Below are a variety of music reference and research tools. In determining what type of reference tool you need, it is most helpful to clarify exactly the type of information you are looking for. For example, are you looking for:

• Literature about a particular musician or subject
• Printed music by a particular composer or printed music in a particular genre
• Sound recordings of music by a particular composer, musician, or in a specific genre
• Internet resources on a particular topic

Once you have clarified what you are looking for, you will be able to more efficiently use the tools listed below. This list is only a small selection of what is contained in the reference collection in the Music Library. If you need assistance with research or can’t seem to find the information you are looking for, ask for the Music Librarian.

General Guides to Music Reference Literature and Research in Music

Style Guides

Indexes and Abstracts to Literature About Music

Indexes and Abstracts to General Literature

General Music Encyclopedias and Dictionaries

Biographical Dictionaries and Indexes

Dictionaries of Musical Terms

Directories

Chronologies

Music Analyses and Music Appreciation Guides

Special Reference Topics: Opera and the Musical Theatre

Special Reference Topics: Pop, Jazz, Rock, Folk

Special Reference Topics: Ethnomusicology

Reference Tools for the Identification of Musical Works

RISM Bibliographies: Pre-1850 Manuscripts, Early Printed Music, and Early Boks on Music

Bibliographies of and Indexes to Music Scores

Song Texts, Texts in Translation, and Libretti

Location and Identification of Sound Recordings of Musical Works

Music Business and Careers

Internet Resources

^{General Guides to Music Reference Literature and Research in Music}

Brockman, William S. Music: A Guide to the Reference Literature. Libraries Unlimited, 1987.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML113 .B85 1987]

A very good, selective overview of the music reference literature. Includes annotated entries for 841 of the most important music reference sources, primarily in the English language. Includes key journals, associations and research centers. Clear arrangement; indexed. Not as up-to-date or as comprehensive as Duckles and Keller.

Crabtree, Phillip D. and Foster Donald H. Sourcebook for Research in Music. Indiana University Press, 1993.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML113 .C68 1993]

One of the best single-volume research guides for serious undergraduate and graduate music research. Introductory material includes definitions of common bibliographical terms from the English, German and French languages, and a detailed breakdown of the LC classification scheme for music. The systematic presentation of the bibliography of research and reference literature allows the user to pursue a consistent and comprehensive search easily. Essential to all reference collections.

Duckles, Vincent, et. al.. Music Reference and Research Materials 5th ed.. Schirmer Books, 1997.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML113. D83 1997]

Excellent guide to the recent and retrospective reference literature, easily arranged and indexed by author, title and subject for easy access. Contains annotated entries for 3,000 reference sources; coverage is international.

^{Style Guides}

Chicago Manual of Style. University of Chicago Press.

[PRINT. Music Reference Z253 .U69]

Holoman, D. Kern. Writing About Music: A Style Sheet from the Editors of Nineteenth Century Music. University of California Press, 1988.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML63 .W68 1988]

^{Indexes and Abstracts to Literature About Music}

Doctoral Dissertations in Musicology. Cecil Adkins and Alis Dickinson, editors. North American ed. and International ed. American Musicological Society.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML128 .M8 A4]

Doctoral Dissertations in Musicology, February 1984 - April 1995. Cecil Adkins and Alis Dickinson, editors. American Musicological Society.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML128 .M8 A4]

Doctorial Dissertations in Musicology--Online. Bloomington; Indiana Unversity School of Music, 1995-Present.

International Index to Music Periodicals. Chadwyck-Healy.

[Requires Tufts ID and proxy server software for off-campus use]

Also available on CD-ROM in the Music Library. Database still in development stages, but good for current indexing coverage of several hundred music periodicals; eventually with backfiles to go back to the nineteenth century. Should be used in conjunction with Music Index or RILM.

Music Index. Harmonie Park Press.

[PRINT. Music References Indexes ML118 .M84]

Available in print only. Excellent index to English language and international periodical articles, popular and scholarly periodical articles, and some interdisciplinary journals (e.g. folklore, aesthetics, etc.). Good non-classical music coverage. Music Index began publication in 1949, but Tufts holds annual cumulations for 1955-1993. Monthly issues for 1994-present. Controlled language subject headings.

Repertoire International de la Presse Musicale (RIPM). Center for Studies in Nineteenth-Century Music, University of Maryland.

[PRINT. Music Reference Indexes ML5 .R275]

Available in print only, in 72 volumes. Indexes and provides tables of contents to 30+ nineteenth and early twentieth century music periodicals (1805-1917) from Germany, Italy, France, England and the US. Keyword from title indexing.

RILM Abstracts (Repertoire International de Litterature Musicale). RILM International Center, CUNY.

[Requires Tufts ID and proxy server software for off-campus use]

[PRINT. Music Reference Indexes ML1 .I83]

Features: International, all languages, scholarly. Indexes all types of print publications, including journals,essays in books, dissertations, books, published proceedings, etc. Not absolutely current, and weak in covering popular genres (but it is improving). Print version begins in 1967. Electronic version begins in 1969. The electronic version is updated more frequently than the published print version.

^{Indexes and Abstracts to General Literature}

In addition to general, interdisciplinary indexes and abstracts, this section includes indexes and abstracts to the literature of non-music disciplines which incorporate some music-related material.

