Welcome to the Music Research Guide. This guide will help you to identify resources (books, databases, websites, and more) that will help you research topics in this subject.
What is ethnomusicology?
Although there is no universally accepted definition of ethnomusicology, a few words stand out in most definitions: “sound,” “music,” “performance,” “context,” and “culture.”
Ethnomusicology is “humanly organized sound” (John Blacking, in Byron 1995), “the study of music in culture” (Merriam 1964, p. 7), or more broadly, sound in context. Ethnomusicology also touches on other disciplines, such as linguistics, history, sociology, and the study of dance.
Traditionally, ethnomusicology may involve learning to play what a North American novice might think of as “exotic” music, or it may focus on any music or sound whatsoever in a cultural context. An ethnomusicologist may view music sui generis. She may use music as a metaphor for something outside the music, or focus on an event of which music is a small part.
The picture to the left is a photograph of Lightnin' Hopkins' Country Blues album. The photo was taken by Chris Drumm.
When you are off campus (or in locations without a recognized IP address), you will be required to verify that you are a current BCC student by entering either your 900 number or your BCC Campus Card ID.
Type your keywords into the search box on the library home page, then hit enter. You will be searching not only BCC titles, but books in the entire HELM Library Catalog.
This is just a sampling of the books available to you in BCC Library System. Books may be located in Attleboro, Fall River, or New Bedford. The location is noted in the Call Number.
Why should you do research in books?
You do not necessarily have to read an entire book for every research paper you have to do. Utilize the index and the chapter titles to narrow down which section of the book is most pertinent to your research.
BCC Libraries shelve books according to the Library of Congress Classification System. Titles for Music can be found under the headings below. You can browse the shelves in the following call number ranges:
Type your keywords into the search box on the library home page, then hit enter. You will be searching not only BCC titles, but books in the entire HELM Library Catalog.
This is just a sampling of the books available to you in BCC Library System. Books may be located in Attleboro, Fall River, or New Bedford. The location is noted in the Call Number.
Why should you do research in books?
You do not necessarily have to read an entire book for every research paper you have to do. Utilize the index and the chapter titles to narrow down which section of the book is most pertinent to your research.
BCC Libraries shelve books according to the Library of Congress Classification System. Titles for Music can be found under the headings below. You can browse the shelves in the following call number ranges:
eBook Central and e-Book Collections are a collection of databases that contain digitized books that you can read online. Use your #900 number to gain access.
BCC Libraries offer a variety of databases in which you can locate magazine, newspaper, trade, and scholarly journal articles. The databases below have been chosen especially for research in Music.
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Boston Public Library Resource |
Peer Reviewed Content |
United States Government Document or Publication |
Multi-disciplinary database containing mostly peer-reviewed, scholarly articles from the world's leading journals and reference sources. Over 8,000 academic journal titles are included with extensive coverage of the physical sciences, technology, medicine, social sciences, the arts, theology, literature and many other subjects. Also includes hundreds of podcasts and transcripts from NPR, CNN, and CBC, as well as full text New York Times content back to 1995. Coverage 1964 – present.
The drop-down menu Music Journals (under Articles & Databases) lists journals that publish articles on this and other related topics.
Why should you do research in academic journals?
If you find one good article that supports your research, you can use the bibliography at the end of the paper to locate further research.
If you see this symbol
You will know that the databases is provided through the Boston Public Library. If you live, work, or go to school in the state of Massachusetts, you are eligible for a Boston Public Library eCard. Fill out the form below and you will receive your eCard number.
Just enter your BPL eCard number when prompted every time you access BPL databases.
BCC Libraries offer a variety of databases in which you can locate magazine, newspaper, trade, and scholarly journal articles. The databases below have been chosen especially for research in Music.
|
|
|
Boston Public Library Resource |
Peer Reviewed Content |
United States Government Document or Publication |
Multi-disciplinary database containing mostly peer-reviewed, scholarly articles from the world's leading journals and reference sources. Over 8,000 academic journal titles are included with extensive coverage of the physical sciences, technology, medicine, social sciences, the arts, theology, literature and many other subjects. Also includes hundreds of podcasts and transcripts from NPR, CNN, and CBC, as well as full text New York Times content back to 1995. Coverage 1964 – present.
The drop-down menu Music Journals (under Articles & Databases) lists journals that publish articles on this and other related topics.
Why should you do research in academic journals?
If you find one good article that supports your research, you can use the bibliography at the end of the paper to locate further research.
If you see this symbol
You will know that the databases is provided through the Boston Public Library. If you live, work, or go to school in the state of Massachusetts, you are eligible for a Boston Public Library eCard. Fill out the form below and you will receive your eCard number.
Just enter your BPL eCard number when prompted every time you access BPL databases.
Why should you do research in academic journals?
If you find one good article that supports your research, you can use the bibliography at the end of the paper to locate further research.
While conducting research on the web, it is imperative to evaluate the website in question for authority, documentation, currency, and bias. Doing so will ensure that you are using the most credible information possible to support your thesis.
Authority and Accuracy
Who produced the site? Are they a credible source? What is the purpose of the site? Why was it created? Is the person, organization, or group qualified to write this content? What is the domain of the URL?
Documentation
Is there adequate documentation for factual statements? Is the documentation reliable, verifiable from a second source? Is there enough information to cite this information in a paper (author, title, source, date)?
Currency
Is the information up to date? When was it created, or last edited? Are the links up to date or dead? Is the author using outdated statistics?
Objectivity and Bias
Is the document biased or slanted? Are there few or no logical errors such as appeal to authority or circular reasoning? If you found this information a printed source, would you trust it?