This music research guide is based on a larger annotated bibliography by Robert L Wick, Fine Arts Bibliographer. You can download the complete and original bibliography here: Word document

Dictionaries and encyclopedias:

New Grove dictionaries: The Grove dictionaries of music are considered the most scholarly sources for basic research in music. These sources should be consulted before beginning research on music topics to obtain an overview of the subject along with definitive bibliographies.

New Grove dictionary of Music and Musicians is available both online and in Print.

Additional dictionaries and encyclopedias:

General

Music dictionaries : extensive list of titles in Skyline. Below are a few selections with annotations.

• Kuhn, Laura, comp. Baker's Student Encyclopedia of Music. New York: Schirmer Books, 1999.
  This is a work aimed at the junior-high-school level and up. It includes more than 5,500 entries covering musical terms; musicians, composers, conductors, and performers; instruments; genres; and individual works. There is an "Introduction to Musical Terminology" in the first volume, and a detailed index in volume three. Many of the definitions of musical terms are accompanied by pronunciation guides. Ref ML100 B26 1999
• Randel, Don Michael, ed. The Harvard Dictionary of Music. 4th ed.
  This classic reference work, the best one-volume music dictionary available, has been brought completely up to date in this new edition. Combining authoritative scholarship and lucid, lively prose, the Fourth Edition of The Harvard Dictionary of Music is the essential guide for musicians, students, and everyone who appreciates music. ML100 A64 2003
• Encyclopedia of Music in Canada. Helmut Kallmann, ed. 2nd. ed. Toronto, Canada: University of Toronto Press, 1992.
  This one-volume source provides detailed information about music written by Canadian composers, and performed by Canadian musicians. Several articles are included which give an overview of the differences in Canadian music from that of other countries. Discographies, bibliographies, and filmographies are included. Ref ML106 E5 1992
• The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music. Advisory Editors, Bruno Nettl and Ruth M. Stone; founding editors, James Porter and Timothy Rice.
  This is a major music encyclopedia that includes audio cds with each volume. Volumes include: 1. Africa, 2. South America, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean, 3. the United States and Canada, 4. Southeast Asia, 5. South Asia: the Indian Subcontinent, 8. Europe, 9. Australia & the Pacific Islands. ML100 G16 1998
• Hoffman, Miles. The NPR Classical Music Companion: Terms and Concepts from A to Z.
  This is a very unique source. It is produced by National Public Radio and was designed for use in local public radio stations. The work is an excellent source of information on recording, composers, musicians, orchestras, etc.. ML108 H64 1997
• Kennedy, Michael. The Oxford Dictionary of Music.
  Considered the most comprehensive, detailed, reliable one-volume reference work on music available in the English language. The second edition contains more than 12,000 entries covering all types of music in all periods. It is also a valuable source for biographical information. Ref ML100 K35 1994
• Strahle, Graham. An Early Music Dictionary: Musical Term from British Sources 1500-1740.
  This work provides a brief encyclopedia covering early and medieval music found mainly in the Cambridge University collection. The book is a valuable source for studying early music, composers, and musicians. Ref ML108 S88 1995
• Slonimsky, Nicholas. Webster's New World Dictionary of Music.
  This dictionary offers over 12,000 entries covering all areas of the music world. It is by the renowned editor and music critic Nicolas Slonimsky, and is a useful, educational, and entertaining resource for amateur and professional musicians, educators, students, and dedicated concert-goers around the world. Ref ML100 S639 1998

Band Music

• Rehrig, William H. The Heritage Encyclopedia of Band Music: Composers and Their Music. Westerville, OH: Integrity Press, 1991.
  William Rehrig has provided a definitive list of the literature written for bands and wind ensembles, along with information on composers and arrangers. Information ranges from John Phillip Sousa to modern wind ensemble composers. It is one of the only biographical sources on little-known band conductors and composers. ML128 B23 R44

Country Music - Encyclopedias in Skyline. Selected list:

