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Online Catalog: Holdings for the George Mason University Libraries.

Aladin Catalog: Holdings for WR LC libraries.

Doctoral Dissertations in Music : Listings of doctoral dissertations in musicology.

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 RILM: Citations for international music publications.

Grove Dictionary of Music & Musicians : Features full-text searching of over 29,000 articles on all aspects of music.

Dissertations Abstract: Dissertations accepted at accredited institutions.

International Index to Music Periodicals : Indexes 375 international music periodicals. Some full-text articles.

International Index to the Performing Arts : Indexes 200 performing artis periodicals.

WorldCat : Holdings records for OCLC member libraries.

International Index to the Performing Arts: Covers a broad spectrum of the arts and entertainment industry. Selected full-text coverage.

Dow Jones Interactive: Covers today's top newspapers (Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Washington Post and more) with full-text articles and exhibition reviews.

Expanded Academic ASAP: Full-text journal articles in the humanities.

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Questions, suggestions, problems? Contact Angela Weaver, Fine and Performing Arts Liaison/ Reference Librarian

Library Resources

Books in the M class are shelved in the Johnson Center Library. A book designated REF. is non-circulating and will be located in the Johnson Center Library Music Reference section. Books with * are also located in the Fenwick Library Reference section.

To find books and other materials about a particular composer

  • Perform a subject search in the library catalog for that person's name.
    ex. "glass philip" (note: last name first)

To find books and other materials about a group of composers

  • For example, to find books about women composers, perform a keyword search for "women AND composers"

To find music recordings of a particular composer's work

  • Limit your search to "Musical Recordings" and then perform a keyword search for that composer's name. Be aware that some of the recordings may not be by that composer since you are not performing an author search but a keyword search.
    ex. "britten benjamin"

To find scores of a particular composer's work

  • Limit your search to "Scores" and then perform a keyword search for that composer's name.
    ex. "schumann robert"

To find all materials by a composer

  • Perform an author search for that composer.
    ex. "cage john"

Basic biographical information on composers along with lists of works can be found in the following:

  • New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians
    REF. ML100. N485 1986
    The most comprehensive music reference resource to date; an authoritative encyclopedia with 22,000 articles covering music from all periods and emcompassing all forms. Includes excellent biographies and lists of works, and detailed bibliographies.
  • Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians
    REF. ML105. B16 1992
    Core biographical music dictionary; global in scope, includes lists of works and annotated bibliographies.

  • International Encyclopedia of Women Composers
    REF. ML105. C7 1987 v.1-2
    Of the 5000 composers listed, there are biographies for 3,700 which includes a list of compositions (not all dated) and references. There is a bibliography of resources and discographies at the end of volume two.

  • *Contemporary Composers
    REF. ML105. C75 1992
    Listings of working composers which include birth date, eduction, awards, positions, and works lists. Information on works include instrumentation and completion or premiere date.

Web Sites

Situates the baroque historically and geographically, and provides biographical notes for composers as well as links to other sites.

The most comprehensive collection of classical music resources on the Web with links to over 2,000 non-commercial sites. Includes databases, chronologies, necrologies, e-journals, music organizations, and more.

Explore some of the world's greatest composers and their works. By downloading the MIDRADIO player, you can listen to superb renditions of your classical favourites whilst reading about their history.

Has composer data with a list of works.

A list from Cook Music Library with links to sites with information on individual composers as well as links to sites with lists of composers.

Has a chronology, history, and discography of early women composers as well as references to print resources and links to other web sites.

Provides biographical information, a selected discography, and some links for composers it represents.

List of Opera Composers has a list of composers with dates and location of premieres for their works, the type of composition the work is, and links to additional information.

Contains information about film and television composers including lists of works, links to official composer sites, and representation information. The site also features interviews with various composers.

Background information, sound files, and brief analyses of compositional style for more than twenty composers, all deceased.

20thComposers.htm
Created by Emory College Music Department Chair, Ben Arnold. It has biographical information, a list of works, an "In their own words" section, and links to other sites.

UVA Music Library
Links on composers.

women.html
A site from Cook Music Library with links to different kinds of sites featuring information about women composers.

Yahoo Index of Artists > Index of Composers
A comprehensive resource index. Search for artists by country or culture, genre, or instrument. Over 35,000 links in the complete listing

Annotated Bibliographies On Twentieth-Century Composers

Women Composers and Women's Music

Women Composers: A Bibliography of Internet Resources