The Music Reference Shelf

Following are some very helpful, and often essential, print sources shelved in the Music Library Reference Room. Books in the Music Library are arranged by the Library of Congress call number system (M classification schedule), which groups them by type and by subject. The titles listed below are only a sample of the research materials available. We encourage you to come in and browse the shelves, or browse by call number in Socrates, Stanford’s online catalog.

encyclopedias & dictionaries - general
encyclopedias & dictionaries - special topics
biographies
terminology
research guides & bibliographies - general
research guides & bibliographies - special topics
research guides & bibliographies - individual composers
discographies
miscellaneous sources you might find useful

Encyclopedias & dictionaries: ML100

Major works:

The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians. 2nd ed. New York: Grove’s Dictionaries, 2001. 29 volumes.
MUSRR ML100 .G883 2001 (also available electronically as part of Grove Music Online)
Shelved next to the Circulation Desk

The New Grove is the authoritative, comprehensive English-language music encyclopedia. Extensive articles on all aspects of music are authored by leading experts in the field. Many articles include bibliographies; most entries for composers include lists of compositions. The 2001 edition has a separate index volume. The online version also includes all of the articles published in the New Grove Dictionary of Opera, the New Grove Dictionary of Jazz, 2nd ed., and (increasingly) the New Grove Dictionary of Women Composers.

Die Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart: allgemeine Enzyklopädie der Musik. Kassel: Bärenreiter; New York: Metzler, 1994- [19] volumes.
MUSRR ML100 .B658 1994
Shelved next to the Circulation Desk

This is the primary German-language encyclopedia. It is arranged in two parts: Sachteil (subjects) and Personenteil (biographies). The Sachteil includes an index volume.

The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music. New York: Garland Publishing, 1998-2002. 10 volumes.
MUSRR ML100 .G16 1998 (also available electronically)
Compact discs: MCD 4950 v. 1-9.

This indispensable work is the first major encyclopedia devoted to the music of all the world’s peoples. Volumes are arranged geographically. Articles discuss music in a multidisciplinary context, often including dance, folklore, ethnography, field- and case studies. Extensive bibliographies are included, and accompanying compact discs provide audio samples keyed to the text. Volume 10, “The world’s music,” is devoted to discussions of fieldwork, research techniques, and methodologies of working ethnomusicologists; a glossary; and extensive bibliographies, discographies, and film- and videographies for further study of each of the world’s regions.

Quick reference:

The Harvard Dictionary of Music. 4th ed. Cambridge, Mass.: Belknap Press, 2003. 978 p.
MUSRR ML100 .A641 N5 2003

The Oxford Dictionary of Music. 2nd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1994. 985 p.
ML100 .K36 1994

Single-volume dictionaries are useful for quickly finding definitions of terms, and for brief overviews of specific topics. Non-Western and popular musics are increasingly included.

Encyclopedias and dictionaries on special topics: ML102

The ML102 section is subdivided by topic, such as:

Blues = ML102 .B6

The Virgin Encyclopedia of the Blues. London: Virgin in association with Muze UK, 1998. 415 p.
MUSRR ML102 .B6 L37 1998

As with most “popular music” encyclopedias, entries are arranged primarily by performing artist or group, and include discographies.

Country = ML102 .C7

Carlin, Richard. Country Music: a Biographical Dictionary. New York: Routledge, 2003. 497 p.
MUSRR ML102 .C7 C28 2003

Instruments = ML102 .I5

The New Grove Dictionary of Musical Instruments. London; New York: Grove’s Dictionaries, 1984. 3 volumes.
MUSRR ML102 .I5 N53 1984

Jazz = ML102 .J3

The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz. 2nd ed. New york: Grove’s Dictionaries, 2002. 3 volumes. (also available electronically as part of Grove Music Online)
MUSRR ML102 .J3 N53 2002

Musical Theater = ML102 .M88

Burnett, Rexton S., et. al. Collins Guide to Musicals. Updated and expanded ed. Glasgow: Collins, 2001. 448 p.
MUSRR ML102 .M88 K46 2001

Opera = ML102 .O6

The Viking Opera Guide. London; New York: Viking, 1993. 1305 p.
MUSRR ML102 .O6 V69 1993

