Introduction
When searching for materials for research or performance, you may need to verify song information to ensure you are searching for the correct piece. If you need to double check composer or title information or track down the complete information for a song that you only remember a few lines to, the indexes and tools gathered below are a great place to start your search!
Verifying Classical, Art Song, and Opera Work Titles
Sometimes pieces have "nicknames" or names that they are commonly referred to by, but these may not be the "real" name of the work. If you are having a hard time tracking down a piece, you might have to do a little research to see if it has another (real) name.
- Cross index title guide to classical musicCall Number: ML113 P24C76Location: Music & Performing Arts Reference [non-circulating]
- Cross index title guide to opera and operettaCall Number: ML128.O4P35Location: Music & Performing Arts Reference [non-circulating]
- Music titles in translation: a checklist of musical compositionsCall Number: ML111 H62M8Location: Music & Performing Arts Reference [non-circulating]
Verifying Popular Song Information
The books listed in this box are the best place to start when verifying popular song information! All have indexes of both composers and song titles, among other information.
- American Song: The Complete Musical Theatre Companion byCall Number: MPAL Reference Non-circulating ML128.S3 B561996 4 volsInformation about musicals including run dates, theatre, cast, composer, lyricist, librettist, producer, director, choreographer, costumer, set designer, and song list. Vols 3 and 4 titled "American song : the complete companion to Tin Pan Alley song."
- The Great Song Thesaurus byCall Number: MPAL ML128.S3 L39 1989Contains subject index. Also has information about advertising jingles, "elegant plagiarisms" (tunes "borrowed" from the classical literature),and first lines. An older edition is available in the reference section.
- Lissauer's Encyclopedia of Popular Music in America: 1888 to the Present byCall Number: MPAL Reference Non-circulating ML128.P63 L57Most up-to-date information (through 1996). Indexes by song title, date, and writer (both composers and lyricists).
- Popular Music, 1920-1979 byCall Number: MPAL Reference Non-circulating ML128.P63 S52Most extensive coverage. Special sections dedicated to publishers, important performances, and awards. Later volumes cover dates through 1994.