MUSC286.002: Traveling Through Time on the Ivories Spring 2022: Books and Other Resources for your Research

Primary sources date from the time period you are studying. They can include letters, artifacts, photographs, paintings, music manuscripts, facsimiles of first editions of music, or concert reviews from a composer's life time.

To find a composer's letters in the library catalog, search on "[composer's last name] correspondence" and then narrow the results by language to English.

         For example, here is a link to collections of Chopin's letters (in English translation) in the library.

The library has facsimile reproductions of many composers' music manuscripts and first editions. In an All Fields (keyword) search box in the library catalog, type the composer's name and title of the work, and add the word "facsimiles"  to find many of these primary resources.

For example, here is a link to facsimile editions of (or pages from) Beethoven's "Appassionata" Sonata op.57 in the library.

You can also find them on the shelves alphabetized by composer's last name under the call numbers ML96.5.

Secondary sources are materials published outside your topic's time period such as books and e-books from the 20th and 21st centuries, library databases like Oxford Music Online/Grove Music Online, journal articles, editor's notes in editions of a composer's work, and liner notes from sound recordings.

Below are some samples of what is available through the Library. Search the catalog on relevant keywords and refine your results with the facets on the left of the results screen. Make note of the item's location!

Items can be requested through the catalog to be delivered to Davis Library or the Undergraduate Library for pickup if you prefer.

Books and E-books about the history of the piano

Books and E-books about nature in music

Books and E-books analyzing 19th-century piano music

Books and E-books analyzing piano music (various centuries)

Books and E-books about virtuosity in musical performance

You can also browse the ML410 section of the stacks, where there are books about composers and their works, including their letters (primary sources). The ML410s are arranged alphabetically by composer (ML410.C54 is Chopin, ML410.S3 is Schubert, etc.).

Another section of the stacks to browse is ML700+. Here are books on the history of keyboard music, arranged by time period.

The liner notes accompanying many sound recordings also contain useful information about the composer, the performing artist, and the works on the recording.

You can check out Library books and sound recordings with your OneCard for 30 days. They will renew automatically.

Many scholarly editions of music contain editorial notes and commentary (secondary source material) that will be helpful in writing your paper.

When you find a score in the library catalog, click on the hyperlinked title of the item and scroll down to see if Notes are included in the score.

An example from the Peters edition of the Chopin's Impromptus (call number M22.C545 I5 P4 2011) says:

Preface in English, French and German; editorial and critical notes (p. 48-55) in English.

Add the word "facsimiles" to your search to find original manuscripts (primary sources) of the composer's work.

Remember, you can click the Request button at an item's record in the catalog to have it delivered to Davis Library or the Undergraduate Library, if you prefer.

A direct link to your Naxos Class Playlist is toward the bottom of this list of Folders in Naxos

To find books about music or sound recordings, start by searching our catalog!

• Use ALL FIELDS (keyword) search.
• Refine your search with the facets (Resource Type, Library Location, Language, etc.) on the left side of the screen

Pay attention to the item's location; there are several collections on campus that have music materials.

When you find a book or recording you are interested in, click on a Subject tab inside the record to find similar items. If the item you want is checked out or we don't own it, you can request it through Interlibrary Loan.