Music Collection Policy
Reviewed 2010
The Music Collection services the information, research and teaching needs of the
Melbourne Conservatorium of Music
Students at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music can focus their studies on the
Western art music tradition through to contemporary music performance and the
music of other cultures. They specialize as performers, composers, improvisers,
conductors, musicologists, ethnomusicologists, music therapists, music psychologists
and music performance teachers.
The courses foster excellence in the areas of performance, research and scholarship,
and promote an informed interest in music and the performance of music within the
university and wider community.
The general policy for this discipline is to collect to research level in the areas of
composition, conducting, contemporary music performance (classical repertoire and
improvisation), early music, ethnomusicology, music therapy, and musicology, with
the intention of as comprehensive a coverage as resources allow. Research level is
defined as one where independent research with the published sources can be
pursued.
Target users
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Undergraduate students enrolled in New Generation courses in Music
Undergraduate students from other faculties undertaking music Breadth
Subjects
Undergraduates enrolled in courses prior to 2008
Academic staff
Postgraduate and higher degree coursework students
Research students
Academic staff
Faculty
Faculty of the VCA and Music, Melbourne Conservatorium of Music
Undergraduate Courses
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Bachelor of Music
Bachelor of Music Performance
Foundation Program (Music Performance)
Bachelor of Music Performance (Honours)
Diploma in Music (Practical)
Postgraduate courses
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Graduate Certificate in Music (Practical Music)
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Postgraduate Certificate in Music (Practical Music)
Postgraduate Diploma in Music Graduate Diploma in Music
Graduate Diploma in Guided Imagery and Music
Postgraduate Diploma in Music Performance
Master of Music Studies
Master of Music Studies (Intensive Mode)
Master of Music Therapy (M.Mus.Thrp.) (by coursework)
Master of Music (by Research)
Master of Music Performance (by Research)
Doctor of Music (by Research)
Doctor of Philosophy
Research areas
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Composition
Conducting
Early music
Ethnomusicology
Improvisation
Music Therapy
Musicology
Performance
Centres of Research
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National Music Therapy Research Unit (NAMTRU)
Collection Statement
Undergraduate
The general policy for this discipline is to collect at undergraduate level, with the
intention of as broad a coverage as resources allow. The Library undertakes to
purchase all undergraduate prescribed texts and recommended reading titles.
Multiple copies are purchased on a needs basis. To facilitate access to the collection,
electronic versions of texts will be acquired where available.
Heritage undergraduate music degrees are being taught out with a reduction from
four year to three year courses.
The Melbourne Conservatorium of Music offers a wide variety of Breadth subjects,
catering for all levels of musical background, from the beginner to the experienced
musician. Subjects are available across a wide range of musical disciplines such as
ensemble performance, introductory music studies, music language and the history
and social context of music. Breadth subjects fall into three categories:
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Gateway subjects (no prerequisites required)
Subject sequences (progressive)
Ensemble (for both experienced musicians and novices)
Graduate
The general policy for this discipline is to collect to research level in the areas of
Composition, Conducting, Early music, Ethnomusicology, Improvisation
Music Therapy, Musicology and Performance with the intention of as comprehensive
a coverage as resources allow. Research level is defined as one where independent
research with the published sources can be pursued.
The Library undertakes to purchase materials identified for Masters by coursework
programs. Research level materials are selected in conjunction with members of the
academic staff, and from recommendations from students and key library staff.
The music collection comprises monographs, journals, music scores, sound
recordings (LPs and CDs), video (VHS tape and DVD), monumenta and collected
editions, dictionaries, encyclopedias and manuscripts. Online digital collections
includes e-books, full text journals, audio, video and image libraries.
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Australian music
Composition
Early Music
Ethnomusicology
Film music
Instrumental or vocal teaching
Music administration
Music education
Music technology
Music therapy
Musicology
Performance
There is no restriction on the purchase of foreign language material although the
book collection is predominantly English language. Music scores, sound recordings
and video/dvds are an essential component of all music subjects and research and
are, by necessity, growing collections.
Currency of the collections is not critical and much of the aged collection is relevant
for research purposes, in particular the music scores and sound recordings. Many
sound recordings are only available in LP format, and will not be released in CD or
digital formats.
While many music journal titles are available electronically, other titles continue to
be published in paper format.
The library seeks to acquire scores, recordings and other publications by staff and
students of the Conservatorium.
Special Collections
Louise Hanson-Dyer Music Library (Parkville campus)
The Louise Hanson-Dyer Music Library Rare Collections is comprised of more than
5000 catalogued items including manuscripts of scores, early and rare editions of
music scores and books, and a concert program collection dating from the mid-19th
century.
