MUEP402 : Choral Techniques, Rehearsal Procedures and Repertoire

Part of your CMP plan is an analysis of choral compositions. This analysis will include information about the composer, librettist, period in which the piece was written and initially performed, historical background, and connection to the greater society. You may use both primary and secondary sources.

LUCIA, the library's online catalog, is a good place to start gathering information. It will lead you to reference books (encyclopedias, biographical dictionaries, etc.) and circulating books about a certain subject, person or historical era.

In addition, periodical indexes will lead you to articles in periodicals. Below are two online tutorials, one for using LUCIA and one for using periodical indexes. If you unfamiliar with either of these resources, take the tutorials. Each lasts 15-20 minutes.

Searchpath, An Online Tutorial:

• This module covers how to search LUCIA, the Lawrence library catalog

• This module covers how to use article indexes to identify articles on a subject

Biographical Music Reference Books:

• Anderson, Ruth. Contemporary American Composers: A Biographical Dictionary, 2nd ed. Boston, Mass.: G.K. Hall, 1982.
  Ref. [q.] ML390 .A54 1982.
• Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians. New York: Schirmer Books, 2001.
  [q.] ML105 .B16 2001 (6 vols.)
  Mr. Slonimsky always had something interesting to say. May contain information not found in Grove.
  
• Cohen, Aaron I. International Encyclopedia of Women Composers. New York: Books & Music (USA), 1987.
  Ref. [q.] ML105 .C7 1987 (2 vols.)
• Ewen, David. Composers Since 1900: A Biographical and Critical Guide. New York: H. W. Wilson Co., 1969.
  Ref. ML390 .E833.
• Sadie, Stanley, ed. The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians. New York: Grove, 2001.
  Ref. ML100 .N48 2001 (20 vols.)
  Also online.
  Pay special attention to the composers' works lists which tell you the year in which the work was written, and date of the first performance and publication among other things. Bibliographies at the ends of the articles will point you to other sources.
• Thompson, Kenneth. A Dictionary of Twentieth-Century Composers (1911-1971). New York: St. Martin's Press, 1973.
  Ref. ML118 .T5 1973b.

Periodical Indexes:

• RILM Abstracts of Music Literature: the first source for finding scholarly articles in music periodicals
• The Music Index Online: indexes both scholarly and popular music related periodicals from 1979-2004
• The Music Index: in the Reference area, vol. 1-49 (1949-1997)

Chronologies, Timetables or Timelines:

These sources visually link people, movements and historical events in various areas such as politics, religion, science and the arts.

• Freeman-Grenville, G. S. P. (Greville Stewart Parker). Chronology of World History: A Calendar of Principal Events from 3000 BC to AD 1973. Totowa, N.J.: Rowman & Littlefield, 1975.
  Ref. D11 .F75 1975.
• Treger, James. The People's Chronology: A Year-By-Year Record of Human Events from Prehistory to the Present. New York: Holt, 1994.
  Ref. D11 .T83 1994.

These chronologies are specific to music:

• Eisler, Paul E. World Chronology of Music History. Dobbs Ferry, N.Y., Oceana Publications, 1972-<80 >.
  Ref. ML161 .E4 vol. 1: 4,000 B.C.-1594 A.D.
  Ref. ML161 .E4 vol. 2: 1594-1684.
• Hall, Charles J. A Chronicle of American Music, 1700-1995. New York: Schirmer Books, 1996.
  Ref. ML200 .H15 1996.
• Hall, Charles J. Hall's Musical Years, the Twentieth Century, 1900-1979: A Comprehensive Year-By-Year Survey of the Fine Arts. Northbrook, Ill.: Opus Music Publishers, 1980.
  Ref. [q.] ML17.M8 H3.
• Slonimsky, Nicolas. Music since 1900. New York : Schirmer Books, 1994.
  Ref. ML197 .S634 1994.

Using Library of Congress Subject Headings:

Books about specific people, eras, genres can best be found using Library of Congress Subject Headings in LUCIA and limiting your search to Book.

• Books about people: use the person's name in reverse order as a subject browse: holst gustav
  
• Books about genres: use the singular form of the genre as a subject browse: choral music
  motet

• Books on specific subjects: search the subject term or phrase as a subject browse: performance practice

• Books about eras: search the numeric name of the century in the subject field with a keyword search: su 18th century
  su 19th century

• Combine terms in the subject field using and with a keyword search: su choral music and su 19th century
  su brahms and su correspondence

Other Ways to Search LUCIA:

A keyword search is an effective way to find information in contents notes or other notes about a book. Keyword seaching is also useful if you are not sure of a Library of Congress Subject Heading. Limit to Book and separate with the words and. music and perform? and reception

Use hot links found in bibliographic records in your results to find more related books.

Web Resources:

• It may be difficult to find information on contemporary compositions and even some contemporary composers. Try to find the composer's own web site using the advanced search in Google and limiting the name of the composer to "in the title of the page."
• Lexis Nexis Academic Universe news search. Accessed via the Library Research page and the pull-down menu. Can be limited by date, region and publication, and includes today's news.
• New York Times (1851-2001). Accessed via the Library Research page and the pull-down menu. Full-text searching, no subject control. Includes articles and ads.
• Newspapers from ProQuest. Accessed via the Library Research page and the pull-down menu. National, regional and international English-language newspapers. Citations and come full-text. Most date back to the mid-early '90's and some to the mid-early '80's. All are current as of today.

Links to Library Services and Information:

• Circulation: The Circulation desk is where you check out materials from the library. Remember to bring your Lawrence ID; you can't check out anything without it.
• Electronic reserves: Contain digital copies of course reserves, both text and audio, placed on reserve by the faculty. These may be viewed or listened to only on campus.
• Reserves: A portal for locating both digital reserves and items on the shelves in the Reserve area next to the Circulation desk.

  Other links of interest:

  • Lawrentian Library Lingo: learn to speak Muddish in one hour
  • Glossary of Library Terms: general definitions as well as information specific to the Lawrence library.
  • Online Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary: with pronunciations.
  • Reference Conference Request Form: you can use this to make an appointment to meet with a reference librarian.
  • Virtual Library Tour: a list of important locations in the library with maps and pictures.
  
  

  As always, if you have any questions be sure to ask a Reference Librarian.

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  Definitions of terms and abbreviations:

  Ref. = Reference collection, first floor
  RRef.= Ready reference, shelves behind the reference desk
  Periodicals = Current issues; Level A
  Periodical Back Files = Level A
  GovDoc = U.S. Government Documents, second floor
  Reference Indexes = Alphabetically arranged at the end of the reference collection
  Microform Area = Reading room east of the reference desk, near microform drawers
  q. = Oversized books and performance size scores: interfiled in reference and scores; at end of classes in other collections
  [CD] = Displays before the call number: a compact disc, first floor Media Center
  [LP] = Displays before the call number: an LP, or long-playing recording, a 33 1/3 rpm, 12" vinyl disc, first floor, Media Center
  [DVD] = Displays before the call number: a DVD, first floor, Media Center

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  This page last updated: 28-January-2005
  Antoinette Powell, Music Librarian