America: History and Life. ABC-Clio, 1974-

[Tufts use only - log on as TULIPS - Select Indexes & Abstracts/CD-ROM]

Indexing /abstracting source for journal literature in American culture and history, with journal coverage not found in music sources.

Art Abstracts. H.W. Wilson Company, 1984-

[Requires Tufts ID and proxy server software for off-campus use]

The online version of Art Index.

Coverage of periodicals in arts; music iconography, image of musicians in film, photography and art ; musical instrument construction and auction coverage, etc.,from 1984 on.

Arts & Humanities Citation Index. Institute for Scientific Information, 1974-

[Requires Tufts ID and proxy server software for off-campus use]

The online version. Indexes about 60 music periodicals and other arts/humanities journals, as well as some conference proceedings and anthologies. Used for finding relevant literature on a topic by searching important cited literature, or for determining the significance of a publication by the frequency with which it cited in the journal literature. Also can be used for general subject searching via keyword, non-controlled vocabulary. Part of Web of Science.

CINAHL -- Nursing and Allied Health Literature.

Good for coverage on music therapy, musicians' injuries, music and medicine-related topics.

Text version

[Tufts use only - log on as TULIPS - Select Indexes & Abstracts/Ovid]

Web version

[Requires Tufts ID and proxy server software for off-campus use]

ContentsFirst. OCLC, 1990-

[Requires Tufts ID and proxy server software for off-campus use]

Browse tables of contents of recent major music journals by using this database.

Dissertation Abstracts. UMI, 1861-

[Requires Tufts ID and proxy server software for off-campus use]

Online index to and abstracts of dissertations accepted at accredited institutions since 1861.

ERIC. Educational Resources Information Center, 1984-

Text version

[Tufts use only - log on as TULIPS - Select Indexes & Abstracts/Ovid]

Web version

[Requires Tufts ID and proxy server software for off-campus use]

Electronic version of cumulations of 2 paper indexes: Current Index to Journals in Education (CIJE) and Resources in Education (RIE). Excellent resource for journal, conference and research literature on music education, pedagogy-related topics, for all educational levels. Some documents available on ERIC microfiche; see [Tisch Microforms F13].

[SearchBank Web version - Access from within Tisch and Music libraries only]

General interest and major academic periodicals indexed, some with abstracts. A good beginning for undergraduates in music.

Historical Abstracts. ABC-Clio, 1979-

[Tufts use only - log on as TULIPS - Select Indexes & Abstracts/CD-ROM]

International topics in culture and history.

MLA International Bibliography. Modern Language Association, 1963-

Text version

[Tufts use only - log on as TULIPS - Select Indexes & Abstracts/Ovid]

Web version

[Requires Tufts ID and proxy server software for off-campus use]

Literature, language and aesthetics; interdisciplinary coverage including music-related material in journals and books. Should be consulted for comprehensive coverage of a topic, due to excellent international coverage of interdisciplinary literature.

Psychlit. American Psychological Association, 1974-

Coverage of topics relating to music as it relates to social, clinical and developmental psychology.

Text version

[Tufts use only - log on as TULIPS - Select Indexes & Abstracts/Ovid]

Web version

[Requires Tufts ID and proxy server software for off-campus use]

Sociological Abstracts. Sociological Abstracts, Inc., 1963-

[Requires Tufts ID and proxy server software for off-campus use]

Indexes and abstracts 250 English-language journals in sociology, social work, and other social sciences. Updated six times per year.

Should be consulted for interdisciplinary coverage of a music topic.

For more related indexes and abstracts, please see General and Interdisciplinary Indexes and Abstracts, Humanities Indexes and Abstracts, Anthropology Indexes and Abstracts, or Social Science Indexes and Abstracts.

^{General Music Encyclopedias and Dictionaries}

Blume, Friedrich. Die Musik und Geschichte und Gegenwart. Ludwig Fincher, editor. Barenreiter, 1994- (still being issued)

[PRINT. Music Reference ML100 .M92 1994]

The most famous and scholarly German-language music encyclopedia. Useful because it updates the New Grove (c1980), and bibliographies are excellent. 20 volumes in 2 sections: Sachteil (Subject, 8 vols), and Personenteil (Biographical, 12 volumes).

The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians. Stanley Sadie, editor. Macmillan, 1980. 20 volumes.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML100 .N48]

Effectively the 6th edition of the previously issued Grove’s Dictionary of Music and Musicians (see [Music Stacks ML100 .G885 1955]), the 6th edition updates, but in reality does not supersede, the 5th edition, as all entries in the 5th edition were not carried over to the 6th edition. This is the prime source for information on musicians, terminology, and topics throughout the history of music. The detailed works lists and bibliographies are essential points of departure for verification of musical bits of information and for research on composers and subjects in music. Unlike the MGG, the New Grove puts into one alphabet all the entries for names, subjects, countries and terms contained within its 20 volumes. Appendix A in volume 20 includes an index of terms used in the articles on non-western and folk musics.

The New Grove Dictionary of American Music. H. Wiley Hitchcock and Stanley Sadie, editors. Macmillan, 1986. 4 volumes.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML101 .U6 N48 1986]

In typical New Grove fashion, biographical, subject, and geographical entries are arranged in one alphabetical sequence. Articles written by scholars, with excellent bibliographies. Coverage of all types of music, not just concert music.

