Music: A Guide to Finding Information
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Need Help?
Contact Peter Szabo
Librarian Liaison to the Music department
E-mail: paszabo@owu.edu
Telephone: 740-368-3709 |
This page is a selected list of music library materials that may help you with your research. They are either located in print in the music library, or accessible through the music library’s website.
General Resources | Biographical Information | Music Analysis |
Non-Western Music | Song Texts, Translations, and Pronunciation |
How to Write about Music | How to do Music Research | How to Cite |
General Resources
Grove Music Online
Part of Oxford Music Online, this is an extensive resource that provides information on all aspects of music. NOTE: the GMO is based on books that are on the music library’s reference shelf: New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, New Grove dictionary of Jazz, New Grove Dictionary of Opera, and the New Grove Dictionary of Musical Instruments.
Bio-bibliographies
(see ML 134’s)
Very handy when you are conducting in depth research on a composer. Usually, bio-bibliographies include a brief biography, a life chronology, a detailed list of known works, and a plethora of materials (books, articles, dissertations, etc.) about the composer and his/her music.
Music reference and research materials
(Music Reference - ML113.D83 1997)
An exhaustive list of materials relating to almost every aspect of music. A handy way to begin your research. Start with the index in the back of the book.
Biographical Information
Baker’s Biographical Dictionary of Musicians
(Music Reference - ML 105 .B16 2001)
A multi volume set devoted entirely to biographical info about musicians and musical groups from many different styles of music. Generally the entries are short and often include bibliographies and lists of works for composers.
Grove Music Online
Part of Oxford Music Online. Also a good source for biographical info. Contains a significant amount of entries on musicians from around the world.
International Who’s Who in Classical Music 2008
(Music Reference - ML105 .I54 2008)
Provides biographical info on living musicians who are prominent in the field of classical music. Also includes directories for orchestras, opera companies, festivals, music organizations, and competitions and awards.
Music analysis
Music Analyses: An Annotated Guide to the Literature
(Music Reference - ML128 .A7 1991)
This is very helpful when you are looking for an analysis of a particular piece of music. It contains 4,600 entries of materials (books, articles, dissertations, etc.) that analyze music by hundreds of composers.
Analyses of Nineteenth and Twentieth Century Music: 1940-2000
(Music Reference - ML113 .H695 2007)
Similar to Music Analysis but not the same - it has more entries (over 9,000). However, it does not include everything that is listed in Music Analyses. Look in both places.
Non-western Music
Garland encyclopedia of world music
(Music Reference - ML100 .G16 1997)
A multi-volume set that provides information on the music of many non-western cultures. Each volume is accompanied by a compact disc that is shelved with music CD's!
Song Texts, Translations, and Pronunciation
Word by word translations of songs and arias
(Music Reference - ML54.6 .W65)
A 2 volume set that provides English translations of songs and arias originally written in German, French, and Italian. Companion to the Singer’s Repertoire.
Phonetic readings of songs and arias
(Music Reference - MT883 .C63)
Gives phonetic transcriptions of 413 songs and arias – each included in The Singer’s Repertoire. Divided into three sections: Italian, German, and French.
International Phonetic Alphabet for singers
(Music Reference - MT872 .W187 1989)
Basically a handbook for IPA. It discusses IPA in detail and includes exercises for transcribing and vocalizing IPA sounds.
How to Write about Music
Writing about music
(Music Stacks - ML3797 .W54 2002)
Gives practical advice on many aspects of writing about music. Also offers advice on music research. A sample paper is included.
How to to Music Research
Student Guide to Research in the Digital Age
(Music Stacks - ZA3075 .S74 2006)
This is a great book! It offers helpful guidelines for effectively conducting scholarly research in any subject area.
Introduction to research in music
(Music Reference - MT1 .W825 2001)
This guides you through the process of music research by looking at a variety of research tools (electronic & print). It also discusses the process of writing a music research paper. A sample paper is included.
Research papers for dummies
(Music Stacks - LB1047.3 .W66 2002)
Don’t be embarrassed by the title! This is a good book that discusses the basics of researching and writing an effective paper.
How to Cite
A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations
(Music Reference - LB2369 .T8 2007)
This is the standard citation manual (based on the Chicago Manual of Style) for music research papers. Find the latest edition on the music library’s reference shelf. |
