Composers & Musical Styles
Books
Check the
Wilson Biographies Plus Illustrated (on or off-campus access) for online book information about your artist. Usually includes established, major popular and historical artists.
Check the ML section for musical topics in the reference and circulating book shelves on the 3rd floor. Locate individual books on composers and recording artists through the Library Catalog on the web or in the library. Keep in mind that music reference books may have a section on your topic if you cannot locate an entire book on the subject. Search by subject keyword (e.g., Brahms, rap, Elton John, etc.). Also, search local library catalogs for books from the Houston Public Library.
You can place holds on books via the web catalog or the in-library catalog using your library card. You can apply for a card at the second floor circulation desk after presenting identification in the form of a photo ID or course registration receipt.
Periodical Articles ProQuest on or off-campus includes information from magazines, journals, and newspapers.
Search Tips for ProQuest:
- If you are searching for individual names (e.g., Norah Jones), select the PERSONAL NAME search from the drop down menu next to the search box. It locates articles where a musical artist is a main subject of the article.
- If you are searching for band names (e.g., The Grateful Dead), select the COMPANY/ORG. search from the drop down menu next to the search box. Again it locates articles where a musical group is a main subject of the article.
Try
Academic Search Complete on or off-campus for more information
after selecting the
Subject Search option at the top of the search page. Enter the name of your group or artist in the search box..
For musicians popular in the last fifty years, try locating the person's name in the
Current Biography indexes (REF CT100 .C8). Indexes are listed in the back of latest volume or in the bound index covering 1940-1990.
Use specialized indexes in the library (e.g.,
Humanities Index or
Biography Index) for more articles on your topic. Ask a librarian if you need help in finding or using these indexes.
Web Sites
The following sites selected by librarians include information on composers and musical styles. Remember to consider points listed on the
Evaluating Web Sites - Quick Guide when reviewing Web sites since anyone and everyone can put information on the Web. If you have a very specific topic, consider using a
search engine. Try a search engine called
Google first if you don't have a favorite.
Need Help??
If you need additional help, please feel free to contact a librarian during open hours.