• All Music Guide to Country: the Experts' Guide to the Best Recordings in Country Music. San Francisco: CA: Miller Freeman, 1997.
  While basically a source for listings of recordings of country music individuals and groups, this work also provides biographical and business information. It is a good source for reviews. Ref ML156.4 C7 A47 1997
• McCloud, Barry. Definitive Country: the Ultimate Encyclopedia of Country Music and Its Performers. 1st. ed. New York, NY: Berkley Publishing Group, 1995.
  Major source for information on the general subject of country music. It includes country bands, stars, recording, and the business in general. It is an excellent biographical source. Ref ML102 M33 1995
• The Encyclopedia of Country Music: the Ultimate Guide to the Music. Compiled by the staff of Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum; edited by Paul Kingsbury with the assistance of Laura Garrard, Daniel Cooper, and John Rumble. New York: Oxford University Press, 1998.
  This work includes about 1,300 complete and up-to-the-minute alphabetical entries. A distinguished field of 137 contributors provides this guide to the singers, songwriters, record companies, and industry movers and shakers who have made country music the increasingly popular. ML102 C7 E54 1998

Electronic Music dictionaries Complete holdings from Skyline. Selected sources below:

• Cary, Tristram. Dictionary of Musical Technology. New York: Greenwood Press, 1992.
  Begins with an historical overview of the development of technology as it has been applied to music. Definitions are brief for the most part, but there are complete essays on amplifiers, synthesis, computer composition, MIDI, and sound sampling. Ref ML102 C37 1995
• Dobson, Richard. A Dictionary of Electronic and Computer Music Technology: Instruments, Terms, Techniques. New York : Oxford University Press, 1992.
  This work surveys the entire field of electronic and computer music with entries on major commercial instruments, synthesizers, sound samplers, sequencers, signal processors, MIDI, and computers. ML102 E4 D62 1992

Jazz encyclopedias Selected sources:

• Feather, Leonard G. The Encyclopedia of Jazz. New York: DaCapo Press, 1999.
  The Encyclopedia of Jazz by Leonard Feather is the major encyclopedia for the world of jazz. Long considered an authority on jazz, Leonard Feather has compiled the definitive list of jazz musicians and organizations, along with the most authoritative definitions of the music of jazz. ML3561 J3 F43
• Case, Brian. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Jazz. New York: Harmony Books, 1978.
  This encyclopedia remains one of the most important sources for information on jazz. It provides general articles on the history of jazz, the roots of jazz, jazz bands, biographies of jazz musicians, and a complete discography. ML102 J3 C34
• Herzhaft, Gerard. Encyclopedia of the Blues. (Trans. from French by Paul Harris et. al.) 2nd. ed. Gayetteville, AR: University of Arkansas Press, 1997.
  This is the definitive encyclopedia of the blues. It features information concerning blues bands, performers, composers, and generals articles concerning the history and culture of blues music. An excellent aspect of this work is its photographs of blues performers generally not found in other sources. Ref ML102 B6 H413 1997
• Oliver, Paul. The New Grove Gospel, Blues, and Jazz, with Spirituals and Ragtime. 1st. American edition. New York: Norton, 1986.
  In-depth information concerning areas generally related to jazz which are not usually covered in other sources. While the information is somewhat sketchy it is a valuable source. ML3187 O55 1986b

Musicals -- Encyclopedias (Skyline complete) Selected below:

• Hischak, Thomas S. The American Musical Theatre Song Encyclopedia. Forward by Gerald Bordman. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press, 1995.
  An encyclopedia of theatre songs from Broadway shows, the work features facts on over 1,800 songs from over 500 musicals. The encyclopedia includes entries ranging from The Black Crook (1866) to the 1994 Tony Award-winning Passion. This guide gives information on the song's author, original performers and dates and history of recording. Ref ML102 M88 H59 1995
• Stage it With Music: an Encyclopedic Guide to the American Musical Theatre. Westport, CN: Greenwood Press, 1993.
  A a fascinating source for all kinds of information concerning the American musical theatre. Information contained in this volume ranges from specific musicals, information on composers, directors, and the business in general. ML102 M88 H6 1993

Popular Music -- encyclopedias (complete Skyline search) Selected:

