Music/Drama Library
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Musical Theater Resources
Topics Covered
Location of Materials
Most materials pertaining to musicals (books, vocal scores, librettos,
and recordings) are located in the Music
& Dramatic Arts Library (M&DA). Some materials are also
located in the Babbidge Library or UConn Regional Campus Libraries.
Shelving Locations in the M&DA Library
- Dictionaries/encyclopedias: Reference area on Level 1 (see list below)
- Books: basement, books area
- Librettos: basement, books area
- Scores: basement, scores area
- Sound and video recordings: behind circulation desk. Give
call number to desk clerk.
[Browse by call number]
Everything is listed in HOMER,
UConn's library catalog. Here's how to find
a single musical or find a list
of musicals
in HOMER. Consult a librarian if you need assistance finding materials.
Dictionaries and Encyclopedias
Most dictionaries and encyclopedias are in the Reference area
in the Music & Dramatic Arts Library (Level 1), but some are in
the basement stacks or at the Babbidge Library. Several
have plot synopses, brief historical background, and/or biographical
sketches. The song encyclopedias deal with specific songs (background
information or indexing). This is a selective list. Additional
materials can be found on nearby shelves.
The American Musical Theatre Song Encyclopedia. By Thomas S.
Hischak.
Music Ref. ML 102 .M68 H57 1999
American Musical Theatre: A Chronicle. By Gerald Martin Bordman.
Music Ref. ML 1711 .B67 1992
Includes synopses,
opening dates/theaters, originators of roles, and critical comments
based on contemporary reviews.
American Song: The Complete Musical Theatre Companion. By Ken
Bloom.
Music Ref. ML 128 .M78 B6 1985 v.1-2
Facts about original
production, lists of songs and characters, indexes. No synopses or
composer biographies.
The Broadway Song Companion: An Annotated Guide to Musical Theatre
Literature by Voice Type and Song Style. By David P. DeVenney.
Music Ref. ML 128 .M78 D48 1998
The Encyclopedia of the Musical Theatre. By Kurt Gänzl.
Music Ref. ML 102 .M88 G3 2001 v. 1-3
Includes information
about composers and productions; focus is on history rather than
plot.
Encyclopedia of Vaudeville. By Anthony Slide.
Babbidge Ref. PN 1968 .U5 S37 1994
Gänzl's Book of the Broadway
Musical: 75 Shows, From H.M.S. Pinafore (1879) to Sunset Boulevard
(1994). By
Kurt Gänzl.
Music
Ref. MT 95 .G19 1995
Plot synopses of musicals
that are arguably "the best of Broadway."
Gänzl's
Book of the Musical Theatre. By Kurt Gänzl
and Andrew Lamb.
Music Ref. MT 95 .G2 1989
Plot synopses and production details for about 300 musicals, grouped
by country and/or traditions.
The Great Song Thesaurus. By Roger Lax.
Music Ref. ML 128 .S3 L4 1989
A Guide to Critical Reviews. Part II, the Musical, 1909 -1989.
By James M. Salem.
Babbidge Ref. (Index Table 3) Z 5782 .S342 v.2
Hollywood Song: The Complete Film and Musical Companion. By
Ken Bloom.
Music Ref. ML 128 .M7 B6 1995 v.1-3
Keeping Score: Film and Television Music, 1980-1988; With Additional
Coverage of
1921-1979. By Alvin H. Marill.
Music Ref. ML 128 .M7 L5 1991
Little Musicals for Little Theatres:
A Reference Guide to the Musicals That Don't Need Chandeliers
or Helicopters to Succeed. By Denny
Martin Flinn.
MT 955 .F55 2006
Musicals! A Complete Selection Guide for Local Productions.
By Richard Chigley Lynch.
Music Ref. ML 19 .L9 1994
New Grove Dictionary of Opera.
Music Ref. ML 102.O6 N5 1992 and
Grove Music Online (restricted to UConn community)
Includes biographies,
articles about musicals, and synopses (opera and operettas only).
Long articles include bibliographies and lists of works.
Show Music on Record: From the 1890s to the 1980s and Show
Music on Record: The First 100 Years. By Jack Raymond.
Music Ref. ML 156.4 .O46 R4 1982 and stacks ML 156.4 .M8 R4 1992
Show Tunes: The Songs, Shows, and Careers of Broadway's Major Composers.
By Steven Suskin.
ML 128 .M78 S86 2000
Study of selected composers,
with chronology, reference lists, bibliography, and index to songs,
show titles, and names.
Songs from Hollywood Musical Comedies: 1927 to the Present.
By Allen L. Woll.
Music Ref. ML 102 .P66 W64
Songs of the Theater. By Lewine, Richard.
Music Ref. ML 128 .S3 L55 1984
Lists songs associated
with musicals; includes an index of the songs.
Find Books About Musicals
Use HOMER (UConn's library
catalog) to find books. Select the Subject Heading Search and
type one of the following terms:
Composer's last name (and first name/initial), e.g., sondheim
s
Lyricist's last name (and first name/initial), e.g., kushner tony
Minstrel shows
Motion picture music
Musical films
Musical theater
Musicals This is helpful for finding general books about musicals.
Operetta
Revues
Vaudeville
Alternatively, select HOMER's Keyword search, specify
Book in the Limit To menu, and type your subject key words (e.g.,
sondheim, musicals, etc.).
This search will find a few additional
useful items, but may also pick up "junk" that clutters your
results. Please see a professional librarian for details or assistance.