The Hanson-Dyer Collection
The Hanson-Dyer collection of 245 titles of 15th to 19th century music
imprints, first editions and music manuscripts has a particular strength in
early French baroque music and theoretical works. This collection is perhaps
the finest of its kind in the southern hemisphere.
The Barry Tuckwell Collection
The Barry Tuckwell Collection includes his own library of music scores, concert
programs, press reviews, sound recordings, promotional posters and
photographs, engagement diaries and some business papers and personal
correspondence. Notable amongst the music scores are works composed
especially for Tuckwell Unique items in the collection include scores and parts
in manuscript, and accompanied by correspondence with the composer.
White and Stockigt Collections
These are significant collections of clarinet music particularly from the early to
mid-20th century.
Thesis Collection
Most theses produced from the Conservatorium and Music Faculty are held in
the collection. Theses from other institutions relating to research topics are
also held.
Concert and Theatre Program Collection, 1860s-2008
A substantial collection of concert and theatre programs. The uniqueness of
the collection lies in its Victorian focus with most programs relating to musical
life in Melbourne.
Orchestral collection
An historic collection of orchestral music dating from the earliest days of the
Conservatorium includes a register of loans to orchestras around the country
and editorial markings by local and visiting conductors
Australian music is an area of study at the undergraduate and research levels. The
manuscript and print collections are quite strong and are an ongoing area for
development in 19th century to contemporary Australian music.
Lenton Parr Music, Visual and Performing Arts Library (Southbank Campus)
E. J. Moeran Collection
A collection of manuscripts and published works by British composer E.J.
Moeran (1894-1950) ; The collection includes: manuscripts (36 works),
orchestral parts (manuscript), photocopies of autograph originals (6 works),
and published works by E. J. Moeran (64 works – some duplicates).
Leopold chamber music collection
A collection of chamber music of pre 1900 editions.
Jeff Pressing Collection
Collection of music manuscripts, notes and folders from the estate of Jeff
Pressing (1946-2002). Pressing “was a composer, performer and researcher
of music, performing scientific research in a number of areas, focussing on
motor behaviour and skill, cognitive science and the mathematical modelling
of behaviour”(Move Records). He was born in San Diego, studied at CalTech
and University of California and undertook a Fulbright Fellowship in Germany.
He moved to Australia in 1975 taking up the position in the music department
at La Trobe University, and was later head of the Cognitive Science Master’s
Program and senior lecturer in the Department of Psychology at the
University of Melbourne.
Thesis Collection
Most theses produced from the former School of Music, Victorian College of
the Arts are held in the collection. Theses from other institutions relating to
research topics are also held.
Formats
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Books
E-books
Music Scores
Orchestral and opera performance sets
Periodicals
Videocassettes (VHS) (if unavailable on DVD)
DVDs
Compact discs
CD ROMs
Online audio libraries
Online video libraries
Online image libraries
On-line journal subscriptions
Other formats as required
Note: No format is excluded for the collection though the older audio formats such as
LPs are not actively acquired except when recordings are works by Australian
composers and/or musicians - either commercial or non-commercial, is a l’Oiseaulyre label recording, or the recording is not available in any other format,
The Library requires equipment and software for all non print formats selected for
purchase. Consideration of new formats and equipment for the collection is to be
made as the need arises.
Approval Plans
There are no music approval plans, but these are under consideration for 2011.
Coverage of the Collection
The primary subject areas collected fall in the Dewey range of 780-789.
016.78
150-155
264.00
305.00
615.85
780.00
780.10
780.20
780.70
780.82
780.90
780.90
780.90
780.90
780.92
780.92
780.9499
781.00
781.10
781.20
781.30
781.40
781.50
Music bibliographies and bio-bibliographies
Psychology; child development
Church music
Ethnography
Music Therapy
Music General
Philosophy and theory, Musical notation, Editing, Analytical guides and
program notes
Miscellany - synopses and outlines, lists, catalogs, Sound recordings
Education, research, performances, related topics, Special teaching
and learning methods
Women and music - women composers, musicians, etc.
Music History : Ancient times to 21st century.
Music History : Ancient times to 499
Music History : 500-1449
Music History : 1450Books about a particular composer and his music, arranged
alphabetically by the composers name
Books about a number of composers and their music, arranged
variously by time period, geographically, etc.
Music of particular countries,
Music Theory, Musical Analysis, Philosophy and aesthetics
Music Semiotics, Musical Analysis, Philosophy and aesthetics, music
appreciation, taste, Psychological aspects.
Elements of music: time, sound, melody, harmony, tonal systems,
texture.
