Music Reference Resources - Women in Music
General | Classical Vocal/Opera | Classical Instrumental | Music Business | Ethnomusicology/World | Black Music | Popular | Jazz | Music Theater | Miscellaneous
International Encyclopedia of Women Composers, second edition, revised and enlarged, by Cohen (1987).
Ref. ML105 .C7 1987 vs. 1-2 Music Library and Tutt Library
With an aim to cover women composers from “ancient times to the present”, this set includes 5000 women composers from nearly 70 countries. Entries vary in length and may contain a brief biography, works list, and publications list.
Norton/Grove Dictionary of Women Composers, edited by Sadie and Samuel (1995).
Ref. ML105 .N38 1995 Music Library and Tutt Library
Brief biographical articles with a works list (some are selective) and bibliography. Coverage ranges antiquity to women born before 1955. Includes a chronology.
Women and Music in America Since 1900-An Encyclopedia, edited by Burns (2002).
Ref. ML82 .W625 2002 vs. 1-2 Music Library and Tutt Library
A general encyclopedia of an introductory nature, with a heavy emphasis on American popular culture.
Women Composers, Conductors, and Musicians of the Twentieth Century: Selected Biographies, by Lepage.
Ref. ML82 .L46 vs. 1-3 Music Library and Tutt Library
Extended biographies, some photographs.
Women in American Music-A Bibliography of Music and Literature, compiled and edited by Block and Neuls-Bates (1979).
Ref. ML128 .W7 B6 Music Library and Tutt Library
Provides information on reference materials, collected works, historical studies, abstracts on literature about women in music, and lists of works dating from colonial times to 1978. Includes indexes to literature, music and recordings.
Women Composers and Songwriters-A Concise Biographical Dictionary,
compiled by Gene Claghorn (1996).
Ref. ML105 .C593 1996
Brief biographies on “women composers of symphonies, instrumental and choral works, chamber music, the blues, jazz, heavy metal, rock’n‘roll, hard rock, soul, country, western songs, hymnists, and composers of church music.”
American Women Songwriters-A Biographical Dictionary, by Grattan (1993).
Ref. ML 106 .U3 G73 1993 Tutt Library
Comprehensive coverage of many musical areas: pop/rock, motion pictures, musicals, blues, jazz, folk, country, early songs, hymns, and gospel. Includes bibliography and song index.
Piano Music by Black Women Composers-A Catalog of Solo and Ensemble Works,
by Walker-Hill (1992).
Ref. ML128 .P3 W3 1992
Includes brief biographies and good descriptions of individual works. Limited to composers on the American continent who notated their music. Selected bibliography and discography.
Electronic
Grove Music Online , Oxford University Press (2004).
Based on The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, Grove Music Online is enhanced by the electronic capability of sound files, 3D illustrations, links to external internet sources, and frequent updating of material. Other articles, from specialist dictionaries such as The New Grove Dictionary of Opera and The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz, second edition, are now available via a link from Grove Music Online’s primary article.
Women in Music
http://www.lib.washington.edu/music/women.html
Developed by the University of Washington Libraries. Links to sites covering a variety of sources: reference, organizations, composers, jazz, blues, pop, research, performers and media.
Ladyslipper Music-Recordings by Women, (1996-2003).
http://www.ladyslipper.org/
“Ladyslipper is a non-profit organization whose primary purpose is to heighten public awareness of the achievements of women artists and musicians, and to expand the scope and availability of recordings by women. The searchable, browsable database of over 15,000 artists and titles features female musicians, writers, performers, and composers. Includes many sound clips and links to artists’ sites.”
Creativefolk.com
http://www.creativefolk.com/
Creator Gerri Gribi performs “A Musical Romp Through Women’s History!”, with “a wide range of folk music programs for all audiences”. This site includes a very useful list of resource web pages.