BASIC REFERENCE TOOLS

The following titles will be useful in tracking down information about the solo voice and its literature.

• Clifton, Keith E. Recent American art song: a guide. (Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press, 2008). Music Reference ML128.S3 C65 2008
• Coffin, Singer and Delattre. Word-by-Word Translations of Songs and Arias. Ref. ML 54.6 .W65
• DeCharms and Breed. Songs in Collections: An Index. Ref. ML 128 .S3 D37
• Emmons, Shirlee, and Wilbur Watkin Lewis.  Researching the song: a lexicon.  (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006).  Music Reference ML102.S6 E46 2006
• Goleeke, Tom.  Literature for Voice. Volume II: An Index to Songs in Collections, 1985-2000.  (Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press, Inc., 2002).  Music Reference ML128.S3 G644 2002.
• Hopkin, J. Arden.  Songs for Young Singers: An Annotated List for Developing Voices.  (Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press, 2002).  Music Reference ML132.S6 H67 2002. 
• Kagen, Sergius. Music for the Voice: A Descriptive List of Concert and Teaching Material. (Rev. ed.) Ref. ML 128 .V7 K3 1968

Because printed music and books are classified--i.e., grouped with similar items on the shelves--browsing can be an effective method for finding material. Look on the shelves under the following numbers.

• 71 = Folk and popular songs
• 75 = Solo art songs
• ML1400-ML3275 = History of vocal music
• MT820-MT893 = Instruction, methods

LOOKING for PRINTED MUSIC or RECORDINGS of a SPECIFIC PIECE of MUSIC:

Any or all of the following methods may work:

• Do a TITLE search in WNCLN's Library Catalog (http://wncln.wncln.org/). Use original language if known.
• Do a KEYWORD search in WNCLN's Library Catalog , using the most distinctive word in title.
• Do an AUTHOR search in WNCLN's Library Catalog , and go to title "Songs" to find collections of the composer's works.
• Look in the larger work of which your piece is a part (i.e., do a TITLE search in WNCLN's Library Catalog (http://wncln.wncln.org/)  for the complete musical, opera, oratorio, or song cycle; use original language if known
• Look for title in an index of song collections: 
  
  • DeCharms and Breed. Songs in Collections: An Index. Ref ML 128 .S3 D37
  • Sears, Minnie. Song Index. Ref ML 128 .S3 S31 1966 [Be sure to look in both the main section and the supplement. ]
  • Havlice, Patricia. Popular Song Index. Ref ML 128 .S3 H4 [Also look in the three separate supplements. ]

FINDING MUSIC

Do a SUBJECT search in WNCLN's Library Catalog (http://wncln.wncln.org/), using terms found in Library of Congress Subject Headings, e.g.

• Songs (Medium voice) with piano
• Sacred songs (High voice) with instrumental ensemble

FINDING INFORMATION

•  Do a SUBJECT search in WNCLN's Library Catalog using the term "Singing."

JOURNALS

• The N.A.T.S. Journal
• Journal of Singing
• Journal of Voice
• Opera News
• Opera Quarterly

Electronic Journals