^{Biographical Dictionaries and Indexes}

Indexes to Biographical Resources

Bull, Storm. Index to Biographies of Contemporary Composers. Scarecrow Press. 3 volumes to date.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML105 .B9]

Hixon, Don L., and Don A. Hennessee. Women in Music: An Encyclopedic Biobibliography, 2nd ed.. Scarecrow Press, 1993. 2 volumes.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML105 .H6 1993]

Index to biographical references on women musicians found in 48 standard music encyclopedias and dictionaries.

Biographical Dictionaries

Baker, Theodore. Baker’s Biographical Dictionary of Musicians *th ed. Rev. by Nicolas Slonimsky. Schirmer Books, 1992.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML105 .B16 1991]

One-volume biographical dictionary with comprehensive, historical coverage of musicians primarily from the world of Western art music.

Cohen, Aaron I. International Encyclopedia of Women Composers, 2nd ed.. Books and Music USA, 1987. 2 volumes.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML105 .C7 1987]

Not as scholarly, but sometimes more inclusive than the Norton/Grove Dictionary of Women Composers [Music Reference ML105 .N67 1994]. Both are essential for those doing research on women composers.

Harvard Biographical Dictionary of Music. Don Michael Randel, ed. Harvard University Press, 1996.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML105 .H38 1996]

Short to medium-length entries for musicians from the Western concert music tradition, but also selective coverage of American jazz and popular musicians. Longer entries include a bibliography.

International Who’s Who in Music (and Musicians Directory). Volume 1: Classical and Light Classical Fields.15th ed. International Biographical Centre, 1996.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML106 .G7W4]

Published at irregular intervals. Includes brief biographies of living classical musicians only; international in scope.

International Who’s Who in Music. Volume 2: Popular Music. Sean Tyler, ed. International Who’s Who in Music, 1996.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML105 .I558]

Brief biographies of living musicians active in popular music worldwide.

Slonimsky, Nicolas. Baker’s Biographical Dictionary of Twentieth-Century Classical Musicians. Prentice Hall, 1997.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML105 .S612 1997]

Southern, Eileen. Biographical Dictionary of Afro-American and African Musicians. Greenwood., 1982

[PRINT. Music Reference ML105 .S67 1982]

The first reference tool of its kind focusing on 1500 musicians of African descent (living and historical) participating in concert and vernacular musics. Each entry is accompanied by a bibliography.

^{Dictionaries of Musical Terms}

Kaufmann, Walter. Selected Music Terms of Non-Western Cultures: A Notebook Glossary. Harmonie Park Press, 1990.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML108 .K37 1990]

Very brief definitions of musical terms relating to the musics of Asia, Africa and Oceania.

New Grove Dictionary of Musical Instruments. Stanley Sadie, editor. Macmillan, 1984. 3 volumes.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML102 .I5 N48 1984]

The best source for locating more in-depth entries on musical terminology relating to: instruments of classical Western music and their makers; instruments of modern Western music and their makers; performance practice; and folk, traditional and non-Western musical instruments (excellent coverage here). Bibliographies and cross-references make this an essential research tool.

Terminorum musicae: Index Septem Linguis Redactus. Horst Leuchtmann, editor. Budapest: Akademiai Kiado ; Kassel: Barenreiter-Verlag, 1978.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML108 .T4 1978]

Polyglot dictionary of musical terms: English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Hungarian, Russian.

New Harvard Dictionary of Music. Don Michael Randel, editor. Harvard University Press, 1986.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML100 .R3 1986]

The standard general 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. Essential reference tool.

^Directories

Billboard International Buyers Guide. BPI Communications. Annual.

[PRINT. Latest ed. in Music Reference ML18 .B5 1997]

Issued by the publisher of Billboard magazine, this is a directory of record companies, video companies, music publishers, music wholesalers and distributors, industry services, music associations and professional organizations, performing rights organizations, libraries and educational institutions, media production supplies and services. Main body of the directory covers U. S. listings. Separate sections at the end for European and International listings.

Directory of Music Faculties in Colleges and Universities, U.S. and Canada. College Music Society. Annual.

[PRINT. Latest ed. in Music Reference ML13 .D57]

An essential resource. Directory to departments of music and music schools in US and Canada, with a detailed listing of names of faculty members, their credentials, names of department heads, and music degrees offered by the institution. Various indices make this a useful tool for students seeking to find the right music program for their interest.

International Directory of Music Organizations. 2nd ed. College Music Society, 1996.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML12. I573 1996]

Issued by the College Music Society, this is an alphabetical listing of music associations, societies, conferences, music information centers, etc., worldwide. Each entry includes statement of purpose, officers, dates of future special events, publications, etc.

Krummel, D.W., et. al. Resources of American Music History: A Directory of Source Materials from Colonial Times to World War II. University of Illinois Press, 1981.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML102 .U5 R47]

Essential for American music research, and locating manuscripts, special collection materials, and other primary resources in this area. Arranged geographically by state, the body of the directory includes entries for names of libraries, archives, and private collections with special American music materials. The painstakingly detailed index makes this tool extremely easy to use and productive in terms locating a special collection with resources about a particular American musician or topic in American music.

Musical America International Directory of the Performing Arts. Musical America. Annual.

