Guide to Voice
The Collection
Scores for Loan
The State Library has a comprehensive sheet music collection of songs covering all genres. Encompassing lieder, art song, opera, folk, rock, pop, jazz, songs from movies, television and the stage, music hall, heavy metal, country and children’s songs, every singer’s need is met. The songs are in both single sheet and anthology format, and copies of complete vocal scores of operas, music theatre and choral works ensure that the stage performer is well catered for. We collect most works listed from Grade 4 and above in Australian Music Examinations Board Singing and Singing for Leisure syllabuses.
Reference Material
The reference collection contains books, journals and electronic resources covering vocal technique and health, vocal pedagogy and musicianship. There is also material on diction, interpretation, repertoire, auditioning, singing in languages other than English, the art of the song recital and songwriting. Use of these texts and scores containing exercises ensures that technique and theory are covered for singing students, teachers, choral directors, composers and lyricists.
Recordings
We have a listening collection of CDs and LPs for use within the building. You can also listen to tracks using the on-line database Naxos Music Library. There is a small classical loan collection of audio cassettes available.
Searching for Scores and Recordings
The song collection has been indexed exhaustively, ensuring that clients can locate material within anthologies. An on-line Song Index for material acquired after 2001 is augmented by an extensive card index covering all song anthologies held in the library. A guide is available with tricks and tips on how to find songs, and there is an outline to the classification scheme for popular songs that may be of help to those visiting the library in person. Choirs are also well catered for with a whole range of sacred and secular choral music, with sets of many works available. A list of popular choral music is available. Please contact us if you cannot locate the song you require.
Scores of operas, musicals, masses, oratorios, collections, anthologies, artist and composer compilations and song cycles can be found by using our catalogue and searching by composer, artist or title. Useful subject searches are:
- Songs (High Voice) with piano (use with other instrumental accompaniments as well as with (Medium Voice) and (Low Voice))
- Popular music
- Rock music
- Songs, English (use with other languages)
- Songs with piano (use with other instruments)
- Song cycles
- Singing - Instruction and study
- Singing - Studies and exercises
Searching for Information
The book and journal material can be found using the catalogue. If you are looking for a specific title, use the author or title search. If you are looking for material on a subject, use the keyword or subject option. Useful subject and keyword searches are:
- Songs
- Songs - Analysis, appreciation
- Songs - Interpretation (Phrasing, dynamics etc.)
- Singing
- Singing - Instruction and study
- History and criticism
- Texts
Further Information on this site
Page last updated: 04/05/2009 15:36:55