• The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Compiled & edited by Colin Larkin. New York: Muze, 1998. (8 vols.)
  This work is a revised edition of the older Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (see below). The work is now the largest single compilation of information on popular music. Ref ML102 P66 G84 1998
• Claghorn, Charles Eugene. Popular Bands and Performers. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press, 1995.
  This source provides the most in-depth listing of popular music bands, groups, and performers. Hundreds of individuals and groups are listed along with information concerning their music and place in the industry. ML102 P66 C53 1995

Biography: see the biography subject guide and searchable biography article databases. Search Skyline for individual names as a subject or keyword, or music types and biography:

Country music biography
Women rock musicians -- Biography.
Jazz musicians Biography

Selected reference sources:

• Baker, Theodore. Biographical Dictionary of Musicians. 8th ed. Revised by Nicolas Slonimsky. New York, NY: Schirmer Books, 1994.
  The definitive Biographical Dictionary of Musicians was begun in 1900 by Theodore Baker. Nicolas Slonimsky undertook the fifth through eighth editions, infusing them with inimitable, irrepressible Slonimsky style. This edition contains more than 3.5 million words, all of them delightful, all penned by Slonimsky, making it one of the world's known treasures. From Aaltonen, Erkki (Finnish composer, born 1910) to Zylis-Gara, Teresa (Polish soprano, born 1935), the work exudes factual accuracy, critical (and opinionated) insights, fine humor, and a human touch. Though associated with classical music, Slonimsky has always included hundreds of popular musicians, jazz, rock, blues, and more. Ref ML105 B16 1994
• International Who's Who in Classical Music. London: Europa Publications Ltd., 2002-
  This work lists biographical information and addresses of living musicians throughout the world. In addition, it provides information on individual musicians' recordings, company affiliation, etc.. A very useful work. Ref ML105 I54 2002
• Harrison, Nigel. Songwriters: A Biographical Dictionary with Discographies. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland, 1998.
  This book claims to be "the first comprehensive guide to English-language composers and lyricists" of popular songs of the 19th and 20th centuries. The work compiles over 1000 entries with biographical information, discographies, and peak chart positions (both British and American). The biographical information tends to be quite brief, with most entries consisting primarily of discography information. Ref ML102 P66 H47 1998
• Biographical Dictionary of Russian/Soviet Composers. New York, NY: Greenwood Press, 1989.
  This work provides essential biographical information, dated lists of the composition, and bibliographic source data for more than 2000 Soviet composers. Relatively obscure composers (many of them contemporary) merit just a few lines. Also listed are composers (for example: Irving Berlin, Dmitri Tiomkin) not generally considered to be "Russian," and persons (for example: Jascha Heifetz, Vladimir Horowitz, Boris Pasternak) not generally considered to be "composers." Ref ML106 S68 B56 1989
• International Who's Who in Music and Musicians' Directory. Cambridge, England: Melrose Press, 1975-1995. (8 vols.)
  This work is considered by many to be the definitive reference work in the classical and light classical fields. This volume will provide personal biographies and career details on more than five thousand notable individuals involved in pop, jazz, blues, country and folk music. Prominent musicians and singers will are included.
• Kendall, Alan. Chronicle of Classical Music: An Intimate Diary of the Lives & Music of the Great Composers. London: Thames & Hudson, 2000.
  This work extracts from contemporary letters and journals and in hundreds of paintings and drawings, cartoons, posters, photographs, music scores and documents. A good source for hard-to-fine biographical information on musicians. Ref ML390 K35 2000
• The Harvard Biographical Dictionary of Music. Don Michael Randel, ed. Cambridge, MA: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1996.
  This definitive guide provides biographical information on thousands of individuals from humble artisans to the greats of music. The volume brings together all the pertinent biographical information about composers, performers, music theorists, and instrument makers from Medieval times to the present. Ref ML105 H38 1996
• Helander, Brock. The Rock Who's Who: a Biographical Dictionary and Critical Discography Including Rhythm-and-Blues, Soul, Rockabilly, Folk, country, Easy Listening, Punk, and New Wave. New York, NY: Schirmer Books, 1982.
  This volume presents 395 serious biographical and historical entries on the movers, shakers, and players in rock. Every significant or innovative performer, personality, or group since the early Fifties is given its due alongside the major promoters, producers, and fat cats who populate the world of rock 'n' roll. Each entry includes a complete discography including original issue numbers for LPs as well as information on CD reissues. There are over 75 historic black and white photos of significant performers and groups. Ref ML102 R6 H5 1982