[PRINT. Latest ed. in Music Reference ML12 .M88]

An essential directory listing contact information for artist’s managers and management agencies, orchestras, opera companies, choral groups, dance companies, music festivals and performing arts series, arts administration degree programs, music schools, contests and awards, commercial and nonprofit services, record companies, associations, state arts agencies, music publishers, magazines and newspapers (music critics), music facilities, radio and TV stations, etc. Separate sections for U.S./Canada and International. The index of advertisers allows one to locate the name of the agent for a particular concert performer.

Uscher, Nancy. The Schirmer Guide to Schools of Music and Conservatories Throughout the World. Schirmer Books, 1988.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML12 .U8 1988]

Geographic listing of worldwide music schools and conservatories. Though the data is somewhat out of date, each entry includes address, phone, brief history, goals of the school, entrance requirements, admissions procedures, accreditation information, program description, facilities description, and tuition/financial aid info.

^Chronologies

Caldwell, Hansonia L. African American Music: A Chronology, 1619-1995. Ikoro, 1995.

[PRINT. Music Stacks ML3479 .C35 1995]

Eisler, Paul. World Chronology of Music History. Oceana Publications, 1972. 6 volumes published.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML161 .E4]

Covering the years 30,000 B.C to 1796, this is a very detailed chronology of musical events throughout history.

Hall, Charles J. A Chronicle of American Music 1700-1995. Schirmer Books, 1996.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML200 .H15 1996]

Of the various music history chronologies, Hall’s work lists historical highlights, world cultural highlights, American Art and Literature highlights, in addition to the musical events. The painstakingly detailed index allows one to easily place a musician or musical work in context with the concurrent events of the time.

Slonimsky, Nicolas. Music Since 1900.5th ed. Schirmer Books, 1994.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML197 .S634 1994]

Slonimsky combines brilliant music criticism with the details of historical documentation, producing one of the masterpieces of music reference literature. Documents the major events in modern concert music by year/day.

Whitburn, Joel. Joel Whitburn Presents Daily #1 Hits 1940-1992. Record Research, 1993.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML156.4 .P6 W4575 1993]

What was the number #1 hit on the radio on August 14, 1967? This source will tell you.

^{Music Analyses and Music Appreciation Guides}

Cobbett, Walter Willson. Cobbett’s Cyclopedic Survey of Chamber Music. 2nd ed. Oxford University Press, 1963. 3 volumes.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML1100 .C7 1963]

Diamond, Harold J. Music Analyses: An Annotated Guide to the Literature. Schirmer Books, 1991.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML128 .A7 D5 1991]

Arranged by composer and title of musical work, this index provides access to theoretical analyses of musical compositions appearing in English-language books, essays, journal articles, dissertations and theses. 4,600 citations included.

Downes, Edward. The New York Philharmonic Guide to the Symphony. Walker and Co, 1976.

[PRINT. Music Reference MT125 .D68 1976]

Covers the major themes and stylistic features of over 450 symphonic works ranging from Mahler to Haydn to Stravinsky. Historical background included. More for the layperson than the advanced music student.

Fuld, James J. Book of World Famous Music: Classical, Popular and Folk. 3rd,rev. ed. Dover,1985.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML113 .F8 1985]

Fuld provides background details on major classical and popular songs from various periods of history. This is the source to turn to for such questions as "What are the origins of L’Internationale?"

Wenk, Arthur. Analyses of Nineteenth- and Twentieth-Century Music: 1940-1985. MLA Index and Bibliography Series, v. 25. Music Library Association, 1987.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML113 .W45 1987]

Similar to Diamond, but limited to covering music from the 19th and 20th centuries. International in scope.

^{Special Reference Topics: Opera and the Musical Theatre}

GŠnzl, Kurt. Encyclopedia of the Musical Theatre. Schirmer Books, 1994. 2 volumes.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML102 .M88 G3 1994]

Entries for performers, composers, librettists, operettas, and musical shows from Europe and the United States from the 19th and 20th centuries.

KobbŽ, Gustav. The Definitive KobbŽ‘s Opera Book. Edited, revised and updated by the Earl of Harewood. Putnam, 1987.

[PRINT. Music Reference MT95. K52 1987]

The best single-volume opera plot guide. Part I, operas dating from 1600-1800; Part II, Nineteenth Century; Part III, Twentieth Century.

Lynch, Richard Chigley. Musicals! A Complete Selection Guide for Local Productions. 2nd ed. American Library Association, 1994.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML19 .L9 1994]

An alphabetical listing and description of 500 musicals available for production via licensing agencies and music publishers.

New Grove Dictionary of Opera. Stanley Sadie, editor. Macmillan, 1992. 4 volumes.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML102 .06 N5 1992]

The most scholarly reference work on Western opera from the 17th through the 20th centuries, this encyclopedic dictionary includes biographies of composers, opera musicians, titles and plots of operas, names of opera companies, theaters, voice terminology, etc. Entries include bibliographical references. Medieval music theater and music drama from non-western cultures do not fall within the scope of this reference work.

Warrack, John and Ewan West. Oxford Dictionary of Opera. Oxford University Press, 1992.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML102 .O6 W37 1992]

Good single-volume ready reference tool for identifications of operatic characters, opera titles, and titles of arias from operas; includes definitions of vocal terminology, biographies of opera musicians and composers, and entries for theaters and opera companies.

^{Special Reference Topics: Pop, Jazz, Rock, Folk}

Contemporary Musicians: Profiles of the People in Music. Sean Pollock, editor. Gale Research. Annual.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML385 .C615]

Coverage: v. 1 (1989)-

Biographical essays on an eclectic array of popular, folk, jazz and blues artists. Each essay includes a select bibliography and discography. The most current volume includes cumulative name and subject indexes to all previous volumes for easy access to the contents of the series.

Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music. 2nd ed. Colin Larkin, compiler and editor. Guinness Publishing, 1995. 6 volumes.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML102 .P66 G84 1995]

An excellent resource for popular music reference, this encyclopedia has a decidedly British flavor in terms of its content. Includes biographical entries as well as entries for Broadway shows and movie musicals, record labels and pop music magazines. With entries from the Chieftains to Charlie Christian, this encyclopedia is very eclectic in coverage. Articles which contain cross references to other entries have the cross references noted in boldface...a nice feature. Brief discographies included.

Hoffman, Frank, and B. Lee Cooper. The Literature of Rock. Scarecrow.

Volume I. Literature published 1954-1978

[PRINT. Music Reference ML128 .R6 H6]

Volume II (parts 1 and 2). Literature published 1979-1983.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML128 .R6 H62 1986]

Volume III. Literature published 1984-1990 (with additional material 1954-1983)

[PRINT. Music Reference ML128 .R6 H63 1995]

Essential popular music research tool compiled by some its foremost scholars. This bibliography cites articles in periodicals, essays, chapters in books, etc., on artists and trends in rock music. The index to the bibliography is excellent, providing good content of the literature.

Kinkle, Roger D. The Complete Encyclopedia of Popular Music and Jazz, 1900-1950. Arlington House, 1974. 4 volumes.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML102 .P66 K55

An essential resource for serious students in jazz and popular music history. Each volume covers a particular aspect of music research. Volume 1 (Music Year by Year) is a chronology beginning with 1900. Under each year the following info is presented: Broadway Musicals, Movie Musicals, and Popular Songs. Volumes 2 and 3 include biographies of popular and early jazz composers and performers (including singers and instrumentalists). Each entry includes brief biography and a discography. Volume 4 includes appendices and indexes. Appendices include: Down Beat Poll Winners; release dates of recordings from 19 major record labels; Academy Award winners and nominees (1934-1972); record label numbers issued by Victor, Bluebird, Okeh, Columbia and other blues and jazz labels from 1920-1940. Separate indexes allow one to access personal names, names of Broadway musicals, names of movie musicals, and popular songs which appear in Volumes 1-3.

Popular Music: An Annotated Index of American Popular Songs. Adrian Press (v. 1-6); Gale Research.

[PRINT. v. 1 - v. 6: Music Reference ML120 .U5 S5] Nat Shapiro, Editor

[PRINT. v. 7 - : Music Reference ML120 .U5 S52] Bruce Pollock, Editor

Each volume concentrates on a particular year or set of years. Coverage of popular music from 1920 to the present.

New Grove Dictionary of Jazz. Barry Kernfeld, editor. Macmillan, 1988. 2 volumes.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML102 .J3 N48 1986]

Essential reference tool for jazz. Should be used with more current resources and periodical literature if utilizing for background information on people or performing groups. Entries in NG Jazz cover terms and topics in jazz, record labels, and biographies of jazz musicians. Most entries are accompanied by a selective discography and bibliography.

The New Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll. Patricia Romanowski and Holly George-Warren, editors. Fireside, 1995.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML102 .R6 R64 1995]

This is a biographical dictionary; terminology and subjects in rock are not included, but people are. Each entry includes a chronology/discography, with entries varying from 2 paragraphs to 2 pages. Entries do not include a bibliography. A good basic starting point.

^{Special Reference Topics: Ethnomusicology}

Gray, John. African Music: A Bibliographical Guide to the Traditional, Popular, Art, and Liturgical Musics of Sub-Saharan Africa. Greenwood Press, 1991.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML120 .A35 G71991]

Keeling, Richard. North American Indian Music: A Guide to Published Sources and Selected Recordings. Garland, 1997.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML128 .F75 K44 1997]

Lieberman, Fredric. Chinese Music: An Annotated Bibliography. 2nd ed. Garland, 1979.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML120 .C5 L5 1979]

Manual for Fieldwork Documentation and Preservation for Ethnomusicologists. Society for Ethnomusicology, 1994.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML3798 .M35 1994]

Schuursma, Ann. Ethnomusicology Research: A Select Annotated Bibliography. Garland Library of Music Ethnology, v. 1. Garland, 1992.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML128 .E8 S4 1992]

Spottswood, Richard K. Ethnic Music on Records: A Discography of Ethnic Recordings Produced in the United States, 1893-1942. University of Illinois Press, 1990. 6 volumes.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML156.4 .F5 S69 1990]

^{Reference Tools for the Identification of Musical Works}

Thematic Catalogs

Barlow, Harold and Sam Morgenstern. A Dictionary of Musical Themes. rev. ed. Crown, 1975.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML128 .I65 B3 1975]

Barlow, Harold and Sam Morgenstern. A Dictionary of Opera and Song Themes, Including Cantatas, Oratorios, Lieder, and Art Songs. Crown, 1976.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML128 .V7 B3 1976]

Brook, Barry S. and Richard Viano. Thematic Catalogues in Music: An Annotated Bibliography. 2nd ed. Pendragon, 1997.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML113 .B86 1997]

