Ethnomusicology Resources [Queen's MUSIC Library WEB page] [Queen's Libraries Home Page]

MUSIC

Blue eighth note on music staff Ethnomusicology Research Guide

Reference Collection Shelving Arrangement QCAT searching
Audio-Visual Resources Periodical Indexes Internet Resources

Reserve Collection

Ask at the Music Library circulation desk for items on course reserve. These items (selected by the instructors) relate directly to course content and have, therefore, been assigned shortened loan periods of 3-hours, 24-hours or 3-days

Reference Collection

SELECTED GENERAL SOURCES in the Music Library

ML100 - ML108 MUSIC ENCYCLOPEDIAS, DICTIONARIES, ETC.

ML113 - ML128 BIBLIOGRAPHIES : selected examples

ML156 Discographies : selected examples

GENERAL SURVEY PUBLICATIONS:

Shelving Arrangement

  • Items are arranged according to the LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CLASSIFICATION scheme. Generally, items are shelved, alphabetically, in author order within each subject class number. Class M (MUSIC) consists of 3 main sections:

  • M -- Scores. Scores are shelved in 3 sections, by size: miniature, regular stack and oversize. The collections of folk music are shelved in M1627 - M1853 . The section is subdivided geographically as follows: NORTH AMERICA, SOUTH AMERICA, EUROPE (countries alphabetically), ASIA, AFRICA, AUSTRALASIA. Songs of special character (e.g. war songs) are classed in M1900 - M1980.

  • ML -- Books on music literature, history and criticism. The Books on national musics are classed in ML3545 - ML3799. The section is subdivided geographically as follows: NORTH AMERICA, SOUTH AMERICA, EUROPE (countries alphabetically), ASIA, AFRICA, AUSTRALASIA.

  • MT -- Books on music theory and education + Instrumental/Vocal Studies and exercises. The instructive guides on specific instruments are classifed in MT. For example, books on the plectral (plucked) instruments are in MT539 - MT654 and percussion in MT655 - MT725. Unusual string instrument guides are in MT335 and the winds are classed in MT358 and MT520 - MT533. Sometimes the only information available is to be found in a general encyclopedia such as the "New Grove dictionary of musical instruments", or in the journal literature.

    *** For a detailed SUBJECT INDEX TO THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CLASS "M", see the Reference site at the William and Gayle Cook Music Library, INDIANA UNIVERSITY.

    QCAT Searching

    QCAT, the Queen's Library online catalogue provides access to the Music Library collection.
  • Search by AUTHOR, TITLE, SUBJECT or KEYWORD(s) to access scores, books, journals, audio visual materials, microforms, etc.

  • KEYWORD(s) searches: combine composer and/or title words and subject terms. To avoid retrieving sound recordings add "not disc" to your search string.e.g. music and japan not disc. This search will retrieve the scores and historical, critical, and analytical works about music in Japan. Knowing that scores are classed in call numbers beginning with "M" and books in "ML" will help you recognize the item you want in the catalogue record displays.

  • Library of Congress SUBJECT HEADINGS and CLASSIFICATION numbers

    are assigned to most items in the Library as they are catalogued. All academic libraries in North America use this same subject classification/headings scheme. You can search the QCAT SUBJECT index and the CALL NUMBER index. Or, browse the shelves (regular stacks and Reference area) under the call numbers listed.

    • QCAT searching for BOOKS in the SUBJECT index

    Library of Congress subject headings for searching ethnomusic topics in the online catalogue plus the corresponding Library of Congress classification or Call number. For example:

    For books on folk music of the WESTERN world, search under such headings as:

    In the case of the Asian and African countries, the term "folk" or "ethnic" music is not used. Therefore, for books on music indigenous to the NON-WESTERN world, search under the general history of music headings such as:

    QCAT Subject searching for SCORES

  • Use the same headings as suggested above BUT omit the subdivision "History and criticism". Note that the call nos. for music begin with M not ML. For example:

    • QCAT Subject Searching : Specific Topics

    You can also search the QCAT SUBJECT index under the names of specific musical instruments, musical forms, ethnic groups and other aspects; for example:

  • If a Subject index search is unsuccessful, it is often because you have not used the precise, authorized terminology. Alternatively, try KEYWORD(s) searching instead. Add "NOT DISC" to your search query if you wish to exclude sound recordings.

    • See the QCAT online TUTORIAL for other tips on searching the Queen's University Library online catalogue.

    Audio-Visual Resources

    For general guidelines, see the sections in the Introductory Guide re     AUDIO AND VIDEO RECORDINGS

    Periodical Indexes and other resources

    For general guidelines, see the section in the Introductory Guide re     PERIODICAL INDEXES

    Internet Resources

  • The American Musicological Society site is probably the most comprehensive link to significant scholarly resources in music, including performance and musicology, ethnomusic, electronic music, theory and composition, education, popular music and topics relating to women.
  • See a sampling of the world's music outside of the Western classical traditions at Harvard's Archive of World Music.
  • Indiana University Music Library has an extensive list of links to internet resources, including Doctoral Dissertations in Musicology-Onlineand Archives of Traditional Music.
  • Smithsonian Institution Musical History provides links to Encyclopedia Smithsonian and Smithsonian Folkways Recordings.
  • University of Washington Music Library provides links to Online Resources by Subject, including Ethnomusicology, Folk Music and World Music.

    • Links to other sites specifically relating to Ethnomusicology:

  • American Folklife Center (Library of Congress)
  • Archives of Traditional Music at University of Indiana
  • Australian Folk Songs
  • Canadian Museum of Civilization
  • Digital Tradition Folksong Database / Mudcat Cafe
  • Ethnomusicology Online
  • Music and Anthropology (Journal of Musical Anthropology of the Mediterranean)
  • Richard Robinson's Tunebook
  • Turtle Island Native Network (Aboriginal and Native American Music)
  • University of Alberta Guide to Ethnomusicology Resources on the Internet
  • University of Washington Music Library.
  • Woody Guthrie and the Archive of American Folk Song

    • Local sites from the Queen's Music Library homepage:

  • Music in Canada .
  • Music History Research Guide .

  • Try GOOGLE for further Internet searching. There are pages devoted to specific composers, instruments, musical genres and historical periods.

  • Return to the Queen's MUSIC Library WEB page.
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    • Last revised: 26 September 2004

    URL:http://library.queensu.ca/webmus/ethno.htm