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General Guides to Music Information and Research in Music

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  • BIXLER REF ML113 .C68 1993
    Crabtree, Phillip D. and Donald H. Foster.
    Sourcebook for Research in Music. Indiana University Press, 1993. Good one-volume research guide for serious undergraduate and graduate music research. Includes definitions of common bibliographical terms from the English, German and French languages, as well as a detailed breakdown of the LC classification scheme for music.
  • BIXLER ML113. D83 1997
    Duckles, Vincent, et. al.Music Reference and Research Materials 5th ed.. Schirmer Books, 1997. Excellent one-volume guide to the recent and retrospective reference literature. Contains annotated entries for 3,000 reference sources; coverage is international, with indices for author, title and subject.
  • BIXLER REF ML113 .M59 1996
    Mixter, Keith.
    General bibliography for music research. Harmonie Park Press, 1996 Delineates sources of important music information to be found in general reference tools or in interdisciplinary studies.


  • Internet Metasites

  • WWW Sites of Interest to Musicologists. -- American Musicological Society.
  • Music Selection Tools on the World Wide Web. Anna Seaburg's excellent music purchaser's guide, compiled from a librarian's perspective.
  • Worldwide Internet Music Resources -- Indiana University Music Library.
  • Online Music Resources. -- University of Washington Music Library.
  • Yahoo Music Directory. -- Excellent metasite of scholarly and popular internet resources.


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Style Guides / Citation Manuals

  • BIXLER REF Z253 .U69 2003
    Chicago Manual of Style.   15th ed. University of Chicago Press, 2003. See also on the web
  • Chicago Manual of Style Online. 15th ed.
  • BIXLER REF LB 2369.G53 2003
    Gibaldi, Joseph. MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. 6th ed. Modern Language Association, 2003.
  • BIXLER REF ML63 .W68 1988
    Holoman, D. Kern. Writing About Music: A Style Sheet from the Editors of Nineteenth Century Music. University of California Press, 1988.
  • BIXLER ML3797 .W54 2002
    Writing About Music : an Introductory Guide / Richard Wingell. Prentice Hall, 2002.

Online Music Services

  • Classical Music Library [Licensed to Colby users only.]

    A fully searchable classical music resource with thousands of recordings from major labels that users can listen to on the Internet. No specific browser requirements.


  • Naxos Music Online  [Licensed to Colby users only.]

    A comprehensive collection of classical music and world music online, from over  15 music recording labels, including program notes and biographical information. Browser requirements (PCs use Internet Explorer ; Apples use Safari)


  • Smithsonian Global Sound [Licensed to Colby users only.] Listen to the vast aural panorama of world and folk music from Smithsonian Folkways and other ethnomusicolgy sound archives. Blues to zydeco, African to Zuni Pueblo, and everything in between. No specific browser requirements.

General Indexes/Databases Useful to Music Research

  • Academic Search Premier [Licensed to Colby users only.]
    Academic Search Premier provides full-text coverage of nearly 3000 journals in most academic areas of study, and provides indexing and abstracts for another 1000. Good for locating reviews of performances, as well as articles in core music journals. 

  • JSTOR  [Licensed to Colby users only.] Searching and access to backfiles of the best, scholarly journals in musicology, with full-text document access. Does not include article published within the past 5 years.

  • LexisNexis Academic Universe  [Licensed to Colby users only.]The worlds's most comprehensive, full-text online law, news and business information, including cases, statutes, bills, trade journals, wire services, national and regional news, and the foreign press. Contact a reference librarian for instruction and Colby's policies on use.
  • WorldCat [Licensed to Colby users only.]
    WorldCat contains millions of catalog records from OCLC member libraries worldwide. Among the wide variety of materials included in the bibliographic database are books, manuscripts, serials, newspapers, electronic materials, maps, web sites.



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Indexes Specific to the Music Literature

  • Doctoral Dissertations in Musicology Online. -- Based at the Center for the History of Music Theory and Literature, Indiana University, DDM-Online is a searchable database to dissertations-in-progress and completed dissertations, including those reported in the earlier printed editions (i.e. 1984 and 1996) of Doctoral Dissertations in Musicology.