Music Histories:
Information on musical themes, musicians, composers, events, and many other aspects of music throughout the years. Several major music histories are listed below. Search Skyline for additional music histories: "music history," "women music history," etc.

• Hanning, Barbara Russano. Concise History of Western Music. (Based on Donald Jay Grout's A History of Western Music 5th ed.) New York: Norton, 1998.
  This is the continuation of the world-famous A History of Western Music written by Donald Jay Grout. After Mr. Grout's death, Barbara Hanning continued the standard text used in many colleges as an introductory text.. It is arranged chronologically and contains numerous illustrations. It is indexed by title, subject, and name. ML160 H2827 1998
• The New Oxford History of Music. London: Oxford University Press, 1954- .
  This series is the definitive history of music. It has been in progress since 1954 Date and is nearing completion. Each volume is written by the foremost authority in the world.

Bibliographic sources:
Bibliographical sources provide lists of other works on music. To find additional bibliographic sources search Skyline:

• Music bibliography
• Jazz bibliography
• Beethoven bibliography

Important selections:

• A Basic Music Library: Essential Scores and Sound Recordings. 3rd. ed. Compiled by the Music Library Association. Chicago: American Library Association, 1997. xvi, 665p. Ref ML113 B3 1997
• Crabtree, Phillip. Sourcebook for Research in Music. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press, 1993. 236p. Ref ML113 .C68 1993
• Duckles, Vincent H. Music Reference and Research Materials: an Annotated Bibliography. 5th ed. New York: Schirmer Books, 1997. xviii, 812p. Ref ML113 D83 1997
• Heintze, James R. Early American Music: a Research and Information Guide. New York: Garland Pub. Co, 1990. xii, 511p. ML120 U5 H46
• Hill, George Robert. Collected Editions, Historical Series & Sets & Monuments of Music: a Bibliography. Berkeley, CA: Fallen Leaf Press Press, 1997. Xliv., 1349p. Ref ML113 H55 1997
• Lebrecht, Norman. The Companion to 20th-Century Music. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1992. xiii, 415p. xiii, 415p. Ref ML100 L46 1992
• Mixter, Keith E. General Bibliography for Music Research. 3rd. ed. Warren, MI: Harmonie Park Press, 1996. xxii, 200p. ML113 M59 1996

Internet sites for music research
music(general) | ballet | classical | computer | folk | instruments | jazz | individual composers | medieval | dissertations and theses | education | music events | periodicals | reference | theory | opera | popular music | public domain | songs, hymns and chants |

Music (General)

• All Music Guide. All Media Guide (AMG). A leading business-to-business provider of entertainment descriptive content and content management technology. The music portion has unparalleled depth and breadth of coverage in all types of music and entertainment data (including in-print and out-of-print titles).
• American Music Resource. The American Music Resource ( AMR ) provides a multi-dimensional source of reference information about all styles of music indigenous to the Western Hemisphere. It is intended to serve efficiently and quickly: text-only. The collection houses over 800 bibliographies, lists and files, and is indexed below by topic (genre and style subdivisions) and subject (individuals - mostly composers).
• Essentials of Music. This site is provided by the W. W. Norton & Company and the Sony Music Entertainment Company, and is written by three music professors. This comprehensive Internet resource provides access to nearly 200 musical excerpts from any location within the site. This site is continually updated with new audio files and composer biographies.
• Institute for Music Research.The Institute for Music Research came into being in 1991-92. It was established to promote research in the areas of music psychology and music technology. Current activities are divided into six categories: Online Services, Conferences, Research, Publications, Presentations, and a Ph.D. proposals.
• Selected Bibliography Related to Orchestra Practice.This database was compiled by Thomas Drescher and includes items related to the 17th and 18th centuries. No examples of music are included.
• La Folia: Online Music Review.Begun in 1999 this site reviews music performances and provides articles on mostly classical music throughout the world.
• IUMA-Internet Underground Music Archive.The site is very popular with underground music fans. It provides information on alternative music, including online radio sites. Articles, chat rooms, lists, etc..

