The Robert J. Maxwell, Jr. Music Media Center and Library Furman University Libraries
Online Catalog Music Databases Research Assistance Web Links Services About Us

Basic Reference Sources in Music


This list is intended to introduce useful reference tools in the field of music. It covers
primarily Western art music. Guides to finding information on jazz, opera, popular
music, individual instruments and vocal materials are also available.

If you do not find what you need, please ASK a faculty or staff member for help.


Encyclopedias & General Dictionaries

  • New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians
    Ref ML 100 .N48

  • Oxford Companion to Music
    Ref ML 100 .S37 1975

Dictionaries of terms and subjects

  • New Harvard Dictionary of Music
    Ref ML 100 .R3 1986

Biographical dictionaries

  • Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians
    Ref ML 105 .B16 1992

  • International Encyclopedia of Women Composers
    Ref ML 105 .C7 1987

Dictionaries of special topics

  • American Music
      New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians
      Ref ML 100 .N48
  • Band Music
      Heritage Encyclopedia of Band Music
      Ref ML 102 .B35 R4 1991
  • Chamber Music
      Dictionary of Contemporary Music
      Ref ML 100 .V55
  • Instruments
      Musical Instruments: A Comprehensive Dictionary
      Ref ML 102 .O6 N5 1992
  • Opera and musical theater
      New Grove Dictionary of Opera
      Ref ML 102 .O6 N5 1992
      Encyclopedia of the Musical Theatre
      Ref ML 102 .M88 G3 1994

Translations of titles

  • Popular Titles and Subtitles of Musical Compositions
    Ref ML 113 .B39 1975

Directories

  • Music Industry Directory
    Ref ML 13 .M5 1983

  • Musical America International Direcory of the Performing Arts
    Ref ML 12 .M88 1998

  • Directory of Music Research Libraries
    Ref ML 12 .B45

Indexes and Abstracts

  • Comprehensive
  • Journal articles
      Music Index
      Ref ML 118 .M84
  • Biography
      Index to Biographies of Contemporary Composers
      Ref ML105 .B9

Melodies and themes

  • Dictionary of Vocal Themes
    Ref ML 128 .V7 B3

Printed music in collections

  • Historical Sets, Collected Editions and Monuments of
    Music: A Guide to Their Contents

    Ref Ml 113 .H52 1980

  • Songs in Collections: An Index
    Ref ML 128 .S3 D37

  • Song Index
    Ref ML 128 .S3 S31 1966

  • Popular Song Index
    Ref ML 128 .S3 H4

  • Index to Early Music in Selected Anthologies
    Ref ML 113 .H558

Reviews, criticism, analyses

  • Music Analysis: An Annotated Guide to the Literature
    Ref ML 128 .A7 D5 1991

  • Analyses of Nineteenth and Twentieth Century Music
    Ref ML 113 .W45 1987

Guides and handbooks to music and music literature

  • Sourcebook for Research in Music
    Ref ML 113 .C68 1993

  • Music: A Guide to the Reference Literature
    Ref ML 113 .B85 1987

  • Music Reference and Research Materials: An Annotated Bibliography
    Ref ML 113 .D83 1997

  • Music Education: A Guide to Information Sources
    Ref ML 19 .H37

  • Information on Music: A Handbook of Reference Sources in European Languages
    Ref ML 113 .M33

  • Musicalia: Sources of Information in Music
    Ref ML 113 .D383 M9 1966

Guide to research and writing about music

  • Introduction to Music Research
    Ref ML 3797 .W37

  • Library Research Guide to Music: Illustrated Search Strategy and Sources
    Ref ML 111 .D78 1982

  • Words & Music: Form and Procedure in theses, Dissertations, Research
    Papers, Book Reports, Programs, Theses in Composition

    Ref ML 3797 .H49 1982

  • Guide to Research in Music Education
    Ref MT 1 .P5 1992

 

Furman University Libraries Home Furman Music Department Furman University Mapquest map