In-depth Guide to Music Research
Whether you are a novice or an experienced researcher, the Albert S. Cook Library has a wealth of resources for music research. If you are new to music research, start here to see an overview of the various types of resources you can consult. This is not an exhaustive list of resources, but will lead you to the Reference stacks where you will find these and other related reference sources. Any resources listed as "Reference" are kept in the 3rd floor Reference area and must be used in the building.
Writing About Music
If you have never written about music topics before and need help understanding how to integrate text with musical examples, use the correct terminology in describing your topic, or finding out what types of resources you should include in your research, take a look at these guides to writing about music.
| Call Number | Description |
|---|---|
| Ref Ml113.D8 |
Music Reference and Research Materials - Duckles (1997) - a standard in the field directing readers to key sources for a wide variety of music literature topics |
| Ref ML3797.I79 |
Irvine's Writing about Music - Radice (1999) - covers the mechanics of citing sources, report formatting, and writing problems |
| Ref ML3797 .W54 |
Writing about Music - Wingell (2002) - describes research methods and integrating musical sources into text |
| Reserves ML3797.B4 |
A Short Guide to Writing about Music - Bellman (2000) - brief but insightful guide on how to write about music for the novice researcher |
General Music Dictionaries
If you know very little about your topic (whether you are writing about a composer, a particular musical composition, or a genre of music) start off by consulting a dictionary of music. Some of the best ones are listed below.
| Call Number | Description |
|---|---|
| Ref ML100.H37 |
Harvard Dictionary of Music (2003) - comprehensive dictionary of terms, compositions, and musical genres |
| Ref ML100.I57 |
International Cyclopedia of Music and Musicians (1985) - notable for its biographical articles with source notes, earlier editions are in STACKS area |
| Ref ML100.O94 |
Oxford Companion to Music (2002) - updated for a greater focus on Western music, also consult the earlier 2 volume edition by Arnold as well as older editions kept in STACKS area |
| Ref ML100.N48 |
INew Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians (1982) - 20 volumes - print edition of the standard work - not as current as electronic edition described later |
| Ref ML100.A48 |
Facts on File Dictionary of Music (2004) - includes pronunciation guides, biographical information, as well as general musical terms |
Biographical Music Dictionaries
If your research centers on a particular composer or performer, try these biographical dictionaries to get started. These articles will give a quick overview to the topic without overwhelming you, and (in many cases) give you a bibliography of recommended works to investigate.
| Call Number | Description |
|---|---|
| Ref ML105.B16 |
Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians (2001) - classic work covering international composers, performers and notables, this edition expanded to six volumes |
| Ref ML105.S612 |
Baker's Biographical Dictionary of 20th Century Classical Musicians (1997) - provides a more comprehensive look at contemporary musicians including performers of today |
| Ref ML105.H38 |
Harvard Biographical Dictionary of Music (1996) - includes composers and performers of classical, jazz, and some pop music |
| Ref ML106.U3B87 |
Dictionary of American Classical Composers (2005) - newly revised edition organizes 650 biographical entries representing composers from the late 18th century through the 20th |
| Ref M2.W88 |
Women Composers - Music Through the Ages (1996) - 7 volumes of biographical essays complete with musical examples |
| Ref ML102.P66B35 |
Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Popular Musicians Since 1990(2004) - 2 volumes of biographies of rock, rap, jazz, and pop musicians complete with discographies and some bibliographies |
| Ref ML82.W625 |
Women and Music in America Since 1900 (2002) - 2 vol. - biographies of singers, songwriters and performers including pop music artists |
| Ref ML82.G73 |
World of Women in Classical Music (2004) - biographical entries on composers, performers, conductors, and music industry personalities |
Guides to Musical Genres, Styles, and Periods
Sometimes you are asked to write about a style of music (jazz, gospel, etc.) or a genre (symphonic, musical theater, etc.) that you know nothing about. Try these books to understand the important people, places, and works that are related to your topic.
