Selected Resources in

African-American Music

at the UNC-Chapel Hill Music Library

Biographical Sources || Bibliographies and Bibliographies of Music || Other Books of Interest ||
Journals || Discographies || Sound Recordings || Sample Subject Headings

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The UNC-Chapel Hill Music Library has a significant collection of African-American music resources including sound recordings, videos, books, scores and journals. Keep in mind that not all materials are in the online catalog yet, so if you don't find what you want there, be sure to check the appropriate card catalog. This handout guides you to only some of the many resources available in the Music Library and on the UNC campus. If you need further help, please ask a staff member for help.

Biographical Sources

Biographical Dictionary of Afro-American and African Musicians. Ed. by Eileen Southern
Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1982.
Ref. ML105.S27 1982

Benny, Lemuel. Biographical Dictionary of Black Musicians and Music Educators. Guthrie, OK:
Educational Book Publishers, 1978.
Ref. ML106.U3 B47 Vol.1

Holly, Ellistine Perkins. Biographies of Black Composers and Songwriters. Dubuque,
IA: Wm C. Brown Publishers, 1990.
ML390.H735 1990

Smith, Eric L. Blacks in Opera: an Encyclopedia of People and Companies.
Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 1995.
Ref. ML102.06 S6 1995

Dictionary of Afro-American Performers. New York: Garland, 1990.
Ref. ML106.U3 T87 1990

Mapp, Edward. Dictionary of Blacks in the Performing Arts. Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow, 1978.
Ref. PN1590 .B53 M3

New Grove Dictionary of American Music. Ed. By H. Wiley Hitchcock and Stanley Sadie.
4v. London: Macmillan, 1986.
Ref. ML101.U6 N48 1986

Biography Index (located at the entrance to the Listening Room) This in-house index provides access to biographical information on musicians found in sources other than dictionaries and encyclopedias. It is updated regularly and is an excellent source.

Bibliographies and Bibliographies of Music

Many bibliographies are located in the Reference Room under the call number ML128.B45 Listed below are a few examples.

Carter, Madison H. Annotated Catalog of Composers of African Ancestry. New York:
Vantage Press, 1986.
Ref. ML128.B45 C3 1986

De Lerma, Dominique-René. Bibliography of Black Music. (v.1 Reference Materials, v.2
Afro-American Idioms, v.3 Geographical Studies, v.4 Theory Education and Related Studies)
Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1994.
Ref. ML128.B45 D44

Blacks in Classical Music: a Bibliographical Guide to Composers, Performers, and Ensembles. Compiled by
John Gray. NY: Greenwood Press, 1988.
Ref. ML128.B45 G7 1988

Choral Music by Afro American Composers: a Selected Annotated Bibliography.
Compiled by Evelyn Davidson White. Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press, 1981.
Ref. ML128.C48/W5

Music by Black Women Composers: a Bibliography of Available Scores. Chicago:
Center for Black Music Research, Columbia College, 1995.
Ref. ML128.W7 W35 1995

Horn, Aaron. New York: Greenwood Press.
Brass Music of Black Composers Ref. ML128.W5 H62 1996
Keyboard Music of Black Composers Ref. ML128.B45 H68 1992
String Music of Black Composers Ref. ML128.B45 H7 1991
Woodwind Music of Black Composers Ref. ML128.W5 H65 1990

Other Books of Interest

Green, Mildred Denby. Black Women Composers: A Genesis. Boston: Twayne Publishers, 1983.
ML390.G83 1983

Roach, Hildred. Black American Music: Past and Present. 2nd ed. Malabar, FL: Krieger Pub., 1994.
ML3556.R58 1994

Southern, Eileen. The Music of Black Americans: a History. 3rd ed. New York: Norton, 1997.
ML3556.S74 1997

Spencer, Jon Michael. The New Negroes and Their Music: the Success of the Harlem Renaissance.
Knoxville, TN: University of Tennessee Press, 1997.
ML3556.S77 1997

Journals in the Music Library about African-American Music and related subjects:

Black Music Research Newsletter
Black Music Research Journal
Black Perspectives in Music
Black Sacred Music (Journal of Black Sacred Music)

Articles on African-American Music and related titles can be found in these and other journals by searching International Index to Music Periodicals (IIMP), RILM (via OCLC FirstSearch) and the print version of Music Index (1947- present) located in the Reference Room.

Discographies of individuals or recording labels are found in the Reference Room. Use KEYWORD* to find specific titles and call numbers.

For example:



Search	Results
Duke Ellington and discograph?	yields 28 records


* For more help on using the online catalog go to the Music Library's help sheet.

Sound Recordings

Many LPs can be searched in the online catalog, but not all are online yet. If you don't find what you want in the online catalog, check the Sound Recordings card catalog across from the Circulation Desk.

When searching online for sound recordings or scores, use KEYWORD* mode for best results!

For example:

Search	Results
Still William Grant and sound	yields cataloged recordings of this composer
fi music and South Africa and compact	yields compact discs of music from South Africa

* For more help on using the online catalog go to the Music Library's help sheet.

Sample Subject Headings

To find additional material conduct a SUBJECT search in the online or card catalog using the terms listed below.

Afro American composers

Afro American singers

Afro American women composers

Afro American women musicians

Afro Americans music

Afro Americans musicians

Afro Americans songs and music

blacks songs and music

gospel music

music, American history and criticism

musicians, black

soul music

Revised 7/98