Kinsky, Georg. Das Werk Beethovens: Thematisch-Bibliographisches Verzeichnis seiner sŠmtlichen vollendeten Kompositionen. Henle 1955.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML134 .B4K5]

Kšchel, Ludwig Ritter von. Chronologisch-thematisches Verzeichnis sŠmtlicher Tonwerke Wolfgang AmadŽ Mozarts. Breitkopf & HŠrtel, 1965.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML134. M9 K55 1965]

Schmeider, Wolfgang. Thematisch-systematisches Verzeichnis der musikalischen Werke von Johann Sebastian Bach: Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis (BWV). 2nd ed. Breitkopf & HŠrtel, 1990.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML134 .B1 S3 1990]

Classical Music Titles: Nicknames, Subtitles, and Titles in Translation

Berkowitz, Freda Pastor. Popular Titles and Subtitles of Musical Compositions. 2nd ed. Scarecrow, 1975.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML113 .B39 1975]

If you are having trouble finding Haydn’s Philosopher Symphony in the online catalog, this is where to go first.

Hodgson, Julian. Music Titles in Translation: A Checklist of Musical Compositions. Linnet Books, 1976.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML111 .H7]

Why can’t I find more recordings of Lehar’s Merry Widow in the online catalog? Look here and you’ll see why: the original title (i.e. uniform title) is Lustige Witwe.

^{RISM Bibliographies}

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

Activated in 1952, and co-sponsored by the International Association of Music Libraries and the International Musicological Society, RISM is an ongoing inventory of the universe of musical literature created prior to 1800 or so: i.e. 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. Citations include a complete description of the materials, and the library/archival location. These are the resources to date.

RISM: Series A

Einzeldrucke vor 1800 = Printed music before 1800. 11 volumes to date.
[PRINT. Music Reference ML113 .I6 V. AI]
Musikhandschriften vor 1800 = Music manuscripts before 1800.

RISM: Series B

Receils imprimes XVIe-XVIIe siecles = Music collections published 1500-1701.
[PRINT. Music Reference ML113 .I6 V. BI]
Receils imprimes XVIIIe siecle = Music collections published 1701-1800.
[PRINT. Music Reference ML113 .I6 V. BII]
Theory of Music from the Carolingian Era up to 1400. Vol. 1: Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark France, Luxembourg, Netherlands. Vol. 2: Italy. Vol. 3: up to 1500 in Germany.
[PRINT. Music Reference ML113 .I6 V. BIII]
1-2. Manuscripts of Polyphonic Music, 11th-early 14th century.
[PRINT. Music Reference ML113 .I6 V. BIV, 1-2]
3-4. Handschriften mit mehrstimmiger Musik des 14., 15. und 16. Jahrhunderts = 14th - 16th century music manuscripts located throughout Europe.
[PRINT. Music Reference ML113 .I6 V. BIV, 3-4]
5. Manuscrits de musique polyphonique: XVe et XVIe siecles, Italie: Catalogue.
[PRINT. Music Reference ML113 .I6 V. BIV, 5]
1. Tropen- und Sequenzen-handschriften = Manuscripts of tropes and sequences.
[PRINT. Music Reference ML113. I6 V. BV, 1]
Ecrits imprimes concernant la musique = Comprehenseve bibliography of writings on music printed before 1800.
[PRINT. Music Reference ML113 .I6 V. BVI, 1-2]
Handscriftlich uberlieferte Lauten- und Gitarrentabulaturen des 15. bis 18. Jahrhunderts = Descriptive catalog of pre-1820 manuscript music for lute, guitar and other plectoral instruments.
[PRINT. Music Reference ML113 .I6 V. BVII]
Das Deutsche Kirchenlied: kritische Gesamtausgabe der Melodien = German hymns: complete catalog of melodies.
[PRINT. Music Reference ML113. I6 V. BVIII]
1. Hebrew Notated Manuscript Sources up to circa 1840: A Descriptive and Thematic Catalogue.
[PRINT. Music Reference ML113 .I6 V. BIX, 1]
2. Hebrew writings concerning music in manuscripts and printed books from Geonic times up to 1800.
[PRINT. Music Reference ML113 .I6 V. BIX, 2]
The Theory of Music in Arabic Writings (c. 900-1900): Descriptive Catalogue of manuscripts in libraries of Europe and the USA.
[PRINT. Music Reference ML113 .I6 V. BX]
Ancient Greek Music Theory: A Catalogue Raisonne of manuscripts.
[PRINT. Music Reference ML113 .I6 V. BXI]
Manuscrits persans concernant la musique: catalogue.
[PRINT. Music Reference ML113. I6 V. BXII]

^{Bibliographies of and Indexes to Music Scores}

Monuments of Music and Complete Works Editions of Composers

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.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML113 .H52 1980]

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. Useful for such questions as "Where can I find the score to the madrigal Anima dolorosa by Monteverdi?"

Hill, George R. and Norris L. Stephens. Collected Editions, Historical Series and Sets, and Monuments of Music: A Bibliography. Fallen Leaf Press, 1997.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML113 .H55 1997]

Sequel to Heyer, but does not replace it in terms of amount of detail included. Updates Heyer with new published series and sets. Catalog/index volume forthcoming. The bibliography volume of the new edition does not include the contents to composer complete works editions (use Heyer and New Grove for this). However it does intersperse composer/title entries for works included in anthologies and series. Useful for such questions as "Where can I find music which might have been performed at the court of Henry VIII, King of England?"

