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/