Ballet

• Ballet and Dance Art. This online magazine includes information on dancers, feature articles, chat and message boards, interviews with dancers, etc..
• Ballet Alert! Includes information on ballet in the U. S. and around the world. Covers ballets, companies and dancers, ballet talk for fans, dancer of the week, weekly quiz, photos, interviews with famous dancers, and advice for teachers.

Classical Music

• Andante - Everything Classical. The Andante web site is dedicated to classical music and opera. It has both free and paid sections including an online magazine, and classical music cds and books for sale.
• Gramophone: The Classical Music Website.This commercial classical music site provides information on music news, feature articles, music awards, performance and cd reviews, notice of competitions, industry news, and upcoming concert listings.

Computer Music

• Computer Music Journal. The Computer Music Journal is a quarterly online journal published by MIT Press including electro-acoustic, electronic, and computer music software and hardware for digital audio signal processing; music notation, printing and archival systems; music representation and cognition; new musical performances, music business, etc..

Folk Music

• The Encyclopedia of Traditional Celtic Music. This site is done by an individual who provides information on the subject of music history, historical performance techniques, and other aspects of Celtic music. The author discusses both historical and his opinions of Celtic music.
• Folk Music - An Index to Recorded Resources. This site provides indexes for song titles and performers, including both side and principal performers, in a standard discography format. Specific entries can be located by either alphabetic browsing or keyword searching which is automatically linked to the title or performer alphabetic listings. Additionally, cross references to alternate titles, related pieces and similar melodies have been included and these constitute around 18% of the nearly 39,000 titles in the title index.
• The Wighton Database. This database contains more than 100 records concerning Scottish music. Many rare English, Irish and Welsh volumes are included.
• RootsWorld. RootsWorld is considered an online magazine of world music with emphasis on folk traditions. Menus include Africa, Europe, Asia, and The Americas. The site is searchable by key words. Sound samples are also available.

Instruments

• A Guide to Medieval and Renaissance Instruments. This site lists several instruments which were used during the Medieval and Renaissance period in Europe. Information about each instrument is provided along with illustrations and photographs.
• Instrument Encyclopedia. This site covers instruments from a wide variety of different cultures, performance contexts, and structural materials related to one another.

Jazz

• RoJaRo Index. This index covers blues, country, gospel, soul, rap, metal, reggae, punk, world music, etc.. It provides a key to articles, discographies, live recordings, etc.. Last updated August, 2000.

Individual Composers

• Bach Digital. This Web site contains many examples of music and sound. The world of Bach may be explored using autograph selections. An impressive site.
• The Beethoven Bibliography Database. The Center for Beethoven Studies is the only institution in North America devoted solely to the life, works, and accomplishments of Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827). Established in 1983, the Center officially opened at San Jose State University in September 1985 with a gala co-sponsored by the San Jose Symphony. The Center now has the largest collection of Beethoven materials outside of Europe. In addition to functioning as a research library, the Center is involved in a variety of educational programs and projects and sponsors concerts, lectures, tours, and other programs.
• Composer Timeline. This composer timeline constructed by Tim Cordell is a useful list of the world's major composers and their works. Useful as a study guide.
• Gaylord Music Library Necrology. This site provides death notices of individuals in the world of music. It is updated daily. Files which list those who died in each year since 2000 are also list separately.
• Music Library Association Obituary Index. This is an on-line version of an index of obituary citations published annually by the Music Library Association (MLA) in its quarterly journal, Notes . The index facilitates access to information about musicians and other members of the music world.

