Catalogue Description: A comprehensive review of library research facilities available for advanced study in all areas of music.
Course Objectives: MUS 6716 is designed to familiarize graduate students with music research facilities and methodology. It is designed to cover the following areas:
1. Research methodology and ethics
2. Music dictionaries and encyclopedias, general and specialized
3. Journals
4. Indices for journals, dissertations, ms sources and research abstracts
5. Thematic/repertoire indices
6. Collected works/historical anthologies
7. Sources of music history -- biographies, series
8. Electronic resources
9. Guides for writing style and format
Course Procedure: Class members will be assigned selected sources
to examine. Each member will prepare a one-page report describing
each resource, giving complete publishing information and a brief description
of the material covered. Members will make photocopies of their materials
for each class member and for the instructor.
In addition, each student will choose a research
topic for the semester, and will prepare an annotated bibliography of sources
available in the Florida Atlantic University library, along with selected
material available through interlibrary loan. Students are encouraged,
though not required, to choose a topic which can be used later in seminars
in music history or music education, or for their thesis requirement.
Periodic oral reports will be made on materials which have been discovered,
and a final report on the research topic will be presented.
The final grade will consist of the average of grades from class reports and the grade for the annotated bibliography -- each grade will constitute 50% of the final grade. The instructor reserves the right to consider class attendance in the final grade.
Class Schedule:
1/9: Introduction and rationale. Research methodology and ethics.
1/16: Major dictionaries/encyclopedias -- Grove and MGG
1/23: The New Grove spinoffs TOPIC DUE
1/30: Other general reference works
2/6: General reference works, cont.
2/13: Specialized reference works
2/20: Electronic resources and ILL
2/27: Journals and the Music Index
3/6: HOLIDAY -- SPRING BREAK
3/13: Journals, cont.; other humanities indices
3/20: Dissertation Abstracts; RILM; RISM; thematic and repertoire indices
3/27: General and specialized history texts and series; Biographies
4/3: Collected editions and historical score anthologies
4/10: Style guides: MLA, Turabian, ABA, Helm & Luper, UCP, Chicago Manual
4/17: FINAL BIBLIOGRAPHIES/REPORTS DUE
"Use systematic doubt and question everything. Learn the difference
between statements of rational proof and those merely of persuasion.
Be precise in the use of words and expect precision from others.
Watch for error, even in Holy Scripture".
-- Peter Abelard, early 12th C.
Grove's Dictionary of Music and Musicians, 5th ed., 10 vols., ed. Eric Blom. New York: St. Martin's Press, Inc., 1954-61.
FAU Library: ML 100
G8863
1955
Description: The fifth edition of the original encyclopedia edited
by Sir George Grove in 1879-89. Grove's Dictionary has long
been the major music reference in the English language.
Articles are arranged alphabetically in vols. I - IX. Vol
X is a supplement, from 1961, which includes corrections and updated information.
Authors are indicated by initials after main text of article, before supplementary
material such as bibliography. Legend for interpreting the initials
can be found in Vol I or in the supplement (Vol. X). An unabridged
paperback edition was released in 1970.
Topics covered include virtually any information on western art
music, with limited coverage of jazz and popular traditions or non-western
art music. Articles include biographies of composers, performers,
scholars, teachers, critics, and publishers; schools (both educational
institutions and groups of composers); terminology from music history or
music theory; musical instruments and their makers. Illustrated with
charts, line drawings and B/W plates. Articles frequently include
limited bibliographies and lists of works (more comprehensive for figures
after the late Baroque).
Importance: Though the fifth edition of Grove's Dictionary has long been superseded by The New Grove Dictionary, and MGG, it remains of some use to the researcher. Comparisons between articles in it and The New Grove can often shed light by examining an alternative view of a subject, even if only to see what new information has been propagated since its publication. Bibliographical information may be useful in conjunction with The New Grove and other sources. In addition, the convenience of being able to check out a volume for more extended examination can be a positive factor. This edition, however, should always be treated as a supplement to more recent and more thorough material, rather than being used instead of it.
The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, 20 vols., ed. Stanley Sadie. London: MacMillan Publishers, Ltd., 1980.
FAU Library: REF
ML 100
N48
Description: The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians
has superseded both the fifth edition of Grove's and MGG as the most significant
and thorough source of information on music in any language.
Articles are arranged alphabetically and are signed in full at
the end of each article (after all subsections and supplementary material).
Volume I includes information on the use of the work. Volume XX has
a full list of contributors, along with a compact dictionary of terminology
and a table of abbreviations.
Topics covered include virtually any information on western art
music, with a significant among of information on ethnomusicology and non-western
art music. Articles include biographies of composers, performers,
scholars, teachers, critics, and publishers; schools (both educational
institutions and groups of composers); terminology from music history,
music theory or music education; musical instruments and their makers.
Illustrated with charts, drawings and B/W photographs. Articles include
extended bibliographies and lists of works.
Importance: The New Grove Dictionary, along with its various
related sources (on American music, musical instruments, opera, thrash
bands), should be the starting place for any music research. The
information is thorough and accurate, and the bibliographic material is
invaluable.
Die Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart, 17 vols., ed. Friedrich Blume. Kassel and Basel: Barenreiter Verlag, 1949-86.
FAU Library: REF
ML 100
M92
Description: The German-language Die Musik in Geschichte und
Gegenwart, affectionately known as MGG, was the most complete source
of information on music in any language, before being superseded by The
New Grove Dictionary. It remains of considerable value for the
thoroughness of its information, particularly for its information on the
original editions of composers works.
Volumes I - XIV contain an alphabetical arrangement of articles.
Volumes XV and XVI are supplemental, published in 1979; Volume XVII is
an index, cross-referencing material in related articles. Each article
is signed by both author and translator (abbreviated ubs.)
Like The New Grove Dictionary, MGG contains information
on any and all aspects of music, with exceptional coverage of ancient and
non-western music. Articles deal with biographies of composers, performers,
scholars, teachers, critics, and publishers; music of non-western cultures;
cities; terminology from music history, music theory or music education;
musical instruments and their makers. There are many B/W illustrations,
photos and plates. Composer biographies include bibliographies (Literatur),
lists of works (Werke) and information on original or early editions (Ausgabe).
Importance: The thoroughness of MGG makes it of considerable importance even for the non-German reading researcher. Bibliographical material, and information on original editions can be deciphered without a knowledge of the language, and illustrations can be useful. In addition, the cross-reference index can give some idea of where related information can be found in English-language sources.