Vocal Music

Classical Vocal Music In Print. Thomas Nardone, ed. Musicdata, 1976. Use also the 1985 and 1995 supplements.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML128 .V7 N335; includes 2 supplements]

Entries for titles of vocal works in print in one alphabet with composer entries; titles are cross-referenced to the composer entries, which have the complete publication information.

Goleeke, Thomas. Literature for Voice: An Index of Songs in Collections and Source Book for Teachers of Singing. Scarecrow Press, 1984.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML128 .S3 G64 1984]

An index to more recently published classical song anthologies not covered by Sears (see below).

Havlice, Patricia. Popular Song Index. Scarecrow, 1975.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML128 .S3 H4 1975; includes 3 supplements]

Indexing a variety of popular songbooks, using PSI allows the user to find the music (and words) to a particular popular song in a collection of printed music.

Sears, Minnie Earl. Song Index: An Index to More Than 12,000 Songs in 177 Song Collections...and Supplement. Reprint ed. 2 volumes bound in one. Shoe String Press, 1966.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML128 .S3 S31 1966]

An index to classical songs and arias and folksongs contained in collections, with retrospective coverage of older anthologies and songbooks. This index would not be useful for accessing the contents of recently published classical song anthologies.

Instrumental Music--Solo and Chamber

Farish, Margaret K. String Music in Print. 2nd ed. Bowker, 1973. Also 1984 supplement volume.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML128 .S7; includes supplement]

Lists in-print music for violin, viola, cello, bass, and the viol family, both solo and in chamber ensemble. Arranged by performance medium, with a composer index.

Hinson, Maurice. Guide to the Pianist’s Repertoire. 2nd rev. ed. Indiana University Press, 1987.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML128 .P3 H5 1987]

Hinson has authored several different bibliographic guides to the piano literature. This is the most well-known. Part 1 is arranged by composer/title, and entries list publisher, difficulty level, and stylistic features of the piano work. Part II lists anthologies. Indexes by nationality of the composer, black composers, women composers, etc.

Pellerite, James J. Handbook of Literature for the Flute: A Compilation of Graded Method Materials, Solos, and Ensemble Music for Flutes. 3rd ed., rev. Zalo Publications, 1978.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML128 .F7 P4 1978]

Instrumental Music--Symphonic

Daniels, David. Orchestral Music: A Handbook. Scarecrow, 1996.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML128 .05 D3 1996]

A guide to published orchestral music, with instrumentation, timings, and the publisher name(s).

Orchestral Music in Print. Margaret K. Farish, ed. Musicdata, 1979. Use also 1983 and 1994 supplements.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML128 .O5 F33; with supplements]

Titles and composers in one alphabet, with titles cross-referenced to composer entry, which has the complete information: publisher, edition information, instrumentation, timing, etc.

Other

Jackson, Barbara Garvey. Say Can You Deny Me: A Guide to Surviving Music by Women from the 16th through the 18th Centuries. University of Arkansas Press, 1994.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML128 .W7 J3 1994]

A listing of printed and manuscript scores composed by women of the 16th-18th centuries which are contained in library collections around the world.

^{Song Texts, Texts in Translation, and Libretti}

Bradley, Ian. Complete Annotated Gilbert and Sullivan. Oxford University Press, 1996.

[PRINT. Music Stacks ML49. S9 A1 1996]

Coffin, Berton, et. al. Word-by-Word Translations of Songs and Arias. Scarecrow, 1966. In 2 volumes.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML54.6 .W65]

An essential reference source for classical vocalists. Exact translations of song texts enable singers to effectively perform and interpret songs. This type of source is needed for the preparation of program notes for recitals.

Fuld, James J. Book of World-Famous Libretti: The Musical Theater from 1598 to Today. Pendragon, 1984.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML128 .O4 F8 1984]

Useful for questions such as "What did the original libretto to the 1598 opera, Dafne, look like? Where is the original libretto? What do the first printed editions of libretti tell us about the history of the musical piece?"

Great Musicals of the American Theatre. Stanley Richards, ed. Chilton, 1973. In 2 volumes.

[PRINT. Music Stacks ML48 .R5 1973b]

An anthology of playscripts to major Broadway shows, e.g. West Side Story, Cabaret, Porgy and Bess, and A Little Night Music.

Metropolitan Opera Book of Mozart Operas. Paul Gruber, ed. HarperCollins, 1991.

[PRINT. Music Stacks ML49 .M83 M42]

Libretti (with English translations) to 7 Mozart operas all in one volume.

Phillips, Lois. Lieder Line by Line and Word for Word. Clarendon Press, 1996.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML54.6 .P55 L5 1996]

More word/word translations, with a focus on German lieder.

^{Location and Identification of Sound Recordings of Musical Works}

Recordings: In-Print Catalogs and Databases

Schwann Opus. Schwann Publications. Quarterly.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML 156.2 O68]

The standard print resource in English to in-print classical recordings and laserdiscs. Arranged alphabetically by composer name. Collections/anthologies are listed separately by musical genre. Separate section for new releases. Includes addresses of record labels; no prices included. Includes domestic labels and some European labels with U.S. distributorship.

Schwann Spectrum. Schwann Publications. Quarterly.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML 156.2 S69]

The standard print resource in English to in-print popular music, blues, jazz and world music recordings.