Medieval Music

• Digital Image Archive of Medieval Music. The Digital Image Archive of Medieval Music (DIAMM) enhances digital images of European sources of medieval, polyphonic music. These include a relatively small number of complete manuscripts, found throughout Britain and continental Europe, which have been widely studied since their discovery by scholars at various times over the past century. An excellent site to see original early music manuscripts. Free site...registration required.
• Thema [The Music Theory of the Middle Ages] This site contains hypertext transcriptions of 18 manuscript copies of 14 Latin theoretical treatises related to musica mensurabilis of the 13th century.
• TmiWeb. This is the online version of Thesaurus Musicarum Italicarum (TMI). The site provides an electronic listing of Italian music treatises from the Renaissance and early Baroque in digital facsimile.
• The Medieval Music Database. This database is a collection of scores, color images, texts and bibliographic information of medieval music which can be searched by text or melody and which will return musical information in the form of a modern score, text data and, where available, a color facsimile of an original manuscript. In contains a complete annual cycle of liturgical chant taken from original medieval sources and complete works of selected composers from the twelfth to the fifteenth centuries.

Music Dissertations and Theses

• Archive of Dissertation Abstracts in Music. This archive is maintained by Geoffrey Chew mainly on the basis of material supplied by Andrew Dell'Antonio. The abstracts relate both to completed dissertations and to those in progress. To purchase complete dissertations in the area of music use the University Microfilms International site.
• Directory of Dissertations. This site provides a list of the music dissertations with abstracts that have appeared in Music Theory Online. Those who wish to obtain copies of dissertations listed here should contact the author or University Microfilms Inc. ( http://www.umi.com ).
• Doctoral Dissertations in Musicology - Online. DDM-Online is an international database of bibliographic records for completed dissertations and new dissertation topics in the fields of musicology, music theory, and ethnomusicology, as well as in related musical, scientific, and humanistic disciplines. More than 12,000 records, including the contents of the earlier printed editions of Doctoral Dissertations in Musicology, are included.
• Index to Theses Accepted for Higher Degrees by Universities in Great Britain and Ireland.This online service provides users with coverage of music theses dating from the present back to 1716, providing total bibliographic control of all theses produced by British and Irish Universities. In addition, the expanded Index to Theses service benefits from a further 44,000 abstracts added to the original collection covering the period 1970 - 1985. Free site...registration required.  

Music Education

• Music Education Resource Base. This site provides a bibliographic database of more than 31,000 resources in music and music education from 35 Canadian and International journals and other sources covering the period 1956 through the present. The journals are fully indexed by title, author, and subject.

Music Events

• Musi-Cal.(http://www.calendar.com/concerts/) Musi-Cal is a free Internet music events calendar. It lists the dates and locations of upcoming concerts, festivals, and other musical events around the world, and allows promoters, record labels, venues, and even fans to submit tour and other event itineraries. This site is kept up to date and is a valuable source to the music industry.
• Music Festival Finde.This internet site provides information on more than 1,300 music festivals in North America. Each festival may be located by date, location, performers, or festival name. This site is updated daily.

Music Periodicals

• Canadian Music Periodical Index. This index is made possible through the collaboration of the Encyclopedia of Music in Canada, which has provided indexers on contract to the National Library of Canada since 1983. CMPI is an index of articles from Canadian music periodicals. CMPI is a free service provided by the National Library of Canada. Texts of articles are not available from this site, but can be obtained through interlibrary loan at your local library.
• Music Week Magazine. Music Week Magazine began more than 27 years ago in the UK and is now available on the Web with daily updates and music news. The motto of the magazine is "for everyone in the business of music."
• Online Music Periodicals.This handy list of online music periodicals is maintained by maintained by Gary Daum of Georgetown Preparatory School Music Department.
  

