Music in Print: Master Composer Index 1988; Music in Print: Master Title Index 1988Review by: Charles LindahlNotes, Second Series, Vol. 47, No. 2 (Dec., 1990), p. 406Published by: Music Library AssociationStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/941996 .

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NOTES, December 1990 NOTES, December 1990 NOTES, December 1990

ceived "to give an overview of the most im- portant materials for research" (introduc- tion), does not aim at the potential user seeking the comprehensive and retrospec- tive attention of a Duckles or a Marco.

The carefully researched and clearly written annotations often contain a per- sonal touch-no small consideration for students. Somewhat apart from his prin- cipal focus, Brockman concludes with a se- lective, annotated list of current journals and a directory of associations. A compe- tent index completes the volume.

Students make effective use of the guide, in and out of class; librarians find that it works efficiently both for reference and for selecting recent English-language publica- tions-serving Brockman's intended audi- ence precisely.

Note: At least partly in response to a dis- appointing reception in many quarters of Duckles 4, a representative of Schirmer Books acknowledges that a corrective but new 5th edition is envisioned (once again edited by Michael A. Keller), with a ten- tative publication date of late 1991.

CHARLES LINDAHL Sibley Music Library

Eastman School of Music

Music in Print: Master Composer In- dex 1988. (Music-in-Print Series, XC.) Philadelphia: Musicdata, 1989. [iv, 824

p. ISBN 0-88478-023-6. $95.00.]

Music in Print: Master Title Index 1988. (Music-in-Print Series, XT.) Philadelphia: Musicdata, 1990. [iv, 581

p. ISBN 0-88478-024-4.]

The perennial challenge of bringing the

bibliography of printed music under sys- tematic control-the Whistling/Hofmeis- ter and Pazdirek catalogues being out- standing in this regard-has been undertaken by Musicdata, Inc., of Phila-

delphia. For more than a decade in its Mu- sic in Print series, the publishers have gen- erated a succession of volumes devoted to vocal and instrumental music in print. Their most recent releases are two master in- dexes: one for composers (1989) and an- other for titles (1990).

The base volumes for vocal and instru- mental music have been prepared by trans- mitting information extracted from over

ceived "to give an overview of the most im- portant materials for research" (introduc- tion), does not aim at the potential user seeking the comprehensive and retrospec- tive attention of a Duckles or a Marco.

The carefully researched and clearly written annotations often contain a per- sonal touch-no small consideration for students. Somewhat apart from his prin- cipal focus, Brockman concludes with a se- lective, annotated list of current journals and a directory of associations. A compe- tent index completes the volume.

Students make effective use of the guide, in and out of class; librarians find that it works efficiently both for reference and for selecting recent English-language publica- tions-serving Brockman's intended audi- ence precisely.

Note: At least partly in response to a dis- appointing reception in many quarters of Duckles 4, a representative of Schirmer Books acknowledges that a corrective but new 5th edition is envisioned (once again edited by Michael A. Keller), with a ten- tative publication date of late 1991.

CHARLES LINDAHL Sibley Music Library

Eastman School of Music

Music in Print: Master Composer In- dex 1988. (Music-in-Print Series, XC.) Philadelphia: Musicdata, 1989. [iv, 824

p. ISBN 0-88478-023-6. $95.00.]

Music in Print: Master Title Index 1988. (Music-in-Print Series, XT.) Philadelphia: Musicdata, 1990. [iv, 581

p. ISBN 0-88478-024-4.]

The perennial challenge of bringing the

bibliography of printed music under sys- tematic control-the Whistling/Hofmeis- ter and Pazdirek catalogues being out- standing in this regard-has been undertaken by Musicdata, Inc., of Phila-

delphia. For more than a decade in its Mu- sic in Print series, the publishers have gen- erated a succession of volumes devoted to vocal and instrumental music in print. Their most recent releases are two master in- dexes: one for composers (1989) and an- other for titles (1990).

The base volumes for vocal and instru- mental music have been prepared by trans- mitting information extracted from over

ceived "to give an overview of the most im- portant materials for research" (introduc- tion), does not aim at the potential user seeking the comprehensive and retrospec- tive attention of a Duckles or a Marco.

The carefully researched and clearly written annotations often contain a per- sonal touch-no small consideration for students. Somewhat apart from his prin- cipal focus, Brockman concludes with a se- lective, annotated list of current journals and a directory of associations. A compe- tent index completes the volume.

Students make effective use of the guide, in and out of class; librarians find that it works efficiently both for reference and for selecting recent English-language publica- tions-serving Brockman's intended audi- ence precisely.

Note: At least partly in response to a dis- appointing reception in many quarters of Duckles 4, a representative of Schirmer Books acknowledges that a corrective but new 5th edition is envisioned (once again edited by Michael A. Keller), with a ten- tative publication date of late 1991.

CHARLES LINDAHL Sibley Music Library

Eastman School of Music

Music in Print: Master Composer In- dex 1988. (Music-in-Print Series, XC.) Philadelphia: Musicdata, 1989. [iv, 824

p. ISBN 0-88478-023-6. $95.00.]

Music in Print: Master Title Index 1988. (Music-in-Print Series, XT.) Philadelphia: Musicdata, 1990. [iv, 581

p. ISBN 0-88478-024-4.]

The perennial challenge of bringing the

bibliography of printed music under sys- tematic control-the Whistling/Hofmeis- ter and Pazdirek catalogues being out- standing in this regard-has been undertaken by Musicdata, Inc., of Phila-

delphia. For more than a decade in its Mu- sic in Print series, the publishers have gen- erated a succession of volumes devoted to vocal and instrumental music in print. Their most recent releases are two master in- dexes: one for composers (1989) and an- other for titles (1990).

