Purpose: The primary function of the music collections is the support of the degree programs of the Bachelor of Arts in music and the Bachelor of Music, covering the areas of theory and composition, music history and literature, music education, applied studies, and performance electives. In addition to supporting interdisciplinary courses in the arts and culture in the humanities and social sciences, the collections are a resource for musical activities within the University community and beyond. Most materials classed in the M schedule are housed in the Music Library.
Existing Collection Strength: A tradition of strong support for the collection of music materials is both a reflection of and a reason for the Alfred Whitehead Music Library. The mature collections are of considerable depth in some areas and reach the Selective (3) collection level; strengths beyond that level include Canadian music and musicians. The printed music collection is relatively strong in the area of historical sets and complete works of composers as is the literature about these composers in the ML410 section. Additionally, traditional Anglo-American folk music forms a significant part of the MMAML collection.
Current Collecting Intensity: A Selective (3) level of collecting should be maintained. Existing strengths are justified and should continue. There has been Representative collecting (2) in the areas of jazz, ethno-musicology, popular music, and world music; these will have a larger share in developing collections as the cross-cultural and interdisciplinary nature of the curriculum and the literature continues to broaden.
Geographic Focus: The focus has been the western musical canon, but the importance of world musics continues to grow.
Chronological Focus: An emphasis was placed in the common practice period of the European tradition. Broadening of this narrow focus continues with the widening scope of the discipline.
Languages Collected: The primary language is that of music. This is not intended to be a facetious statement with regard to library collections: musical language constitutes more than simply a different format. In materials of words about music, English is very much predominant, French is relevant particularly for Canadian coverage, and German is considered because of its special importance in the discipline. The study of vocal music requires reference materials for European languages.
Formats Collected: The three main formats are printed music, books about music, and audio-visual. The preferred audio medium is the compact disc. The Music Library maintains an audio (primarily tape and cassette) collection of local concerts. Video and DVD are important formats especially for performances of musical stage works.
Preservation Considerations: Printed music publications are not superseded by new editions or new music and therefore very little weeding is carried out in the M classification. Consequently, there is a need to preserve printed music materials longer than materials which are replaced. Binding or use of folders is often required for thin soft-bound items and / or those with parts. Evolving formats of audio-visual materials create additional preservation considerations, as well as requiring maintenance of equipment for formats which have been collected, but are now superseded (eg. the LP).
Access to Journal Articles: The Music Library has subscribed to the current music bibliography, Rilm Abstracts of music literature, since its inception in 1967. Paper and then the CD-ROM product were changed to web access in 1998.
The Music Library subscribed to the paper version of the Music index, which indexes only music journals, from its inception in 1949 to 1995. This was replaced with the CD-ROM product and then by web access in late 1996 to the International index to music periodicals. The subscription to IIMP was discontinued; the networked CD-ROM is current to 2002.
More music journal titles are being included in full-text databases including ProQuest, Project Muse, and now JSTOR.
From July 2002 the Libraries have subscribed to the electronic version
of the major music encyclopedia, Grove Music Online.
Date: May 1996, last revised June 2003
Selector Responsible: Peter Higham