Composition : aleatoric composition (chance music), serialism,
computer composition, extemporization (improvisation), arrangement,
orchestration, paraphrase & parody,
Techniques of music: sight reading, ear training, memorizing,
Performance techniques, rehearsal and practice, conducting technique,
interpretation,
Kinds of music: music for specific times, in specific settings (court,
theatre, etc.), in specific media (film, radio, television), accompanying
public entertainments (drama, dance, ballet), program music
781.60
781.70
781.80
782.00
783.00
784.00
785.00
786.00
786.80
787.00
787.80
788.20
788.50
788.90
Traditions of music, Folk Music, Popular Music, Jazz, Rock, NonWestern art music
Sacred music, Christian sacred music, Music of Christian church year,
Sacred music of classical (Greek and Roman) and Germanic religions,
Sacred music of other specific religions.
Musical forms: Binary, Ternary, Da Capo, Rondo, Variation,
Paraphrase, Ground Bass, Cantus Firmus forms,etc.
Vocal music : history and development of music compositions
The Voice, Music for single voices, Single voices in combination, Solo
voice, High voice, Middle voice, Low voice, Woman's, child's, man's
voice, other type of voice.
Instruments & instrumental ensembles: history and development of
music compositions
Chamber music: ensembles with only one instrument per part, duets,
trios, quartets, quintets, etc., Ensembles with keyboard, with
percussion and keyboard, percussion ensembles, string ensembles,
woodwind ensembles, Brass ensembles.
Keyboard instruments : history and development of music
compositions
Percussion instruments : history and development of music
compositions
Stringed instruments : history and development of music compositions
Lute family : history and development of music compositions
Woodwind instruments : history and development of music
compositions
Wind instruments : history and development of music compositions
- Brass instruments : history and development of music compositions
Languages
There is no restriction on the purchase of foreign language material although the
book collection is predominantly English language. Music scores and sound
recordings are in many languages other than English.
Serials
Journals are selected on the recommendation of academic staff and library staff. The
Music Library User Group endorses the selected items. Journals are reviewed
annually. New material is generally acquired on a “cost neutral” basis. Where
possible, electronic subscriptions are preferred.
Location of the collection
The open access music collections are located in the Louise Hanson-Dyer Music
Library (Parkville) and Lenton Parr Music Visual and Performing Arts Library
(Southbank). Low use print material is located off-campus. The Special and Rare
collections are in various locations within the Baillieu library and 780 Elizabeth Street
(both at Parkville campus), the Lenton Parr Music, Visual and Performing Arts Library
(Southbank campus) and Monaco.
There is relevant material held in other branches of the University Library including
the Eastern Resource Centre (at Parkville, supporting the Faculty of Education, and
Media Collections), and the Baillieu Library (supporting the Faculty of the Arts).
Other branches of the University of Melbourne Library may be of interest to Music
students.
Other branches of the University of Melbourne Library may be of interest to
Production students and staff.
Students and staff are able to request most items from branches at other campuses
on Inter Campus Loan for delivery to the Lenton Parr Library. Additional collections
are accessible through the Bonus+ service.
They are also able to access the CAVAL Reciprocal Borrowing Scheme, that allows
loans from Victorian University Libraries.
An additional scheme University Library Australia offers loans and access to
Australian universities across all states and territories, if staff and students are living
or working interstate.
Staff, postgraduate students and honours students are eligible for the Inter-Library
Loan service.
Collection strengths
Louise Hanson-Dyer Music Library (Parkville campus)
The Louise Hanson-Dyer Music Library Rare Collections includes manuscripts of
scores by Australian composers from the 19 th century to the present day, early and
rare editions of music scores and books, and a concert program collection dating
from the mid-19th century.
The Hanson-Dyer collection of 245 titles of 15th to 19th century music imprints, first
editions and music manuscripts has a particular strength in early French baroque
music and theoretical works. This collection is perhaps the finest of its kind in the
southern hemisphere. As other titles relating to this area become available the
library has expanded the collection.
Australian music is an area of study at the undergraduate and research levels. The
manuscript and print collections are quite strong and are an ongoing area for
development in 19th century to contemporary Australian music.
Lenton Parr Music, Visual and Performing Arts Library (Southbank Campus)
The collection is strong in performance across the classical repertoire, with an
emphasis on the voice, strings, woodwind, brass and percussion. This is exhibited in
the monograph, journal, sound recording and music score collections. There is an
extensive collection of Real and Fake Books to support the improvisation program,
although this needs continual revision and updating.
The music collection is integrated with the rest of the visual and performing arts
collections, reflecting the disciplines taught at this campus, including art, theatre,
theatre production, dance, film and television. This integrated music, visual and
performing arts specialist collection provides an enhanced interdisciplinary strength
reflecting and supporting the teaching and research activity in the creative arts which
is carried out in the Faculty.
Areas needing enrichment
 Australian music
 Composition
 Music administration
 Music education
 Music technology
 Film music
 Popular music
 Cabaret and Music hall
 Improvisation
 Music theatre
 Performance – particularly DVDs of performances and masterclasses