The New Grove Dictionary of Opera. London; New York: Grove’s Dictionaries of Music, 1992. 4 volumes. (also available electronically as part of Grove Music Online)

Popular Music = ML102 .P66

Larkin, Colin, ed. The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. 3rd ed. London; New York: Muze UK, 1998. 8 volumes.
MUSRR ML102 .P66 G84 1998

Rock = ML102 .R6

The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll. Rev. ed. London: Simon & Schuster, 2001. 1168 p.
MUSRR ML102 .R6 R64 2001

Biographies: ML105 & ML106

Baker’s Biographical Dictionary of Musicians. Centennial ed. New York: Schirmer, 2001. 6 volumes.
MUSRR ML105 .B168 2001

Baker’s is the standard source for biographical information on musicians. It increasingly includes popular and world music figures. Curious minds will be rewarded by reading the delightfully absorbing “classic prefaces” to the 5th through 8th editions, written by editor emeritus Nicolas Slonimsky (reprinted in volume 1).

International Who’s Who in Classical Music. London: Europa, 2002- (annual)
MUSRR ML106 .G7 W4

Lists living classical and “light” classical musicians, and includes biographical and contact information.

International Who’s Who in Popular Music. London: Europa, 2002- (biennial)
MUSRR ML106 .G7 W42

This work “provides biographical information on … prominent people from pop, rock, folk, jazz, dance, world and country music. The biographies include, where available, personal details and information on careers, recordings, compositions, publications and honours.”

Kutsch, K.J. Grosses Sängerlexikon. 3., erw. Auflage. München, K.G. Sauer, 1997. 6 volumes.
MUSRR ML105 .K83 1997

Capsule biographies of notable singers, from the 17th century to the present.

Contemporary World Musicians. Chicago: Fitzroy Dearborn, 1999. 1181 p.
MUSRR ML105 .C66 1999

Somewhat of a misnomer, this work includes musicians active in all musical idioms, including Western classical, pop, and jazz. Entries conclude with selected bibliographies and discographies.

International Dictionary of Black Composers. Chicago: Fitzroy Dearborn, 1999. 2 volumes.
MUSRR ML105 .I58 1999

Lists a cross section of composers of African heritage; includes biographical, bibliographical, and discographical information and critical essays. It “embraces not only composers of music for the concert hall but also composers of popular and vernacular musical forms and styles” who have had “significant compositional impacts.”

Hixon, Donald L. Women in Music: an Encyclopedic Bio-bibliography. 2nd ed. Metuchen: Scarecrow Press, 1993. 2 volumes.
MUSRR ML105 .H676 1993

This set indexes biographies of women musicians of all periods and countries, found in significant music and non-music reference sources.

Terminology: ML108 & ML109

Hiles, John. Dictionary of Musical Terms, Phrases and Abbreviations Originating from Italian, French, German, English and Other Languages. Portsmouth: Bardon, 1997. 349 p.
MUSRR ML108 .H55 1997

An example of a quick-reference multi-lingual dictionary devoted to musical terminology.

Terminorum Musicae Index Septem Linguis Redactus = Polyglot Dictionary of Musical Terms: English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Hungarian, Russian. Budapest : Akademiai Kiado, 1978. 798 p.
MUSRR ML108 .T319

The standard work for translations of musical terms.

Fradkin, Robert A. The Well-Tempered Announcer: a Pronunciation Guide to Classical Music. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1996. 255 p.
MUSRR ML109 .F73 1996

Developed in response to the needs of classical music radio announcers. Impress your colleagues and friends by correctly pronouncing “Davidsbündlertänze,” “Le bœuf sur le toit,” and “György Ligeti.”

Research guides & bibliographies: ML113

Duckles, Vincent H., and Ida Reed. Music Reference and Research Materials: An Annotated Bibliography. 5th ed. New York: Schirmer Books, 1997. 812 p.
MUSRR ML113 .D835 M9 1997

“Duckles,” a classic in the field of music bibliography, lists and describes selected music reference sources for all aspects of the discipline. The contents are grouped by type of resource (encyclopedias; bibliographies; discographies; etc.) and are further subdivided by subject. The index provides access by names, titles, and subjects.

