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 by Erin L. Mayhood Assistant Head, Music Library, Boston University April 13th, 2005 Sponsored by the New England Music Library Association (NEMLA)

How Music Song Reference Differs Many songs are found in collections and will not appear under their title in library catalogs Many songs are found in collections and will not appear under their title in library catalogs Format is a large concern Format is a large concern

The Music Reference Interview Focusing the inquiry in music includes: Format Format Score Score Recording Recording Does the patron need the words (lyrics) only? Does the patron need the words (lyrics) only? Are they looking for background information? Are they looking for background information?

Common Formats Recordings Compact Discs Compact Discs Cassettes Cassettes LP’s LP’s Scores Full scores Piano vocal scores Fake books

Example of a Full Score:

Example of a piano-vocal score:

Example of a fake book:

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 the lyrics? Do you know the first line or any of 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 They So Hard? Lack of contents notes in catalog records Lack of contents notes in catalog records Songs may be part of a larger work like an opera or a musical Songs may be part of a larger work like an opera or a musical Languages Languages

A Sample Catalog Record Lacking Content Notes

Example of a record with contents notes. These notes are keyword searchable.

Finding Song Scores – Essential Print Resources Verification Sources Verification Sources Use to verify title, composer, date information. Use to verify title, composer, date information. Especially useful if you have only partial information Especially useful if you have only partial information Song Indexes Song Indexes Use to determine the titles of collections or anthologies that include your song. Use to determine the titles of collections or anthologies that include your song. General or genre specific General or genre specific

Sheet Music Resources on the Internet Aid in verification Aid in verification Searchable lyrics Searchable lyrics Digitized copies of songs that may be printable Digitized copies of songs that may be printable Many institutions compile lists of recommended sites Many institutions compile lists of recommended sites

Example:

Charles H. Templeton Sheet Music Collection Contains images of over 22,000 pieces of sheet music from late nineteenth and early twentieth century America Contains images of over 22,000 pieces of sheet music from late nineteenth and early twentieth century America Covers many genres, from the ragtime of Scott Joplin, the Dixieland of W. C. Handy, the smooth ballads of Irving Berlin, the stirring patriotic anthems of John Phillips Sousa and George M. Cohan to the early roots of big band. Covers many genres, from the ragtime of Scott Joplin, the Dixieland of W. C. Handy, the smooth ballads of Irving Berlin, the stirring patriotic anthems of John Phillips Sousa and George M. 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 Internet Many lyric sites on the internet Many lyric sites on the internet Beware of sites with extensive pop ups Beware of sites with extensive pop ups Sites often specialize in a particular genre Sites often specialize in a particular genre Many libraries maintain lists of selected sites. Many libraries maintain lists of selected sites.

Phrase search for “my hands are shaky”

What album contains that song?

193 albums have the song “All Shook Up” – Use advanced search to limit to a specific performer

Contact Information NEMLA: