LibGuides: Music: Get Started

Welcome to the research guide for Music. The resources below are a great place to start your research.

Use the menu on the left to find additional resources for finding books, articles, and more.

Start Here

Two excellent databases to start off are Oxford Music Online, an all-purpose encyclopedia/dictionary, and the Naxos Music Library, that allows streaming of over two million music tracks and close to 150,000 discs. See the links below.

Oxford Music Online (Grove) This link opens in a new window
Grove Music Online includes the full text of The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, second edition; The New Grove Dictionary of Opera; and The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz, second edition. It also includes access to the full text of the Oxford Companion to Music and the Oxford Dictionary of Music. 3 concurrent users.
Music Index with Full Text This link opens in a new window
Covers every aspect of classical and popular music. In addition to full-text journals, it includes reviews of performances as well as reviews of sound recordings and videos.
Naxos Music Library This link opens in a new window
Complete catalogs or selected recordings of over 800 labels. Supports a maximum of 5 concurrent users.
Naxos Musical Library is an invaluable resource for universities, music schools, public libraries, schools, music professionals and collectors. Complete catalogues or selected recordings of over 800 labels such as BIS, Capriccio, Chandos, CPO, CSO Resound, Decca, Deutsche Grammophon, Erato, Dynamic, Finlandia, Grand Piano, Hunssler Classic, Harmonia Mundi, Hungaroton, LSO Live, Marco Polo, Naive, Naxos, New York Philharmonic, Nimbus, Nonesuch, Ondine, Orfeo, PentaTone, RCA Records, Sony Classical, Supraphon, Teldec, Universal Classics, Vanguard Classics, Warner Classics, Warner Classics - Parlophone (former EMI Classics) and many more.

Music Research: A Handbook, Supplemental Material
Find lists and links to key resources music researchers use. The textbook has been comprehensively updated through August 2018.

Find Articles

Start with these popular databases

RILM Abstracts of Music Literature This link opens in a new window
Citations on international music corresponding to the printed RILM Abstracts of Music Literature.
JSTOR This link opens in a new window
Archive of scholarly journals. JSTOR does not include issues from recent volumes, usually the last 2 to 5 years. Tips for using JSTOR

Find Books/Scores/CDs

Search the Library Catalog to find materials on your topic

Library Catalog

How do I find a score in the catalog?

How do I find a CD in the catalog?

MusRef
This website lists over 7400 titles of reference sources, many of which are reviewed. Look here for bilbliographies, e-journals, e-books, digital collections, and more.