Crabtree, Phillip D., and Donald H. Foster. Sourcebook for Research in Music. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1993. 236 p.
MUSRR ML113 .C883 1993

This work lists useful reference tools, monographs, and other types of research material. Collective annotations precede the various bibliographies. Chapter One lists common bibliographical terms in English, French, and German.

Mixter, Keith. General Bibliography for Music Research. 3rd ed. Michigan: Harmonie Park Press, 1996. 200 p.
MUSRR ML113 .M59 1996

This work presents “in an organized manner references to general (i.e., non-musical) bibliographical books that may be of aid to those engaged in research in music.” Many of these non-music-specific titles may be found in Green Library.

Reader’s Guide to Music: History, Theory, Criticism. Chicago: Fitzroy Dearborn, 1999. 891 p.
MUSRR ML113 .R43 1999

This work consists of evaluative essays on the critical monographic literature in English on a variety of music subjects. Coverage is primarily Western Art music, but also includes some non-Western and popular music topics.

Heyer, Anna Harriet. Historical Sets, Collected Editions, and Monuments of Music: a Guide to Their Contents. 3rd ed. Chicago: American Library Association, 1980. 2 volumes.
MUSRR ML113 .H616 1980

“Heyer” gives complete bibliographic citations and lists of contents for the published complete editions of printed music of individual composers, and major collections of printed music. These scholarly editions of music scores can be found in the music stacks generally in the M1 – M5 range.

Research guides & bibliographies on special topics: ML128

(again, the following titles are meant as examples of the types of resources available)

Post, Jennifer C. Ethnomusicology: an Information and Research Guide. New York: Routledge, 2004. 470 p.
MUSRR ML128 .E8 P67 2004

This work presents in a single volume annotated lists of all pertinent research resources for ethnomusicology, including encyclopedias, dictionaries, discographies, indexing tools, journals, and books. It is part of the Routledge Music Bibliography series, which has issued research guides covering various musical genres and numerous composers. A similar series, Composer Resource Manuals, is issued by Garland Publishing. Both of these series titles can be searched in Socrates.

Hinson, Maurice. Guide to the Pianist’s Repertoire. 3rd ed. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2000. 933 p.
MUSRR ML128 .P3 H5 2000 (also available electronically through ebrary)

Hinson’s Guide is a good example of a comprehensive bibliography devoted to the printed music for a specific instrument. Entries include publisher information and indication of level of performance difficulty.

Damschroder, David. Music Theory from Zarlino to Schenker: a Bibliography and Guide. Stuyvesant, NY: Pendragon Press, 1990. 522 p.
MUSRR ML128 .T5 F154 1990

Arranged in the form of a “dictionary of theorists,” each personal entry provides a thumbnail sketch of the theorist’s impact on his or her contemporaries, followed by a complete, authoritative list of the theorist’s published writings, and a select bibliography of relevant works by others from the music theory literature.

Research guides & bibliographies on individual composers (including thematic catalogs): ML134

(examples here include a thematic catalog, a comprehensive bibliography, and a popular music resource, respectively)

Schmieder, Wolfgang. Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis : nach der von Wolfgang Schmieder vorgelegten 2. Ausgabe (BWV). Kleine Ausgabe. Wiesbaden: Breitkopf & Härtel, 1998. 490 p.
MUSRR ML134 .B1 A35 1998

This “little” edition is a concise thematic catalog of Johann Sebastian Bach’s complete works. Arranged by BWV number, each entry includes an incipit (the first few notes and/or words with which a piece begins), date and place of composition, instrumentation, the piece’s location within the published sets of complete works, and citations to pertinent secondary sources published after 1950.

Namenwirth, Simon Michael. Gustav Mahler: a Critical Bibliography. Wiesbaden: O. Harrassowitz, 1987. 3 volumes.
MUSRR ML134 .M214 N17 1987

This work attempts a “systematic and critical evaluation of all sources identified in the standard Mahler literature,” including monographs, theses, concert programs, journal articles, and Mahler-specific portions of larger scholarly works.

