Guides: Subject Guide ~ Music: Background Information

Encyclopedias

Oxford Music Online This link opens in a new window
Note: Limited to 1 simultaneous user.
Gateway to some of Oxford's major music reference sources.
The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, 2nd edition (2001)
The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz, 2nd edition (2002)
The New Grove Dictionary of Opera (1992)
The Norton Grove Dictionary of Women Composers (1994)
The Grove Dictionary of American Music, 2nd edition (2013; in process)
The Grove Dictionary of Musical Instruments, 2nd edition (2014; in process)

Basic Music Reference by Alan Green; Michael J. Duffy
ISBN: 9780895797452
Publication Date: 2013-01-01
Chamber Music by James M. Keller
ISBN: 9780195382532
Publication Date: 2010-12-10
the New Broadway Song Companion by David P. DeVenney
ISBN: 0810869438
Publication Date: 2009-07-29

Country Music Sources by Guthrie Meade; Douglas Meade (Editor)
Call Number: Music Library Reference ML156.4.F5 M43 2002
ISBN: 0807827231
Publication Date: 2002-06-24

Folk Music Index
Index to recordings of tunes and songs from traditional and contemporary sources, with emphasis on old-time fiddle and banjo tunes.

Historic AFC LP Liner Notes Booklets
From the Library of Congress and the American Folklife Center. This site contains downladable PDF files of liner note booklets, packed with information about the recordings and the traditions they represent. Includes liner notes of instrumental music, song, story telling, and occupational calls such as "field hollers."