  • International Index to Music Periodicals (IIMP)
    [Licensed to Colby users only.]
    IIMP Full Text indexes (1996+) the contents of more than 370 international music periodicals from over 20 countries, and also indexes feature music articles and obituaries appearing in The New York Times and the Washington Post. Full Text entries from 1997 to the present are drawn from articles in 42 journals.

 

  • Music Catalog 1960s - 2000. [Licensed to Colby users only.]
    Complete Library of Congress catalog of the Music and Sound Recordings Divisions. As a NISC database it can be searched with RILM, RIPM and RISM simultaneously.


  • BIXLER REF ML118.M84 v. 1 (1949)-v. 42 (1990)
    Music Index. Information Service & Harmonie Park Press, 1949--
    Excellent index to 640 English language and international periodical articles; scholarly and popular coverage; indexes some interdisciplinary journals; indexes book, sound recording and music reviews. Print version of Music Index provides more retrospective coverage than other internet music periodical indexes. Online version listed below gives more searching flexibility, but is not absolutely up-to-date.

  • Music Index Online: a Subject / Author Guide to Music Periodical Literature [Licensed to Colby users only.]
    Coverage: 1979 - present
    Access to journal articles from over 640 international music periodicals covering classical, historical musicology, jazz, popular music, folk and world music, as well as book and record reviews, first performances, and obituaries.

 

  • RILM Abstracts of Music Literature [Licensed to Colby users only.]
    RILM is the most comprehensive of the music literature databases, with a half million abstracts drawn from articles, books, proceedings, dissertations, etc.

 

  • RIPM: Retrospective Index to Music Periodicals. [Licensed to Colby users only.]
    This keyword index/database to periodical articles published in journals from Europe and the United States dating from 1800 - 1950 provides a first-hand perspective of 19th and early 20th century music and musical life.

 

  • RISM: International Inventory of Musical Sources After 1600. [Licensed to Colby users only.]
    Scholarly and international in scope, RISM Online is a searchable database of more than 370,000 works in manuscript form by over 18,000 composers created between 1600 and 1800. As a NISC database, it can be searched with RILM, RIPM and the LC Music Catalog simultaneously.


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Music Periodicals and E-Journals

  • Colby College Music Periodicals subscriptions (print and electronic). Search by Colby Catalog by Subject. For example:

    Music -- Periodicals

  • International Index to Music Periodicals (IIMP)
    Full Text Edition
    Available: Colby only
    IIMP Full Text indexes (1996+) the contents of more than 370 international music periodicals from over 20 countries, and also indexes feature music articles and obituaries appearing in The New York Times and the Washington Post. Full Text entries from 1997 to the present are drawn from articles in 42 journals.


Music Encyclopedias

  • Grove Music Online. Macmillan, 2001-.
    This is the best English-language source for information on musicians, terminology, and topics throughout the history of music. Detailed works lists and bibliographies will enhance your research on composers and subjects in music. Grove Music Online merges encyclopedia content from the print versions of New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, New Grove Dictionary of Opera and the New Grove Dictionary of Jazz.

  • BIXLER REF ML102.M88 G3 2001. Vols. 1-3.
    Gänzl, Kurt. Encyclopedia of the Musical Theatre. Schirmer Books, 2001.

  • BIXLER REF ML102.P66 G84 1998. Vols. 1-8
    Larkin, Colin. Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Grove's Dictionaries, 1998.

  • BIXLER REF ML100 .G16 1998. Vols. 1-9. Book + CD
    Garland Encyclopedia of World Music. Bruno Nettl and Ruth Stone, eds. Garland, 1998-
    Essential point of departure the study of traditional music cultures. Each volume devoted to a particular geographic region, with a CD of music examples to accompany the text.

  • BIXLER REF MT95 .K52 1997
    Kobbé, Gustav. The New Kobbé's Opera Book. Putnam, 1997.
    Great for identifying the major operas with information about casting, performance history, opera plot summaries.

