It’s finger-plucking good!

A new jewel in the Westminster Libraries crown of Exclusive Resources (we pay the dosh, you get the benefit), and cool links for kids. The common theme is music.

Much more music

If the title Music Reference Online stirs your blood, you’ve probably got strange blood. But take a peak beyond the pedestrian name and it all gets a lot more interesting. At the moment, when you click on the Gateway link, you go to another Westminster Libraries page, and then on to one of four separate resources. We are promised that the provider (Alexander Street Press) will have their own Music Reference Online home page by the Autumn, with the ability to search everything together.

So, what have they got? For classical, the line-up includes Baker's Dictionary of Music, Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians, and Baker's Student Encyclopedia of Music. I had not heard of these Baker people, so I asked around, and it seems that Baker’s is big. Their books are authoritative and accessible. Sorry about the long words – Baker’s is "v. good", as Bridget would summarise.

The African American database is also big; not only that, it’s still growing. A search here will drill deep into a vast array of books on the subject, from general surveys of sources to up-close-and-personal accounts of composers and musicians.

As with Baker, so with Garland. You want the lowdown on World Music, you go to Garland. It’s organised geographically (Africa, South America, etc.) but the usual rules apply: if you’ve got a search term, perhaps a name, search the whole thing with one click.

The Classical Scores Library to me is just a vast collection of squiggles – beautiful squiggles, but without meaning. But if you’re into this stuff, you’re going to be pretty pleased to get this bumper bundle (8,000 scores) in one place. And even I recognised that the range, from Chamber Music to Opera, is impressive.

Music Reference Online is an Exclusive Resource: outside a Westminster library, you will need your library card to log in.

(From the Gateway to websites, select "Music". Music Reference Online is a Key Link.)

Blow it or hit it!

If your interest in music is homework-related, or if you know a youngster who wants a bit of fun with music, try the Gateway’s unruly sibling, Webtastic. The Webtastic Music links include, of course, the BBC (rafts of good things as ever, attractively presented), a great kids’ website from the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, an intro to reading music, and some terrific musical games.

Get crooning or strumming or clapping or…

(From the Gateway to websites, look for the Webtastic box at the foot of the page. There is also a link to Webtastic Music from the Gateway’s own music page.)

Pic: MarcoMaru/morguefile.com