Searching
for Music Periodical Literature in the HBLL:
This guide provides a basic overview of indexes that can be used to locate
music research published in journal articles. Music periodical literature
is only one type of publication that may help in preparing a term paper.
Books, dissertations, scores and audio or video recordings may also be
appropriate and can be accessed using the online catalog of the Lee Library.
Please note that the periodical indexes discussed below are not directly
associated with BYU's collection. Our library may not have some of the
journals that are cited in these indexes. To determine if BYU has a particular
journal you must search for the journal by title in the online catalog.
Articles in journals that BYU lacks may be obtained through Interlibrary
Loan. Also note that current periodicals are kept separately from the bound
volumes. The bound volumes are located in the open stacks. Current issues
and issues awaiting binding are available in the Music Reading Room.
Music
Periodical Indexes Online
BYU
is fortunate to offer online access to three major music periodical
indexes: RILM Abstracts, the International
Index to Music Periodicals (IIMP) and
The Music Index.
Each of these indexes can be accessed through the BYLINE "Databases & Periodical
Indexes" menu
option.
RILM
Abstracts:
-RILM Abstracts (1967- present) is perhaps the most effective source
for articles that are appropriate for term papers in music history
and theory classes. RILM includes more than 373,900 citations.
-Coverage: RILM Abstracts focuses on scholarly historical research. It
is very international in its coverage and includes research in many non-European
languagues. In addition to articles in journals RILM also indexes conference
proceedings, articles in festschrift, dissertations, books, and government
reports. Articles from non-music journals that relate to music are also
included. More recent entries may not yet include an abstract.
-Search Tips: In most cases it is best to select the "Advanced Search" option.
Enter keywords into the category "Keywords/Phrases". Terms can
be combined with basic boolean operators. The truncation symbol is the
asterisc. Use other fields such as Language, Publication Type, Pub. Year,
and Journal to limit or narrow searches.
International Index to Music Periodicals Full Text:
-IIMP Full Text draws its current content from more than
420international music periodicals from over 20 countries with over
80 Full Text titles (a complete list is available online). IIMP
Full Text also includes retrospective coverage from 185 periodicals.
Included in the current and retrospective content are 29 complete-run
titles, from inception to the present (or final) issue, and many
partial run titles. Just a few of the most important journals that
are indexed from their beginnings include Journal of the American
Musicological Society, Musical Quarterly, Music and Letters and
Early Music.
-Coverage: Like RILM Abstracts, IIMP is international in its coverage.
In comparison with RILM it is less strongly focused on scholarly historical
research and includes journals that deal with performance and education
issues. Its coverage is also limited more to the major European languages.
IIMP is an excellent complement to RILM because of its retrospective citations
for major journals prior to 1967. Many citations have a brief abstract.
-Search Tips: The interface for IIMP is very user friendly. Use the icons
at the top of the screen to navigate through your searchs. There is a well
written help system built into the program. The approach to searching is
similar to RILM. Combine keywords with basic boolean operators and then
limit the search using fields such as Language, Date, Document Type, and
Publication (i.e., journal). The categories for document type, however,
are not very effective. The truncation symbol is the aesterisc.
The Music Index:
-The Music Index differs considerablely from RILM and IIMP. Its
coverage leans more toward popular publications and includes reviews of
recordings
and performances. Its search interface is slightly less flexible in that
searches cannot be limited in as many ways.
-Coverage: The Music Index includes citations dating from 1978 to
presnet. The 725 plus journals it indexes are limited mostly to
the major European languages. It includes references to music dissertations
found in Dissertation Abstracts. Its distinguishing characteristic
is coverage of reviews of recordings and performances from popular
music publications and newspapers.
-Search Tips: The Music Index is very easy to use. Searching in Expert
mode enables you to limit searchs in ways similar to RILM and IIMP. Note
the
instruction for boolean combinations and truncation found on the search
screens. A major disadvantage in comparison with RILM and IIMP is the lack
of abstracts. Keyword searching is therefore less effective.
Other
Related Online Periodical Indexes
There
are several periodical indexes available at most terminals throughout
the Lee Library that can also be useful for music research. These
indexes are not devoted specifically to music and should be used
only as a supplement to the indexes discussed above. These indexes
can also be accessed via the BYLINE menu for "Databases & Periodical
Indexes".
RIPM (RÎpertoire International de la Presse Musicale):
Indexes major music journals of the 19th century. It includes more
than 467,500 citations. It uses the same search interface as RILM
Abstracts and the two databases can be searched at the same time.
International Index to the Performing Arts:
This index is produced by the same company as the International Index to
Music Periodicals (IIMP). The search interface is very similar. It currently
covers more than 200 periodicals. It can be especially useful if you topic
relates to theater or dance.
Arts/Humanities Search:
Broadly based in all the humanities. Noted for a special feature that cross-references
citations or the footnotes found in the articles it indexes. The search
interface is different from the online catalog.
ERIC:
A very large database that focuses on Education. This is an excellent source
to consult if the focus of your research is music education.
Academic Universe:
A very extensive database consisting of full text articles from newspapers
and magazines from all parts of the world. It is a limited version of the
previous Lexis-Nexis. This index focuses on current news and information.
It can be useful to locate up-to-date information about the activities
of contemporary composers.
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