| Call Number | Description |
|---|---|
| Ref ML100.G16 |
Garland Encyclopedia of World Music (1998-2003) - multi-volume work with each volume devoted to a particular set of countries |
| Ref ML102.P66G84 |
Encyclopedia of Popular Music (1998) - 8 volume set covering performers, groups, labels, and more |
| Ref ML101.U6N48 |
New Grove Dictionary of American Music (1986) - 4 volume set devoted to a wide variety of genres ranging from Native American to Broadway |
| Ref ML102.J3B555 |
Billboard Illustrated Encyclopedia of Jazz and Blues (2005) - historical profiles arranged by decade of people and styles |
| Ref ML102.G6E63 |
Encyclopedia of American Gospel Music (2005) - compendium of important people, places, groups |
| Ref ML3534.C725 |
Rock and Roll Year by Year (2003) - chronology of people, groups, and musical happenings |
| Ref ML102.R27B96 |
Encyclopedia of Rap and Hip-Hop Culture Encyclopedia of Rap and Hip-Hop Culture |
| Ref ML100.B38 |
Billboard Illustrated Encyclopedia of Music (2003) - organized by musical genre, presents people, photos, and musical examples |
| Ref ML1102.R6R64 |
Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock and Roll (2001) - guide to groups and artists, see also the 1995 edition also in Reference |
| Ref ML102.J3N48 |
New Grove Dictionary of Jazz (2001) (2001) - 3 volumes - each article is signed and includes a brief discography and bibliography |
| Ref ML102.C7C28 |
Biographical Dictionary of Country Music (2003) - profiles performers, composers, and genres |
| Ref MLB37 |
Billboard Encyclopedia of Classical Music (2004) - complete treatment of periods and composers with composition highlights and timelines |
| Ref ML102.O6N5 |
New Grove Dictionary of Opera (1992) - 4 volumes - in addition to biographical entries includes detailed synopses of operas - also available electronically on Grove's database described later |
| Ref ML102.M88 E94 |
Historical Dictionary of the Broadway Theater (2008) - profiles shows, performers, and venues |
Electronic Reference Books
A new and rising category of reference sources are the library's electronic reference books which have full text articles and can be accessed both on and off campus. The electronic reference tools listed below can be found in the Subject Gateway to Music on the Cook Library web page.
If you are accessing these from off campus, you will first need to log in through ResearchPort to access these.
Go to http://cooklibrary.towson.edu and click on
Find: Articles - Subject Gateways - Music.
Grove Music Online (now also known as Oxford Music Online) - offers complete full text of:
- Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians
- Oxford Dictionary of Music
- Oxford Companion to Music
- Grove Dictionary of Jazz
- Grove Dictionary of Opera (limit of 4 simultaneous users)
Biography Resource Center - full text biographical articles from reference books and includes contemporary and historical persons (limit of 4 simultaneous users)
Academic Complete (ebrary) - searchable database of full text electronic books, including biographical accounts of musicians, composers, and performers
Early English Books Online - includes some musical scores, but mostly has full text of books published in the United Kingdom and the US from 1473-1700.
Audio Streaming Services
The library also offers access to two online streaming services for audio files.
Naxos Music Library - streaming service of complete recordings from record labels owned by the Naxos company. Covers mostly classical music genres. Includes biographical sketches of composers, and in many cases, album liner notes.
Smithsonian Global Sound - streaming service in partnership with the Smithsonian Institution which includes most of the recordings on the Folkways record label. International in scope, also covers spoken word.
Indexing Tools
There are individual research guides for a number of topics ranging from women in music to individual composers, to complete genres (opera, etc.). Some are kept in reference, but many of these books are in the STACKS and can be checked out. You can search for them in the library catalog by using an Advanced Search and typing your topic in the first box and the word "bibliography" in the second box.
The library does have some print indexes that will cover years not included in electronic databases used to search for journal articles.
| Call Number | Description |
|---|---|
| Ref ML118.M8 |
Music Index (1949-1996) -index to articles in music journals, arranged by topic |
| Ref ML1.I83 |
RILM (Repertoire International de Litterature Musicale) (1967-1995) - international index to journal articles and books |
| Ref ML118 .M79 |
Music Article Guide (1966-1993) - covers performers, composers, and genres |
Searching for Books, Scores, and Recordings on your Topic
Albert S. Cook Library Catalog
- Start with the catalog for materials kept in the Albert S. CookLibrary. 
The library catalog lists all materials that are owned in the library, including scores and sound recordings. Most of these materials can be checked out.
This web site has specially designed Google Gadgets to help you search the library catalog for materials in the performing arts - try one of these links to search for materials. There are also a number of Wozworld Quick Guides to help you search for specific types of materials (scores, recordings, etc) in the catalog. These are step by step guides with illustrations. Look for these guides under the Wozworld Guide link on this web site.
USMAI Combined Catalog
Once you have exhausted the holdings here at Cook Library, you can search this catalog to see holdings in all other libraries in the state university system. With the exception of AV items and reference/reserve/special collection material, all other items listed in the USMAI catalog can be sent to Cook Library for you to borrow and return. Additionally, you may visit any state university school with your TU OneCard and borrow materials in person.