  • BIXLER REF ML102.B6 S26 2001
    Santelli, Robert. The Big Book of Blues : a Biographical Encyclopedia. Penguin Books, 2001.


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Biographical Dictionaries & Composer Web Pages

  • BIXLER REF ML105 .B16 2001
    Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians. Nicolas Slonimsky and Laura Kuhn, eds. Centennial ed. Schirmer Books, 2001. 6 volumes.
    Important biographical dictionary with comprehensive, historical coverage of musicians primarily from the world of Western art music. Includies composer works lists and bibliographies.

  • BIXLER REF ML105 .B9
    Bull, Storm. Index to Biographies of Contemporary Composers. Scarecrow Press, 1964-1987. 3 volumes to date.

  • Composer Homepages. -- University of Washington Music Library.

 

  • BIXLER REF ML390 .I58 1999
    Floyd, Samuel A., Jr. International Dictionary of Black Composers. Fitzroy Dearborn, 1999.

  • Gaylord Music Library. Necrology List. -- An updated list of death dates of composers and musicians, to be used when verifying biographical dates found in print and web reference sources.

  • Harvard Biographical Dictionary of Music. Don Michael Randel, ed. Harvard University Press, 2003.
    Short to medium-length entries for musicians from the Western concert music tradition; selective coverage of American jazz and popular musicians. Longer entries include a bibliography.

  • BIXLER REF ML105 .H6 1993
    Hixon, Don L., and Don A. Hennessee. Women in Music: An Encyclopedic Biobibliography. 2nd ed. Scarecrow Press, 1993. 2 volumes.
    Index to biographical references on women musicians found in 48 standard music encyclopedias and dictionaries.

  • Composers and Composition. -- From Indiana University's Worldwide Internet Music Resources.

  • BIXLER REF ML106.G7 W42 16th ed 1998/99
    International Who's Who in Music (and Musicians Directory). Volume 1: Classical and Light Classical Fields. 16th ed. International Biographical Centre, 1999.
    Latest edition in reference Includes brief biographies of living classical musicians only; international in scope.

  • BIXLER REF ML105.N67 1995
    Norton/Grove Dictionary of Women Composers. Julie Anne Sadie and Rhian Samuel, eds. W.W. Norton, 1995.

  • BIXLER REF ML105 .S612 1997
    Slonimsky, Nicolas. Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Twentieth-Century Classical Musicians. Prentice Hall, 1997.


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Chronologies

  • BIXLER REF ML200 .H15 1996
    Hall, Charles J. A Chronicle of American Music, 1700-1995. Prentice Hall International, 1996.

  • BIXLER REF ML195 .H28 1990.
    Hall, Charles J. An Eighteenth-century Musical Chronicle : Events 1750-1799. Greenwood Press, 1990.

  • BIXLER REF ML196 .H34 1989.
    Hall, Charles J. A Nineteenth-century Musical Chronicle : Events, 1800-1899. Greenwood Press, 1989.

  • BIXLER REF ML197 .H15 1989.
    Hall, Charles J. A Twentieth-century Musical Chronicle : Events 1900-1988. Greenwood Press, 1989.

  • BIXLER REF ML197.S634 1994
    Slonimsky, Nicolas. Music Since 1900. 5th ed. Schirmer Books, 1994.
    This day-by-day chronological documentation of significant musical events and premieres of the 20th century gives the reader a perspective on the how particular musical activities in western art music relate to trends in history and society as a whole.

  • BIXLER REF ML156.4.P6 W48 2000
    Whitburn, Joel. Joel Whitburn's Pop Annual, 1955-1999. Record Research, c2000.

  • BIXLER REF ML 120 U5 S5
    Popular Music : an Annotated Guide to American Popular Songs [1920-2000+]. Gale Research, 1964--. 25 volumes to date.
    A chronological survey of popular music from 1920 to the present, this important tool identifies the top selling popular songs/artists and trends year-by-year.