Bielefelder Katalog Klassik. Vereinigte Motor-Verlage. Semi-annual.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML 156.2 B52]

The German-language equivalent of Schwann. Better indexing and access to individual musical selections by composers makes this resource a necessary selection tool. Also includes a listing by record company and numerical record number for easy determination of what recordings by a particular record label are in-print. CD-Roms included.

Gramophone Classical Catalogue. Retail Entertainment Data. Semi-annual.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML156.2 G675]

Formatted in the style of Bielefelder (above), this British-based recordings-in-print catalog is a useful companion to Schwann, as it provides more detailed access to contents of sound recordings than the U.S.-based Schwann Opus.

Gramofile: Gramophone Reviews on CD-Rom, March 1983 to December 1996. Gramophone Publications, 1996.

[CD-ROM - Request at Music Desk]

Searchable database with full-text retrieval of compact disc reviews published in Gramophone Magazine from 1983-1996. Excellent search engine and user interface.

Discographies and Listening Guides

All Music Guide to Jazz. Miller Freeman, 1994.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML 156.4 J3 A45 1994]

Lord, Tom. The Jazz Discography. Lord Music Reference, 1992- 16 vols. to date.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML156.4 .J3 L67 1992]

For serious jazz researchers, this is the most comprehensive discography to date of jazz recordings from 1942 to 1980. Arranged alphabetically by the name of the jazz leader, date is listed chronologically by recording session date, with names of musicians recorded at the session, the titles recorded, and the record label and record number on which the titles appear.

Spin Alternative Record Guide. Eric Weisbard, ed. Vintage, 1995.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML156.4 .R6 S65 1995]

The essential artists and albums of punk, new wave, indie rock, and hip hop.

World Music: The Rough Guide. Penguin Books, 1994.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML3795 .W575 1994]

Other Specialized Record Research and Trivia Sources

Green, Jeff. The Green Book of Songs by Subject: A Thematic Guide to Popular Music. 4th ed. Professional Desk References, 1995.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML156.4 .P6 G73 1995]

An amazing resource! Green classifies, by over 800 subjects and categories, over 21,000 popular songs from the pop, rock, blues, folk, and jazz worlds. Under each thematic category is an entry for a song title: with artist name, name of the album on which the song appears, and the record label. Useful for such questions as "What are some Boston songs?" You’ll find it here, with names of the albums on which they appear.

Whitburn, Joel. Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits.6th rev. ed. New York: Billboard Books, 1996.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML 156.4 .P6 W44 1996]

With 2 major sections (by recording artist and by song title), and multiple appendices, this source lists every hit single that charted in the Top 40 on Billboard’s pop singles charts from January 1, 1955 through December 30, 1995.

^{Music Business and Careers}

Baskerville, David. Music Business Handbook and Career Guide. 6th ed. Sage Publications, 1995.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML3795 .B33 1995]

Includes chapters on the marketplace, songwriting, publishing, copyright, music licensing, unions, agents and managers, legal advice, concert promotion, musical theatre, arts administration, and music merchandising, and the recording industry.

Field, Shelly. Career Opportunities in the Music Industry. 3rd ed. Facts on File, 1995.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML3795 .F497 1995]

Halloran, Mark. The Musician’s Business and Legal Guide. 4th ed., rev. Prentice Hall, 1991.

[PRINT. Music Reference ML3790 .M84 1991]

Concentrates on more practical legal issues than Baskerville.

Songwriter’s Market: Where and How to Market Your Songs. Writer’s Digest. Annual.

[PRINT. Music Reference MT67 .S657]

^{Internet Resources}

All Music Guide

American Music Center

Archives of African American Music and Culture (Indiana University)

Beethoven Bibliography Database

From Main Menu, choose option O (other databases). On the next screen, select option B.

CDnow

This self-proclaimed "World's Largest Music Store" carries almost every album currently in print in the U.S., plus imports, movies, music videos, and music-related books. The database is searchable by artist, album, song, or record label.

Chicago Jazz Archive

ChoralNet: International Federation for Choral Music

College Music Society

Doctoral Dissertations in Musicology--Online

Guide to Copyright for Music Librarians

International Alliance for Women in Music Home Page

International Index to Music Periodicals

[Requires Tufts ID and proxy server software for off-campus use]

IRCAM WWW Server

Journal of Seventeenth Century Music

Music Publishers Association

Music Theory Online

Necrology (Gaylord Music Library, Washington University in St. Louis)

On Broadway WWW Information Page

Information on Broadway plays and musicals, both past and present.

Public Domain Information Project

A non-profit corporation organized to help identify and access music in the public domain.

RISM Online

RISM (Repertoire International des Sources Musicales) Online provides a graphical interface to four databases of music research materials, including manuscripts, libretti, library collections, and bibliographic citations.

RootsWorld

An online magazine of world music, roots, and folk.

Society for Ethnomusicology

The 2,000 member SEM promotes the research, study, and performance of music in all historical periods and cultural contexts.

Sonances: The New Music Site

International center of information about 20th century music, with tables of contents of over 120 journals, a dictionary of composers, and articles and news in English and French.

Trouser Press

The online domain of the rock magazine and record guide, featuring information on rock artists and recordings from the 70s, 80s, and 90s.

Worldwide Internet Music Resources

Compiled by the Indiana University Music Library.

WPRB WWW Music Index

WWW Virtual Music Library

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