WorldCat
This database lists books, scores, and AV materials that are held in all public libraries, state and private university libraries, and organizational libraries across the country. This includes the materials owned at Peabody Conservatory. Through your interlibrary loan account, you may request any materials that are listed in WorldCat that are not available for loan through the USMAI Combined Catalog. Once the Interlibray Loan Department identifies a loaning library, you will be notified that your material is available for pick up at Cook Library. These items often have a shorter borrowing period than other items in the USMAI system libraries.
Other Options
You also have borrowing privileges at Goucher College, Loyola/Notre Dame Colleges, Villa Julie College (now Stevenson University), the Decker Art Library at Maryland Institute, College of Art, and Baltimore Hebrew University. If you borrow materials from these schools, you must return them yourself directly to these libraries. You have visiting privileges at the Arthur Friedheim Library of Peabody Conservatory. You may use their databases and resources in the building, but you do not have borrowing privileges. If you see materials that you would like to borrow, request them by using your ILLIad Interlibrary Loan Account.
Searching for Journal Articles
To see a list of availability and access modes for all of the music journals subscribed to by Cook Library:
- Start at the Cook Library web site
- Go to Resources - Journals/Periodicals (direct access to the jourals page is at http://cooklibrary.towson.edu/journalsTU.cfm)
- In the Search by Subject Category box, click the arrow and choose Music, Dance, Drama, and Film
- Click on Search
- Choose your sub topic in music
It is best to start searching for journal articles by consulting a proprietary database that indexes journals and, in some cases, delivers the electronic full text of the article. Some of the major databases helpful in music research are listed below.
All of the databases described below can be found by going to the Subject Gateway to Music on the Cook Library web page.
Off campus users can access resources through Research Port. See the Wozworld Guide to off campus access for assistance.
Primary Music Databases
RILM - online version of print source, mostly indexing/abstracting listings with limited delivery of full text - additional titles through Find It (limit of 4 simultaneous users)
International Index to Music Periodicals - indexes to journal articles with some full text article delivery as well as Find It links (limit of 4 simultaneous users)
Multidisciplinary Databases which include Music Topics
Humanities Abstracts - offers both indexing and abstracts for journal articles as well as full text delivery and/or access links
International Index to the Performing Arts - similar to IIMP above, but indexes different journals (limit of 4 simultaneous users)
Academic Search Premier - multidisciplinary database covering a wide variety of topics from history to culture to arts
JSTOR - full-text journal articles from the 1800's - 2002, includes a good bit of music journals
Arts and Humanities Citation Index, 1988 - present - includes topics that cross into science, no full text in database, but sometimes available through Find It button (limit of 5 simultaneous users)
Lexis/Nexis Academic - full text newspapers and business periodicals from around the world, good for searching for reviews of performances and premieres. Requires patience and skill in using search fields to uncover results.
New York Times and New York Times Historical - databases indexing New York Times newspaper covering the present day back to the first issues. Full text is available, but many photos are blocked due to copyright restrictions. Good for obituary notices of composers and reviews of recitals and performances in the New York area
Print Journals at Cook Library
Cook Library subscribes to a number of music journals in print format. While these issues may be indexed in electronic databases, sometimes, the only way to view their content is to visit the library and make a photocopy of the article you want. All print journals are kept in the Periodicals Department on the 2nd floor of the library and are used in the library only. There are photocopiers available to use, and photocopies are 10 cents per page. A complete list of the music periodicals subscribed to in print can be viewed at the Periodicals Desk.
Websites
The Music Subject Guide web page (on the Cook Library web page listed under Resources - Subject Gateways - Music) lists a number of web sites for music research that I have selected. Visit this list to find some good quality sites to use in getting started in your research.
Need More Help?
If you find that you need personalized assistance in your research, I am happy to meet with you to work one-on-one to find resources. Please either phone me, (410) 704-2498 or email lwoznicki@towson.edu to set up an appointment. I will contact you to find a time that is good for both of us to meet. If you need immediate assistance and can't wait for an appointment with me, please call the Reference Desk at 410 704-2462 to speak to a Reference Librarian. Remember to check the link for Wozworld Guides on my web page and my blog to see if there is a Quick Guide that covers the research skill that you need.
Beginning in mid-semester of Fall 2008, I will be in the Center for the Arts in the Commons Area on a weekly basis offering on-the-spot help. Look for further details on my web site home page and Wozworld Blog regarding the exact day and time that this session occurs.