The base volumes for vocal and instru- mental music have been prepared by trans- mitting information extracted from over

nine hundred current publishers' cata- logues into a computerized database. At this writing, separate volumes have appeared for organ, strings, guitar, orchestral music, choral music (sacred and secular), and clas- sical vocal music. The publishing arrange- ment has varied: at times, some of those lists were collectively updated in annual supplements, a practice abandoned in 1986. Now Musicdata will concentrate on either issuing supplements that update previous base volumes or bringing out entirely new editions.

Given the vagaries, ambiguities, and out- right errors found in publishers' cata- logues, the information in Music in Print will not stand as accurate documentation for future historians. But the series proves a satisfactory source of practical information for conductors, would-be purchasers, and retailers; and busy music librarians use it almost daily. Such practitioners will find at least the following data for each item: com- poser (arranger, editor), title (many are helpfully cross-referenced, particularly for vocal music), publisher, and price (in U.S. dollars).

The recently-published Master Composer Index 1988 and Master Title Index 1989 bring together nearly all of the data (with excep- tions stipulated in a "Guide to Use" at the front of each volume). Formerly, users had to combine a base volume with a supple- ment to ensure that all trails had been fol- lowed. Now a simple coding system per- mits easy reference to citations. The

composer index works particularly well; all titles are alphabetically lined up following a composer's name. The title index, how- ever, is less successful, littered as it is with too many meaningless or duplicate titles. But these index volumes have been needed, and are welcome.

When asked recently, Musicdata was re- luctant to acknowledge whether it will ven- ture into areas thus far left untreated: piano, woodwind, and brass. We are obliged to wait.

CHARLES LINDAHL Sibley Music Library

University of Rochester

Choral Music Reviews Index, 1986- 1988. By Avery T. Sharp. New York: Garland Publishing, 1990. [xi, 397 p. ISBN 0-8240-4113-5. $73.]

nine hundred current publishers' cata- logues into a computerized database. At this writing, separate volumes have appeared for organ, strings, guitar, orchestral music, choral music (sacred and secular), and clas- sical vocal music. The publishing arrange- ment has varied: at times, some of those lists were collectively updated in annual supplements, a practice abandoned in 1986. Now Musicdata will concentrate on either issuing supplements that update previous base volumes or bringing out entirely new editions.

Given the vagaries, ambiguities, and out- right errors found in publishers' cata- logues, the information in Music in Print will not stand as accurate documentation for future historians. But the series proves a satisfactory source of practical information for conductors, would-be purchasers, and retailers; and busy music librarians use it almost daily. Such practitioners will find at least the following data for each item: com- poser (arranger, editor), title (many are helpfully cross-referenced, particularly for vocal music), publisher, and price (in U.S. dollars).

The recently-published Master Composer Index 1988 and Master Title Index 1989 bring together nearly all of the data (with excep- tions stipulated in a "Guide to Use" at the front of each volume). Formerly, users had to combine a base volume with a supple- ment to ensure that all trails had been fol- lowed. Now a simple coding system per- mits easy reference to citations. The

composer index works particularly well; all titles are alphabetically lined up following a composer's name. The title index, how- ever, is less successful, littered as it is with too many meaningless or duplicate titles. But these index volumes have been needed, and are welcome.

When asked recently, Musicdata was re- luctant to acknowledge whether it will ven- ture into areas thus far left untreated: piano, woodwind, and brass. We are obliged to wait.

CHARLES LINDAHL Sibley Music Library

University of Rochester

Choral Music Reviews Index, 1986- 1988. By Avery T. Sharp. New York: Garland Publishing, 1990. [xi, 397 p. ISBN 0-8240-4113-5. $73.]

nine hundred current publishers' cata- logues into a computerized database. At this writing, separate volumes have appeared for organ, strings, guitar, orchestral music, choral music (sacred and secular), and clas- sical vocal music. The publishing arrange- ment has varied: at times, some of those lists were collectively updated in annual supplements, a practice abandoned in 1986. Now Musicdata will concentrate on either issuing supplements that update previous base volumes or bringing out entirely new editions.

Given the vagaries, ambiguities, and out- right errors found in publishers' cata- logues, the information in Music in Print will not stand as accurate documentation for future historians. But the series proves a satisfactory source of practical information for conductors, would-be purchasers, and retailers; and busy music librarians use it almost daily. Such practitioners will find at least the following data for each item: com- poser (arranger, editor), title (many are helpfully cross-referenced, particularly for vocal music), publisher, and price (in U.S. dollars).

The recently-published Master Composer Index 1988 and Master Title Index 1989 bring together nearly all of the data (with excep- tions stipulated in a "Guide to Use" at the front of each volume). Formerly, users had to combine a base volume with a supple- ment to ensure that all trails had been fol- lowed. Now a simple coding system per- mits easy reference to citations. The

composer index works particularly well; all titles are alphabetically lined up following a composer's name. The title index, how- ever, is less successful, littered as it is with too many meaningless or duplicate titles. But these index volumes have been needed, and are welcome.

When asked recently, Musicdata was re- luctant to acknowledge whether it will ven- ture into areas thus far left untreated: piano, woodwind, and brass. We are obliged to wait.

CHARLES LINDAHL Sibley Music Library

University of Rochester

Choral Music Reviews Index, 1986- 1988. By Avery T. Sharp. New York: Garland Publishing, 1990. [xi, 397 p. ISBN 0-8240-4113-5. $73.]

406 406 406

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