Research Guides
Music Guide: Find Manuscripts
Finding Music Manuscripts
Print Sources:
Manuscripts of polyphonic music, 11th-early 14th century by Call Number: ML113 .I6 ser.B v.4 pt.1ISBN: 9783873280755Publication Date: 1966
Census-Catalogue of Manuscript Sources of Polyphonic Music, 1400-1550 by Call Number: ML135 .C46ISBN: 9783775106450Publication Date: 1979-1988Compiled in the Musicological Archives for Renaissance Manuscript Studies by Jerry Call, with assistants ; volume I was edited by Charles Hamm with Herbert Kellman ; volumes II-V edited by Herbert Kellman"--V. 5, t.p. verso.
Includes bibliographical references and indexes.
The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians by Call Number: ML100 .N48 2001 (vol. 1-29)ISBN: 9781561592395Publication Date: 2003-02-11The article "Sources, Ms" (in Vol. 23) includes a list of music manuscripts from the 9th C until the Renaissance, arranged by chronological periods and then alphabetically by cities.
Article is also available online
Music History from Primary Sources by Call Number: ML93 .R67 2000ISBN: 9780844409870Publication Date: 2000-07-01The Moldenhauer Archives, gathered during nearly 40 years and spanning the history of Western music from Gregorian chant to the present, represent the most comprehensive collection of manuscripts and other sources for the study of music undertaken by an individual. The manuscripts include music, ranging from full scores to sketches; letters; literary works, and other documents. Some of the manuscripts are "holographs". Contains 57 essays by a variety of experts on items in the Archives citing the location of each item.
The Theory of Music : descriptive catalogue of manuscripts.Call Number: M113.I6. Ser. B vol 3, pts. 1-6ISBN: 9783873280403Publication Date: 1961-2003Manuscripts of music theory treatises from the Carolingian Era to 1400. Arranged Geographically
Online Sources:
- Oxford Music Online This link opens in a new window
This link opens in a new window
Music reference works, including Grove Music Online, biographies, and encyclopedias
- RISM Online CatalogA comprehensive annotated index and guide to music manuscripts produced after 1600. The database contains more than 585,559 records by over 20,500 composers and is linked to 3 other databases (Comppser, Library Sigla, and Bibliographic Citations) providing additional information
Music Manuscripts at UW
- US Su, the University of Washington, Seattle, Music Library : thematic catalogue of music in manuscript.Call Number: ML113 .I6 ser.A/II pt.US SuPublication Date: 1993
- The UW music manuscripts included in RISM A/II (1600-1850) can be found online, the RISM A/II online catalog, or in the print volume above
- Music Manuscripts after 1850 can be found at the UW Catalog
- University of Washington Digital Score CollectionIncludes scans of rare books and manuscripts held at the University of Washington Music Library
Sources for Digitized Manuscripts
- Archivio Storio Ricordi - Collezione DigitalePublishing house Ricordi's digital archive. Includes score manuscripts, letters, images/photographs, and magazines/publications
(In Italian) - Digital Resources for MusicologyThis project includes several digitized music manuscripts
- Library of Congress Historic Sheet Music Collection, 1800-1922This sheet music collection consists of approximately 9,000 items published from 1800 to 1922, although the majority is from 1850 to 1920 [view finding aid for the collection]. The bulk was published in many different cities in the United States, but some of the items bear European imprints. Most of the music is written for voice and piano; a significant minority is instrumental.
- Silent Film Scores and ArrangementsScores and Arrangements digital collection offers unique insight into the development of music and scores in film. The collection includes over 3,000 items published or created for use in silent film accompaniment between 1904 - 1927. These items include scores written for specific films, cue sheets that compile melodies for use at certain moments in specific films.
- The Moldenhauer Archives"The Moldenhauer Archives at the Library of Congress contain approximately 3,500 items documenting the history of Western music from the medieval period through the modern era and is the richest composite gift of musical documents ever received by the Library"
Music Manuscripts by Country
Most of these links will allow access to music and other manuscripts. Music Manuscripts link will be thus specified:
United Kingdom:
Cecilia Project -- Finding music collections (archives included) in the UK http://www.cecilia-uk.org/
British Library Manuscript Catalogue -- http://molcat.bl.uk
Italy:
Italian National Manuscripts -- http://www.braidense.it/urfm/)
United States:
National Union Catalogue of Manuscripts (NUCMC) -- http://www.loc.gov/coll/nucmc/
Terminology
A few terms pertaining to manuscripts:
What is a manuscript? A Hand-written document (manu=hand; script=writing).
Autographed manuscript: A signed hand-written document; the signature is not necessarily the author's. For example, it can be a copyist's signature.
Holograph manuscript: A manuscript in the author's or composer's hand.
Archives (Archival Collection): A collection of manuscripts generated by one person or an institution. It can include music scores, audio recordings, letters, diaries, or printed scores with performer's markings, etc.
Pagination: Manuscripts sometimes use the term "folio," meaning a leave, rather than a "page." Thus, the numbering will be on every other page, beginning on the recto, the right hand side page of an open volume. For example, the first right hand side will be 1r (1 recto), and the next page, on the back side of that leaf, is called 1v (1 verso), literally, the reverse side of the page.
Custos (direct or guida): A sign (that resembles a check mark or a mordent) that is placed at the end of a music manuscript staff line, indicating the first pitch of the next line. The first use of this dates back to the 11th century, and the practice continues into the 18th century.
Illuminated manuscript: It refers to manuscripts with gold-leaved letters or images. The first letter of text in music manuscripts is often ornamented and sometimes burnished with gold leaf.