Find a Synopsis
Strategy 1: Many sound recordings include a synopsis. [Find
a recording.]
Strategy 2: Many dictionaries and encyclopedias
about musicals have synopses.
Strategy 3: in HOMER,
select the Subject Heading search, then type musicals--stories.
This finds additional books containing synopses.
Strategy 4: These two books list additional sources that contain
synopses:
Index to Opera, Operetta and Musical Comedy Synopses in Collections
and Periodicals and Musical Theater Synopses: An Index.
By Jeanette Marie Drone.
Music Ref. ML128.O4 D76 and Suppl.
Find a Musical in HOMER
(Vocal Score, Libretto, Recording, Etc.)
1. Go to HOMER (the library
catalog).
2. For type of search, click Keyword.
3. Under search terms, type key words separated by the word "and."
You can use names (composer is best, but librettist, lyricist, or performer
may work), title words, and format.
4. You can use the Limit To menu to specify Music Score, Musical
Recordings (All), or Videorecording.
Examples using Stephen Sondheim's musical, Into the Woods
Sound Recordings:
sondheim woods mcd Finds a musical compact
disc.
sondheim woods lp
Finds an LP album.
sondheim and woods and (mcd or lp) Keyword
Boolean search finds CDs or LPs. Also try HOMER's Limit To menu.
Select "Musical
Recordings (All)."
sondheim woods peters Finds items
with performer Bernadette Peters.
Videorecordings:
sondheim woods dvd Finds DVDs.
sondheim woods vhs Finds VHS cassettes.
sondheim woods video? Finds videorecordings,
videodiscs, videotapes, videocassettes,
or other video formats.
Vocal Scores/Librettos:
sondheim woods vocal Finds a vocal score
with some or all of the songs.
sondheim woods librett? Finds a libretto
or librettos or libretti. (Libretto = book/script.) Sound recordings
(above) may also contain librettos.
sondheim woods children listen
Finds the song "Children Will Listen" from Sondheim's
musical, Into the Woods.
Find a List of Musicals in HOMER
To browse by call number on
the computer (since similar materials are shelved together), use
HOMER's Call Number search. You can also go to the shelves and browse
books, librettos, and scores. (Sound and video recordings are behind
the circulation desk, so you must use HOMER.)
1. Go to HOMER (the library
catalog).
2. For type of search, click Call Number.
3. Type the beginning of the call number range.
For CDs: type: MCD s/st Browses musical
compact discs: shows/soundtracks.
For LPs: type LP s/st Browses LP records: shows/soundtracks.
For DVDs: type DVD s/st The library does not have
many of these yet.
For books: type
ML 1711 (histories) or MT 955 (production;
also see MT 956)
For librettos: type ML 48 Browse through ML 50.9. Includes
operas as well.
For vocal scores: type M 1503 Browse through M 1509. Includes
operas.
To browse a list of topics pertaining to musicals (e.g., histories,
directories, librettos, or a list of musicals in any format), select
the Subject Heading search and type musicals.
To browse by format or by name (e.g., composer, lyricist, or
librettist), select the Keyword search, and type musicals
[format/name]. Format could be MCD, LP, DVD, VHS, video?,
librett?, or vocal (as in vocal score).
Examples:
musicals MCD Finds CDs of musicals (complete or excerpted).
musicals librett? Finds librettos (libretti), both in
books and recordings.
musicals sondheim Finds scores, books, and CDs
with or about Sondheim's musicals. Use
the Limit To menu to specify format, e.g., books.
musicals sondheim mcd Finds CDs of Sondheim's musicals
(complete or excerpted).
Key Web Sites
Broadway.com Lists current productions
on and off Broadway.
CastAlbumDB.com Searchable
and browsable database of cast albums (stage musicals and recordings
of film and TV musicals) released on LP and compact disc.
Internet Broadway Database (IBDB)
Comprehensive database of shows produced on Broadway, including cast/crew,
production dates, venue, and other historical information. Also includes
historical and statistical information about theatres and Broadway.
Created by the Research Department of League
of American Theatres and Producers, the national trade association
for Broadway. Based on theater programs and news reports.
Music Theatre International
Web site of major licensing company provides information and links to
licensing and production information, study guides, scores, databases,
etc.
Musicals
(Broadway & Hollywood) & Operettas (from University of Washington
Libraries) List of metasites pertaining to musicals.
Musicals.net Includes songlists,
synopses, selected lyrics, forums, and current news.
Musicals101.com "Comprehensive
site with information on the history of musicals, composers, reviews,
photos, etc. Also includes index of musicals with opening dates and
the name of the licensing company which holds the rights to the show."
Theatricopia
Musical theater metasite created by by Jill Hobgood. Includes links
to pages pertaining to awards, books, composers, games, general sites,
lyrics, magazines, mailing lists, multimedia, performers, shows, and
shops.
[top]
Musical Theater vs. Musicals
"Musical theater . . .
is a broad term meaning any type of music in the theater. . . .
A musical . . . is a genre of popular musical theater (others are operetta,
burlesque, vaudeville). Music theater seems to have a more narrow definition,
designating a rather specific genre . . .
often small in scale and primarily of the 20th century, that combine elements
of music, drama, and sometimes dance in unconventional ways that result in works
distinct from traditional forms"
(Eunice
Schroeder,
"Music Theater vs. Musical Theater," in the Notes
Style Sheet, accessed
28 July 2006).
This page was found at http://www.lib.uconn.edu/music/musicals.html
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