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Dictionaries of Musical Terms

  • BIXLER REF ML 108.B55 1999
    Boccagna, David. Musical Terminology: A Practical Compendium in Four Languages. Pendragon, 1999
    A no-nonsense polyglot dictionary of musical terms, with equivalent terms in English, French, German and Italian.

  • GroveMusic. Macmillan, 2001-.
    The prime English-language source for information on musicians, terminology, and topics throughout the history of music.

  • Harvard Dictionary of Music. Don Michael Randel, ed. Harvard University Press, 2003.
    Essential reference work in English for musical terms and concise introductions to musical topics. Selected foreign-language music terms included. Titles of selected classical musical works also included. Does not include biographies. Print version BIXLER REF ML100.H37 2003

  • BIXLER REF ML 109.S35 1995
    Schirmer Pronouncing Manual of Musical Terms. 5th ed. Theodore Baker and Nicolas Slonimsky, eds. Schirmer, 1995.
    If radio announcing or delivering a paper, check this dictionary if you're uncertain about pronuncation of a music term or name.

  • BIXLER REF ML ML108 .T4 Terminorum musicae index septem linguis redactus : Polyglottes Wörterbuch der musikalischen Terminologie (Polyglot dictionary of musical terms). Horst Leuchtmann, ed. Akadémiai Kiadó, 1978
    Equivalents of musical terms presented in 7 languages: English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Hungarian and Russian.


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Identifying Classical Music Works: Thematic Catalogs

A thematic catalog systematically and comprehensively organizes and lists a composer's works, including information such as an incipit (first few bars of the music) for each piece, provenance of manuscript copies, early published editions, and other details to aid scholarly research.Note: look in Colby Web Catalog under Subject: Thematic Catalogs to identify thematic catalogs in Bixler Library.

  • BIXLER REF ML113 .B86 1997
    Brook, Barry S. and Richard Viano. Thematic Catalogues in Music: An Annotated Bibliography. 2nd ed. Pendragon, 1997.
    Essential as a starting point to determine if a thematic catalog is available for a composer's works. This is a bibliography of published composer thematic catalogues, arranged by composer.

  • Bach
    BIXLER REF ML134 .B1 S3 1990
    Schmieder, Wolfgang. Thematisch-systematisches Verzeichnis der musikalischen Werke von Johann Sebastian Bach: Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis (BWV). 2nd ed. Breitkopf & Härtel, 1990.

  • Beethoven
    BIXLER REF ML134 .B4K5
    Kinsky, Georg. Das Werk Beethovens: Thematisch-Bibliographisches Verzeichnis seiner sämtlichen vollendeten Kompositionen. Henle 1955.

  • Mozart
    BIXLER REF ML134. M9 K55 1965
    Köchel, Ludwig Ritter von. Chronologisch-thematisches Verzeichnis sämtlicher Tonwerke Wolfgang Amadé Mozarts. Breitkopf & Härtel, 1965.

  • Schubert
    BIXLER REF ML134.S38 D4 1978
    Deutsch, Otto Erich, 1883-1967. Franz Schubert, thematisches Verzeichnis seiner Werke in chronologischer Folge. Bärenreiter, 1978.


  • Other identification sources

  • BIXLER REF ML 128 I65 B3
    Barlow, Harold and Sam Morgenstern. A Dictionary of Musical Themes. Crown, 1948.

  • BIXLER REF ML 128 V7 B3 1966
    Barlow, Harold and Sam Morgenstern. A Dictionary of Opera and Song Themes, Including Cantatas, Oratorios, Lieder, and Art Songs. Crown, 1966


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Identifying Musical Sources: RISM

RISM = Repertoire internationale des sources musicales = International inventory of musical sources.

Established in 1952, RISM is an ongoing inventory of the universe of musical literature created prior to 1800. RISM lists pre-19th century books on music, manuscript treatises on music, theoretical writings from a variety of sources on music, printed music, printed music collections, and music in manuscipt form. RISM is currently administered as a joint production of the RISM Zentralredaktion at Frankfurt/Main, Germany, and the U.S. RISM Office at Harvard University, Cambridge, MA. Citations include a complete description of the material, and the library/archival location at which these unique resource materials can be found. These are the resources to date.



