This page lists resources that will help you with your research in music history from ancient times to 1700. Since we cover evaluating sources in class, there is also a tutorial in the left-hand column that you can use as a refresher. If you need more information about a source, hover over the 'i' icon, and if you need help contact the Music Librarian!
Critical score editions are mostly found in the M2 and M3 call number areas of the library. In general, M2s refer to a collected set of scores for a time period, genre, geographical location, or instrument and M3s refer to the collected works of a composer. They are created by experts on a composer’s or place/time period's history and style, and they include text that explains which sources (like a manuscript, correspondence, and early editions of a piece) were used to create the collected works edition and why. These are called critical commentaries or critical reports.
Some helpful critical score editions for this class include:
Belmont subscribes to Recent Researches in Music Online, where you can find newer publications in those series:
Guides from The University of Minnesota and Indiana University Bloomington contain more in-depth information about critical score collections. As always, if you need help finding a score contact the Belmont Music Library staff!
General Information
Scholarly Articles
Primary Source Materials
Iconography/Scholarly Images
Streaming Audio
Streaming Video