thesaurus Musicarum Latinarium and Saggi musicali italiani (databases of theory treatises).
College Music Society Supporting research and scholarship in music.
Doctoral Dissertations in Musicology
A bibliography and index of in-progress and completed dissertations and new dissertation topics in music history, theory, and ethnomusicology. Also in print (through April 1995) at Ref ML 128 .M8. Details
Renaissance and Baroque Music Chronology: Composers Timelines of composers and music history, twelfth through eighteenth centuries. Links to other sites.
RISM: Repertoire International des Sources Musicales Ref ML 113 .I6
An inventory of music manuscripts, secondary sources, librettos, libraries. RISM's goal is to locate and catalog all surviving musical sources from the earliest times to about 1800. In print in the library. Details
RISM: Repertoire International des Sources Musicales: United Kingdom and Ireland This site offers free access to RISM information about manuscripts in British and Irish libraries. Search or browse. Downloadable incipits are included. Details
Film and Television Music
Books about Film and Television Music General and history, ML 2075; scoring, MT 737- (General Stacks)
Encyclopedias: Ref ML 102 .M68; Bibliographies: Ref ML 128 .M7 (Reference)
Film Composers in America Ref ML 128 .M7 M3 2000
Lists composers and films, 1911-1970. Details
International Index to Performing Arts This database provides coverage of dance, film, television, drama, theater, stagecraft, and more, indexes more than 250 performing arts journals and provides full text for more than 100 journals. Coverage varies.
Keeping Score: Film and Television Music Ref ML 128 .M7 L5
Lists films, composers, and soundtrack recordings from 1972-1997. Details
Hollywood Song: the Complete Film & Musical Companion Ref ML 128 .M7 B6 1995
Basic data on more than 7,000 American and foreign films: songs, composers and lyricists, choreographers, casts. Details
Disney Song Encyclopedia Identifies and describes hundreds of songs written for Disney films, television, Broadway musical, theme park, etc.
Details
Internet Movie Database Search by movie, actor, character, plot and more. Includes personnel credits for music and sound.
More Internet Resources
ArtsLynx International Arts Resources Links to Web resources in art, arts education, dance, music, theatre, film, and writing. Details
Classical Net Reviews and recommends recordings; information on composers, many links.
Internet Resources for Music Scholars Links to hundreds of scholarly music sites which have been selected for currency, quality and content. Geared toward upper undergraduates and graduate students. Some resources restricted to Harvard users. Details
Online Music Resources See the list of "Online Resources" near the bottom of the page. Details
Ask A Librarian
Greg Fitzgerald
gregory.fitzgerald@wmich.edu
269-387-5236
Last updated: November 2009