  • RISM: Series A

    BIXLER REF ML113.I6 Ser. A, v.1-14
    Einzeldrucke vor 1800 = Printed Music before 1800. 14 volumes to date.

  • RISM Online: Music Manuscripts after 1600


  • RISM: Series B

  • BIXLER REF ML113 .I6 Ser. B, v.1
    Recueils imprimés XVIe-XVIIe siecles = Music collections published 1500-1701.

  • BIXLER REF ML113 .I6 Ser. B, v.2
    Recueils imprimés XVIIIe siecle = Music collections published 1701-1800.

  • BIXLER REF ML113 .I6 Ser. B, v.3, parts 1-5
    Theory of Music from the Carolingian Era up to 1400.
  • Pt. 1: Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark France, Luxembourg, Netherlands
  • Pt. 2: Italy
  • Pt. 3: up to 1500 in Germany
  • Pt. 4: Great Britain and the U.S.
  • Pt. 5: Czech Republic, Poland, Portugal and Spain

  • BIXLER REF ML113 .I6 Ser. B, v.4, parts 1-2 and supplement
    Manuscripts of Polyphonic Music, 11th-early 14th century.

  • BIXLER REF ML113 .I6 Ser. B, v.4, parts 3-4
    Handschriften mit mehrstimmiger Musik des 14., 15. und 16. Jahrhunderts = 14th - 16th Century Music Manuscripts Located Throughout Europe.

  • BIXLER REF ML113 .I6 Ser. B, v.4, part 5
    Manuscrits de musique polyphonique: XVe et XVIe siecles, Italie: Catalogue.

  • BIXLER REF ML113.I6 Ser. B, v.5, part 1
    Tropen- und Sequenzen-handschriften = Manuscripts of Tropes and Sequences.

  • BIXLER REF ML113 .I6 Ser. B, v.6, parts 1-2
    Ecrits imprimés concernant la musique = Comprehensive Bibliography of Writings on Music Printed Before 1800.

  • BIXLER REF ML113 .I6 Ser. B, v.7
    Handscriftlich überlieferte Lauten- und Gitarrentabulaturen des 15. bis 18. Jahrhunderts = Descriptive Catalog of Pre-1820 Manuscript Music for Lute, Guitar and other Plectoral Instruments.

  • BIXLER REF ML113. I6 Ser. B, v.8
    Das Deutsche Kirchenlied: kritische Gesamtausgabe der Melodien = German Hymns: Complete Catalog of Melodies.

  • BIXLER REF ML113. I6 Ser. B, v.9, part 1
    Hebrew Notated Manuscript Sources up to circa 1840: A Descriptive and Thematic Catalogue.

  • BIXLER REF ML113. I6 Ser. B, v.9, part 2
    Hebrew Writings Concerning Music in Manuscripts and Printed Books from Geonic Times up to 1800.

  • BIXLER REF ML113. I6 Ser. B, v.10
    The Theory of Music in Arabic Writings (c. 900-1900): Descriptive Catalogue of Manuscripts in Libraries of Europe and the USA.

  • BIXLER REF ML113. I6 Ser. B, v.11
    Ancient Greek Music Theory: A Catalogue Raisonne of Manuscripts.

  • BIXLER REF ML113. I6 Ser. B, v.12
    Manuscrits persans concernant la musique: catalogue

  • BIXLER REF ML113. I6 Ser. B, v.14, pt.1
    Les Manuscrits du Processionnal


  • RISM Directory of Libraries and Library Sigla

  • BIXLER REF ML113.I6 Sigla
    RISM-Bibliothekssigel = RISM Library Sigla

  • RISM Libraries Directory


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Monuments of Music and Complete Works Editions of Composers

  • BIXLER REF ML113 .H52 1980
    Heyer, Anna Harriet. Historical Sets, Collected Editions, and Monuments of Music: A Guide to Their Contents. American Library Association, 1980. Vol. 1: Text; Vol. 2: Index.
    An essential resource which provides detailed access to the contents of composer complete works editions and anthologies of music and historical music sets in score.

