Music Reference Sources
Our Reference Collection, on the first floor of the Library, is arranged according to the Library of Congress Classification System, which groups together items on the same subject. The Library's book stacks, on the second and third floors, and our print periodicals, on the second floor, are also arranged according to this system. Some important call numbers for works on music are given in Finding Books About Music.
In the Reference Collection, you will find specialized encyclopedias and handbooks, dictionaries of musical terms, biographical dictionaries for musicians and composers, thematic indexes, guides to the repertoire, song indexes, and bibliographies listing key works for the study of many music topics, among other things. If you are looking for specific information, please ask for assistance at the Information desk, also on the first floor.
Below are a few representative reference sources to use in beginning music research. You may use the call numbers for these books as a guide for browsing to find additional sources of interest. Please see the individual guides for reference sources for Rock, Jazz, or World Music. For help with finding a particular song, please see How to Find Scores and Sheet Music.
- The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, 2nd ed. (ref ML 100 N48 2001)
- This 29 volume encyclopedia is the standard authority for music reference. It has authoritative articles on every aspect of music and music history. The complete listings of composers' works are particularly valuable, as are the bibliographies that accompany most articles. This encyclopedia is also available online to HSU students, faculty, and staff.
- The New Harvard Dictionary of Music, Rev. ed. (ref ML 100 N485 1986)
- No biographical information is included (see the companion Harvard Biographical Dictionary of Music), but this is otherwise a very comprehensive source for music terminology, including forms, periods, styles, some individual pieces, instruments, etc.
- Thematic Catalogues in Music: An Annotated Bibliography (ref ML 113 B86 1997)
- To find catalogs of composers' works, or other collections, usually arranged chronologically and including incipits.
- Lectionary of Music (ref ML 100 S637 1989)
- A charming, eclectic collection of bits of information about music which may not be easy to find elsewhere. There are definitions of terms, capsule histories of musical forms, information about many pieces of music, descriptions of the "character" of different key signatures, and much more.
- The New Grove Dictionary of American Music (ref ML 101 U6 N48 1986 v.1-4)
- "Amerigrove" has very inclusive coverage of all kinds of music from what is now the United States. Native American music, various folk and popular styles, art music, composers, performers and groups, music history, and much, much more is included. There are illustrations, lists of works, bibliographies, and discographies.
- The New Grove Dictionary of Musical Instruments (ref ML 102 I5 N48 1984 v.1-3)
- The "Grove" treatment: authoritative articles; bibliographies; illustrations.
- The New Grove Dictionary of Opera (ref ML 103 O6 N5 1992 v. 1-4)
- The "Grove" treatment for opera. Appendix B contains a list of arias and ensembles indicating which opera they are in.
- Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians, 8th ed. (ref ML 105 B16 1992)
- A standard, comprehensive, up to date dictionary, including composers, performers, and musicologists. Its scope is international; it covers all time periods and genres. There are composer works lists, and brief bibliographies for some entries.
- The Harvard Biographical Dictionary of Music (ref ML 105 H38 1996)
- The companion to The New Harvard Dictionary of Music, similarly focused on "the history of concert music in the Western tradition," including composers and "historically important" performers, some for jazz and popular music. Brief entries, with bibliographies.
- Handbook of Music Literature in Sets and Series (ref ML 113 C45)
- Helpful for finding a score in a larger collection.
- Historical Sets, Collected Editions, and Monuments of Music, 3rd ed. (ref ML 113 H52 1980 v.1-2)
- Another source for the contents of major collections of music scores.
- Music Analyses: An Annotated Guide to the Literature (ref ML 128 A7 D5 1991)
- A bibliography of critical analysis, "for serious students," of works of major Western composers. Some of the writings listed are very technical.
- A Dictionary of Musical Themes (ref ML 128 I65 B3)
- If you can read music, you can use this volume to identify melodies that occur in classic compositions. If you don't read music, try The Directory of Tunes, below.
- Subject Guide to Classical Instrumental Music (ref ML 128 I65 G59 1989)
- A listing of broad subjects (such as Angels, Animals, Buildings, Fairy World, Forest, Ships, Vehicles, Water, Winter), authors, countries, etc., and musical works that evoke them.
- The Directory of Tunes (ref ML 128 I65 P33)
- This book helps you identify themes from classical or popular music or national anthems when you know only if the notes go up, down, or repeat.
- The Norton/Grove Dictionary of Women Composers (ref ML 390 N67 1995)
- The "Grove" treatment again. International in scope and covering all time periods, with excellent bibliographies and lists of works.
- Cobbett's Cyclopedic Survey of Chamber Music (ref ML 1100 C7 1963 v. 1-3)
- Information on organizations, countries, terms, composers, and works, with musical examples and detailed analysis.
- The Definitive Kobbe's Opera Book (MT 95 K52 1987)
- Arranged chronologically and by country, composer information is followed by the performance history of each opera, then a character list, plot summary, and summary analysis with musical examples.