The New England Chapter of the Music Library Association
Name That Tune: Music Services and the Public
Library
Sponsored by the New England Music Library Association (NEMLA)
The New England Chapter of the Music Library Association
Music Reference: Songs
Presented byErin L. Mayhood
Assistant Head, Music Library, Boston UniversityApril 13th, 2005
Sponsored by the New England Music Library Association (NEMLA)
How Music Song Reference How Music Song Reference DiffersDiffers
Many songs are found in collections Many songs are found in collections and will not appear under their title and will not appear under their title in library catalogsin library catalogs
Format is a large concernFormat is a large concern
The Music Reference The Music Reference InterviewInterview
Focusing the inquiry in music Focusing the inquiry in music includes:includes:
FormatFormat ScoreScore RecordingRecording
Does the patron need the words Does the patron need the words (lyrics) only?(lyrics) only?
Are they looking for background Are they looking for background information?information?
Common FormatsCommon Formats
RecordingsRecordings Compact DiscsCompact Discs CassettesCassettes LP’sLP’s
ScoresScores Full scoresFull scores Piano vocal scoresPiano vocal scores Fake booksFake books
Example of a Full Score:
Example of a piano-vocal score:
Example of a fake book:
Questions to Ask:Questions to Ask:
What is the title of the song?What is the title of the song? Who wrote the song?Who wrote the song? Do you know the first line or any of Do you know the first line or any of
the lyrics?the lyrics? What decade is this song from?What decade is this song from? Who recorded the song?Who recorded the song? What style of music is it?What style of music is it? Where did you hear this song?Where did you hear this song?
Finding Songs: Why Are Finding Songs: Why Are They So Hard?They So Hard?
Lack of contents notes in catalog Lack of contents notes in catalog recordsrecords
Songs may be part of a larger work Songs may be part of a larger work like an opera or a musicallike an opera or a musical
LanguagesLanguages
A Sample Catalog Record Lacking Content Notes
Example of a record with contents notes. These notes are keyword searchable.
Finding Song Scores – Finding Song Scores – Essential Print ResourcesEssential Print Resources
Verification SourcesVerification Sources Use to verify title, composer, date Use to verify title, composer, date
information. information. Especially useful if you have only partial Especially useful if you have only partial
informationinformation Song IndexesSong Indexes
Use to determine the titles of collections Use to determine the titles of collections or anthologies that include your song. or anthologies that include your song.
General or genre specificGeneral or genre specific
Sheet Music Resources on the Sheet Music Resources on the InternetInternet
Aid in verificationAid in verification Searchable lyricsSearchable lyrics Digitized copies of songs that may Digitized copies of songs that may
be printablebe printable Many institutions compile lists of Many institutions compile lists of
recommended sitesrecommended sites
Example: Example: www.bu.edu/library/music/sheewww.bu.edu/library/music/shee
tmusictmusic
Charles H. Templeton Sheet Charles H. Templeton Sheet Music CollectionMusic Collection
http://library.msstate.edu/ragtime/main.htmlhttp://library.msstate.edu/ragtime/main.html
Contains images of over 22,000 pieces Contains images of over 22,000 pieces of sheet music from late nineteenth of sheet music from late nineteenth and early twentieth century Americaand early twentieth century America
Covers many genres, from the ragtime Covers many genres, from the ragtime of Scott Joplin, the Dixieland of W. C. of Scott Joplin, the Dixieland of W. C. Handy, the smooth ballads of Irving Handy, the smooth ballads of Irving Berlin, the stirring patriotic anthems Berlin, the stirring patriotic anthems of John Phillips Sousa and George M. of John Phillips Sousa and George M. Cohan to the early roots of big band. Cohan to the early roots of big band.
Charles H. Templeton Sheet Music Collection Search Screen
Charles H. Templeton Sheet Music Collection – Digital Images of Sheet Music
Finding Music Lyrics on the Finding Music Lyrics on the InternetInternet
Many lyric sites on the internetMany lyric sites on the internet Beware of sites with extensive pop Beware of sites with extensive pop
upsups Sites often specialize in a particular Sites often specialize in a particular
genregenre Many libraries maintain lists of Many libraries maintain lists of
selected sites. selected sites.
www.Leoslyrics.comwww.Leoslyrics.com
Phrase search for “my Phrase search for “my hands are shaky”hands are shaky”
What album contains What album contains that song?that song?
193 albums have the song 193 albums have the song “All Shook Up” – Use “All Shook Up” – Use
advanced search to limit to advanced search to limit to a specific performera specific performer
Contact Information
NEMLA: http://www.wesleyan.edu/nemla/