  • BIXLER REF ML113 .H55 1997
    Hill, George R. and Norris L. Stephens. Collected Editions, Historical Series and Sets, and Monuments of Music: A Bibliography. Fallen Leaf Press, 1997.
    Sequel to Heyer, but does not replace it. Updates Heyer with new published series and sets. However, the catalog/index volume has not yet been published. Thus, use Heyer and Grove Music Online for finding musical pieces in complete works editions.


  • Examples: Complete Works of a Composer (Shelved in the M3 section, by composer)

  • BIXLER M3.B113
    Bach, Johann Sebastian, 1685-1750. [Works] Neue Ausgabe sämtlicher Werke. Hrsg. vom Johann-Sebastian-Bach-Institut Göttingen und vom Bach-Archiv Leipzig. Bärenreiter-Verlag, 1954-

  • BIXLER M3.B4
    Beethoven, Ludwig van, 1770-1827 [Works. 1961] Werke. Hrsg. vom Beethoven-Archiv, Bonn, unter Leitung von Joseph Schmidt-Görg. Henle, 1961-

  • BIXLER M3.M896 1955
    Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus, 1756-1791. [Works. 1955] Neue Ausgabe sämtlicher Werke : in Verbindung mit den Mozartstädten, Augsburg, Salzburg und Wien. Hrsg. von der Internationalen Stiftung Mozarteum Salzburg. Bärenreiter, 1955-

  • BIXLER M3.S38
    Schubert, Franz, 1797-1828. [Works. 1964] Neue Ausgabe sämtlicher Werke . Hrsg. von der Internationalen Schubert-Gesellschaft. Bärenreiter, 1964--


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Music Theory and Analysis

  • BIXLER REF ML128.A7 D5 1991
    Diamond, Harold J. Music Analyses: An Annotated Guide to the Literature. Schirmer Books, 1991. Arranged by composer and title of the musical work, this index provides access to theoretical analyses of musical compositions appearing in English-language books, periodicals, essay articles, and theses. 4,600 citations included.

  • Music Theory Sites -- From University of Washington Music Library.

  • BIXLER REF ML113 .W45 1987
    Wenk, Arthur. Analyses of Nineteenth- and Twentieth-Century Music: 1940-1985. MLA Index and Bibliography Series, v. 25. Music Library Association, 1987.
    Similar to Diamond, but limited to covering analyses of classical music works from the 19th and 20th centuries. International in scope.


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Musical Scores and Music Publishers

If you cannot locate a particular musical score within the Colby Libraries online catalog, MaineCat or NExpress, here are some sources to help identify scores and locate the publisher.

  • Bagaduce Music Lending Library. -- Located in Blue Hill, Maine, Bagaduce has a membership-based lending library of over 100,000 printed music titles. Great for locating complete sets of choral and concert works for community music productions.

  • ChoralNet Choral Repertoire

  • Databases Including Scores / Sheet Music -- Want to download sheet music over the net? Here are some sites to browse.

  • Free Printable Music on the Web. -- By Martin Jenkins, Music and Humanities Librarian, Wright State University. START HERE if you want to learn more about printing music off the web. The author's evaluative comments will save you time. Discussed are various file formats used by each site, special features, pros and cons.

  • J.W. Pepper -- A large vendor with a searchable database for purchasing music scores from a variety of publishers.

  • Music Publishers links -- From Indiana University's Worldwide Internet Music Resources.

  • Music Publishers Association Directory of Music Publishers.

  • Online Musical Scores. -- Excellent site from Indiana University. This is a core collection of digitized music scores from various genres created from standard editions of classical music.

  • PDInfo: Public Domain Music. -- A searchable index of songs in the public domain.