Opdyke, Steven. The Printed Elvis: the Complete Guide to Books About the King. Westport, Conn,: Greenwood Press, 1999. 320 p.
MUSRR ML134.5 .P73 O63 1999

While bibliographies for many prominent popular music individuals and groups can be found in encyclopedias or in biographies, a few “big names” (Elvis, Sinatra, the Beatles) have separate, fairly comprehensive research guides of their own.

Discographies, video recording & film resources: ML156-158

(see also the Archive of Recorded Sound for an extensive collection of discographic resources)

RED Classical Catalogue. Master ed. London: Retail Entertainment Data, 1996- (semiannual)
MUSRR ML156.2 .G67 (most recent shelved at Reference Desk)

Lists currently-available commercial recordings; indexed by titles, composers and performers.

March, Ivan. The Penguin Guide to Compact Discs: Guide to Excellence in Recorded Classical Music. London: Penguin, 1999. 1639 p.
MUSRR ML156.9 .M34 1999

Cook, Richard, and Brian Morton. The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD. 5th ed. London; New York: Penguin, 2000. 1725 p.
MUSRR ML156.4 .J3 C67 2000

Almquist, Sharon G. Opera Singers in Recital, Concert, and Feature Film: a Mediagraphy. Westport, Conn,: Scarecrow Press, 1999. 376 p.
MUSRR ML158.4 .A46 1999

This “mediagraphy” lists concerts, recitals, and non-operatic feature films by opera singers that have been released on video and as motion pictures.

Miscellaneous sources you might find useful:

Fuld, James. The Book of World-Famous Music: Classical, Popular, and Folk. 4th ed. New York: Dover, 1995. 718 p.
MUSRR ML113 .F962 1995

Fuld’s book presents mini-histories of common tunes, both classical and popular/folk. Arranged by title.

Green, Jeff. The Green Book of Songs by Subject: the Thematic Guide to Popular Music. 5th ed. Nashville: Professional Desk Reference, 2002. 1569 p.
MUSRR ML156.4 .P6 G73 2002

Do you need to find a song about a particular make or model of automobile? Do you want to scan a list of 303 song titles related to the color blue? Entries include song title, performer(s), album name, and record label.

Shapiro, Nat, comp. An Encyclopedia of Quotations About Music. Garden City: Doubleday, 1978. 418 p.
MUSRR ML66 .E56

Quotations by famous musicians and non-musicians, arranged loosely by topic.

Lebrecht, Norman. A Musical Book of Days. New York: Universe Books, 1989. 271 p.
MUSRR ML66 .L451 1989

Lists significant (and occasionally humorous, obscure, or just plain odd) musical events that took place on each day of the calendar year.

Eisler, Paul E., comp. World Chronology of Music History. Dobbs Ferry: Oceana, 1972- [6] volumes.
MUSRR ML161 .E36 1972

From pre-historic times to the present, this work lists (by year) significant musical events interspersed with milestones of Western cultural history.

Wingell, Richard J. Writing About Music: an Introductory Guide. 3rd ed. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, 2002. 171 p.
MUSRR ML3797 .W54 2002

Provides practical advice on writing research papers, common writing problems, and challenges faced when writing about music. Geared to undergraduate music majors.

Holoman, D. Kern. Writing About Music: a Style Sheet From the Editors of 19th-Century Music. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1988. 61 p.
MUSRR ML63 .W958 1988

How do I indicate pitch names in different octaves? What is the proper way to label musical examples? This brief guide covers format problems encountered when writing about music.

Krasilovsky, M. William and Sidney Shemel. This Business of Music: the Definitive Guide to the Music Industry. 8th ed. New York: Billboard Books, 2000. 558 p. + 1 CD-ROM.
MUSRR ML3790 .S5 2000; MCDI 26

A fact-filled, readable introduction to many aspects of the business side of music. Includes discussion of recording contracts, labor agreements, copyright, licensing, trademarks, taxation, and technology. The accompanying CD-ROM contains useful documents and sample forms.

Musical America: International Directory of the Performing Arts. Great Barrington, Mass.: ABC Leisure Magazines, 1974- (annual)
MUSRR ML12 .M9876 (shelved at Reference Desk) (also available electronically).

Listings include artist managers, performing group contact information, festivals, competitions, awards, music schools, and publishers. The online version displays daily classical music headlines.

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Ray Heigemeir, May 2004.