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International Music

Resources for research and listening for folk and popular music from around the world

General Resources

Music Online: The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music

Music Online: The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music is the online version of the multi-volume scholarly encyclopedia in the Music Collection's reference area. This resource emphasizes oral traditions (i.e., folk music) but also includes classical music from countries and regions around the world. Audio selections illustrate music described in the text and match the nine accompanying CDs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click on the Audio menu to hear all or part of the audio that accompanies the text:

 

 

 

 

 

Databases and Journals

The following online sources provide more information on the methodologies and results of current ethnomusicological studies:

 

RILM Abstracts of Music Literature indexes articles published in music books and journals.  Click here for a list of peer-reviewed journal articles published in 1990, limited to articles in English (log in required from off campus).  Results include some articles available as a linked .html or .pdf file, and others are searchable via the Find It @ BALL STATE option, which performs a search in OneSearch for the specific article.

Anthropological Index Online indexes ethnomusicology journals and other journals in the field of anthropology.

 

Classification and Call Numbers

The Music Collection at University Libraries uses Library of Congress Classification, or LCC, for organizing books and scores on the shelves. This system, maintained by the national library of the United States and utilized by libraries across the country and around the world, groups together items on similar subjects. Each item is then assigned a unique call number which combines alphabetical and numerical characters. These features are designed to make browsing library collections easier for users and librarians alike. Tip: Enter the first part of a call number into OneSearch to see all items in a given section.

Call Numbers for International Music:

ML 128.E8   Bibliography. Ethnomusicology

ML 159 - 3785   History and criticism

ML 198 - 360.6   By region or country

ML 199.9 - 210   North America

ML 220 - 239   Central and South America

ML 240 - 325   Europe

ML 330 - 345   Asia

ML 350 - 355   Africa

ML 360   Australia, Oceania, etc.

ML 385 - 429   Biography

ML 3469 - 3541   Popular music

ML 3544 - 3776   Folk, national, and ethnic music

ML 3545   General works

ML 3551 - 3570   North America. United States

ML 3556   African American

ML 3557   Indian nations and tribes

ML 3561   Songs. By topic or title, A-Z

ML 3571 - 3575   Central and South America

ML 3580 - 3730   Europe

ML 3740 - 3758   Asia

ML 3746   China

ML 3748   India

ML 3750   Japan

ML 3752 - 3753   Korea

ML 3754   Israel. Palestine

ML 3757   Turkey

ML 3760   Africa

ML 3770 - 3775   Australia and the Pacific

ML 3776   Jewish music

ML 3797.6 - 3799.3   Musical research. Ethnomusicology

ML 3798   General works

ML 3799   Addresses, essays, lectures

Print Reference and General Works

The recommended books below represent a wide sampling of topics in ethnomusicology research. Perhaps one or more of these topics will inspire your next research project. Books are sorted by their call numbers for ease of browsing. Hover over the info icon to see a description. Also find specific series such as the Global Music Series which includes volumes on music of different regions and countries.

The Global Jukebox

The Global Jukebox is a free online resource hosted by The Association for Cultural Equity. It went online in 2017 and there are plans to continue adding to it. You can search for music by keyword, via using an interactive map, or by the cultural "wheel" (illustrated below)