  • WorldCat
    Available: Colby only
    Updated: daily
    Access: OCLC (Online Computer Library Center)
    WorldCat contains millions of catalog records from OCLC member libraries worldwide. Among the wide variety of materials included in the bibliographic database are books, manuscripts, serials, newspapers, electronic materials, maps, web sites.

When you locate a score you need in OCLC/Worldcat, you can directly submit a Colby interlibrary loan request for the item.

Songs: Finding Music and Lyrics

Song Indexes

"Where can I find the words and music for 'Ain't Misbehavin' by Fats Waller?" A Song Index enables the user to search by song title (and usually the first line of the song) to locate a particular score anthology or collection which contains the printed music and words to that song.

Song Indexes in Bixler Library

You can easily search by subject in the library catalog under the subject: Songs--Indexes, to retrieve titles in Colby's collection

University of Tennesee Song Index

This database provides access to about 50,000 songs in more than 1,500 published song anthologies owned by the George F. DeVine Music Library at the University of Tennessee, located in Knoxville. Search the Colby Catalog for the song anthology title once you locate an anthology with the song you are looking for.

Song Lyrics

Sound Recordings

Listening/Guides:

  • All Music Guide. -- For all popular genres, the AMG gives basic info on music styles, artists, and best recordings representing the genre.

  • All Music Guide. Classical. -- Same format as above. Survey of classical styles, composers, representative musical works and recordings.

  • BIXLER REF ML156.9 G72 2004
    Gramophone classical good CD guide 2004

  • BIXLER ML102.W67 W67 1999
    World Music: The Rough Guide. Rough Guides / Penguin, 1999. A guide to the best world music on compact disc.
  • v. 1. Africa, Europe and the Middle East
  • v. 2. The Americas, Asia and the Pacific.


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Finding/Purchasing:

  • Amazon.com

  • Classical Music Commercial Sites. -- A list of sites on the web to purchase CDs

  • H & B Direct. -- Searchable database of classical music recordings to purchase. Good for smaller labels.

  • Record Labels on the Web -- A database of record label web sites, searchable by genre, country, and alphabetically by label name.

  • Retail Music Products, Stores and Services -- Good compilation of sites to purchase music and sound recordings.

  • Tower Records

  • WorldCat
    Available: Colby only
    Updated: daily
    Access: OCLC (Online Computer Library Center)
    WorldCat contains millions of catalog records from OCLC member libraries worldwide. Among the wide variety of materials included in the bibliographic database are books, manuscripts, serials, newspapers, electronic materials, maps, web sites.

If you are looking for a particular song or recording and can't find it on one of the current commerical sites, try a keyword search on Worldcat to verify if a recording has been issued.

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Discographies:

  • Discography. -- This lists all discographies and listening guides in the Bixler Library collection.

  • BIXLER REF ML 156.4 J3 R9 1982
    Rust, Brian. Jazz records, 1897-1942. Storyville Publications, 1982.

  • BIXLER REF ML156.4.B6 D59 1997
    Dixon, Robert M. W. Blues & gospel records, 1890-1943. Oxford University Press, 1997.


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Websites: Professional and Scholarly Organizations

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Websites: Special Topics

Early Music

Ethnomusicology, Folk and World Music

Jazz and Popular Genres

Music Technology

Opera and Musical Theatre

  • Aria Database. -- A compendium of information on over 1000 operatic arias, the Aria Database includes translations and aria texts of most arias, links to published recordings and sheet music, as well as a collection of MIDI files of operatic arias and ensembles.

  • Broadway.com

  • Online Opera Scores. -- Prototype created by the Variations Project of the Indiana University Music Library

  • Opera, Opera Companies, and Musical Theatre. -- Many links on these topics from Indiana University's Worldwide Internet Music Resources

  • Operabase. -- Opera houses, festivals, news and reviews, composer biographies, opera synopes, libretti, recordings
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    Last Updated Date: 02/05/2008    
    Created by:  Ericson, Margaret D. 
    Email: mericson@colby.edu