Music Reference

• CAIRSS for Music.CAIRSS is a bibliographic database of music research, literature in music education, music psychology, music therapy, and music medicine. Citations have been taken from 1,354 different journal titles; 18 of which are primary journals, meaning that every article ever to appear is included.
• Directory of Music User Guides for Libraries. This site is compiled by the Bibliographic Instruction Subcommittee of the Music Library Association, and provides links to numerous music research guides that have been developed at various libraries around the country. These guides are designed to assist with music research. Note: Not all of the sources listed in these guides will be available at the Auraria Library.
• International Inventory of Musical Sources. Also known as Repertoire International des Sources Musicales (RISM), this site attempts to maintain a comprehensive documentation of existing musical sources worldwide.
• Music Library Association. The Music Library Association is the professional organization in the United States devoted to music librarianship and to all aspects of music materials in libraries. Founded in 1931, MLA provides a forum for study and action on issues that affect music libraries and their users.
• Texas Music Bibliography. This is website of the Texas Music Office in the office of the governor of Texas. It serves as a clearinghouse for promotion of the Texas music industry.

Music Theory

• Saggi Musicali Italiani. This is a database for text on music theory and aesthetics. The site includes many texts on music theory and aesthetics in electronic format. The information grew out of the Thesaurus Musicarum Latinarum.

Opera

• The Aria Database. The Aria Database is a diverse collection of information on over 1000 operatic arias. It is designed for singers and non-singers alike amd includes translations and aria texts of most arias as well as a collection of MIDI files of operatic arias and ensembles.
• Operabase. This database provides listings of more than 115,000 performances by more than 16,000 artists worldwide. It is done in partnership with the Grove Dictionary of Music.

Popular Music

• The Big Bands Database. The Big Bands Database is an ongoing project dedicated to Bands, Jazz and to Swing History, and to the music now known to the world as "American Popular Song."
• Center for Popular Music Research. The Center's collection documents the diversity of American music. It takes as a starting point the European and African origins of American culture, selecting items which document the music of our national vernacular culture.
• Country Music Research Center. About.com's Country Music site will direct you to just about anything that you want to know about this popular form of music.
• The Lester S. Levy Collection of Sheet Music. The Lester S. Levy Collection of Sheet Music is part of Special Collections at the Milton S. Eisenhower Library of The Johns Hopkins University. It contains over 29,000 pieces of music and focuses on popular American music spanning the period 1780 to 1960.
• Hotwired. Hotwired is a major online source for information on popular music. Features include archives, feature stories, gallery of hits, movie music, multimedia music, pop-talk, articles, and chat rooms. Many additional links to other web pages are also provided.

Public Domain Music

• Public Domain Music. This reference site helps identify public domain songs and public domain music which is royalty free music you can use anywhere and any way you choose. It may be used in performance, sing-along, film, video, advertising, business, or personal use.
• CPDL - A Free Sheet Music Archive. The Choral Public Domain Library (CPDL) is the largest website devoted exclusively to free choral sheet music. Begun in December 1998, the site has over 250 contributors and 6,000 scores.

Songs, Hymns, Chant

• The British Song. This is a web site linking to a database of British+ songs. The site has more than 6000 song cycles, sets, albums, collections and individual songs, representing a body of song literature from the end of the 16th century to the present.
• Cantus: A Database for the Latin Ecclesiastical Chant. This database provides indices of chants in selected manuscripts and early printed sources of the liturgical office. The Cantus project is housed and maintained by the Music at the University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada. It is supported by the Humanities Research Council of Canada.
• Dictionary of American Hymnology. The Dictionary of American Hymnology Project (DAH), with the support of the Oberlin College Library and the Hymn Society in the U.S. and Canada, provides data related to hymns and hymn writers as well as the history of congregational song in America. The project comprises four sources for research: an index of first lines of hymns from 1640 to 1978 with a supplementary index 1978 to present; a bibliography of some 5000 hymnals published in America (1817 denominational + 3192 non-denominational); an author file; and a biographical file.
• The Musica Virtual Choral Library. Provided by the International Federation of Choral Music and the Centre d'Art Polyphonique d'Alsace.
• The Parlor Songs Collection. This site is produced by the Parlor Songs Association, Inc., and provides songs and information concerning the preservation of popular American music and musical culture.
• Women Song Composers: A Listing of Songs Published in the United States and England, ca. 1890-1930. This searchable database contains more than 5000 songs and song sets by women composers in North America.