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Music
The resources in the Music collection provide access to online audio recordings, audio-visual collections and collections of scores and books. The Library also holds many valuable research collections on microfilm. We hold many named collections related to Music several of which were donated by academics in the Music department and composers linked to the University. The Borthwick Institute for Archives also houses the archives of some individual composers and performers.
Researching music
The music collections at the University of York cover a wide variety of styles and time periods, with a particularly strong focus on jazz, including everything from rare early jazz and blues recordings from the early 20th century to more modern jazz performances from the 1970s through to the 2000s. There is also a great deal of classical and orchestral music, featuring many pieces for piano, violin, and string quartets, as well as sacred vocal music like hymns, motets, and choral masses. Additionally, the collections explore modern and experimental sounds, such as electronic music, computer-generated music, and avant-garde compositions.
Beyond these styles, the collections include world and folk music from diverse regions, including Scandinavia, Arab countries, India, and Persia. There is also music specifically created for the arts, such as film soundtracks and incidental music for theatre. Alongside these recordings, you can find historical and local archives, such as the records of the York Symphony Orchestra and the personal collections of famous composers and experts like Wilfrid Mellers. There is also an extensive collection of early music manuscripts and microfilms that document European music history from the 1500s through to the 19th century.
Notable collections/collectors
York Symphony Orchestra
The records of York Symphony Orchestra can be found in the Borthwick. This amateur orchestra was founded in 1898 and continues to this day.
ECM Collection
This collection of commercial recordings includes over 800 compact discs, representing the independent record label ECM (Edition of Contemporary Music). It is located in the Fairhurst Building.
Pearl and Bel Canto Collections
The finest producers of re-mastered archival sound material, this collection is important for anyone studying the history of recording or the history of performance practice. The Bel Canto collection is slightly more focused on vocal recordings. The collections are housed in the Fairhurst building.
John R. T. Davies Collection
John R.T. Davies (1927-2004) was a collector and remastering engineer of classic jazz records, a trombonist, trumpeter and alto saxophonist and a member of the 1960s jazz revival band The Temperance Seven. He was considered by many people to be the world's leading specialist in the art of sound restoration, specifically in relation to jazz and blues recordings before the introduction of magnetic tape. The collection of almost 20,000 shellac 78s is rich in rare recordings from 1917 to 1940. To view this collection contact the Borthwick Institute for Archives.
Copland Collection
Comprises scores composed by Aaron Copland (1900-1990), and includes symphonies, ballet suites, chamber music, concertos, and film music. His connection with the University of York stems from a friendship with former professor of music, Wilfrid Mellers, through whose initiative Copland was awarded an honorary degree by the University in 1971. Under the terms of Copland's will, the Library received a copy of all of his works which were in print at the time of his death.
Music manuscripts on microfilm
The music microfilm collections include early music manuscripts which contain music that has often never been published. In addition to these unpublished works are facsimile reproductions of composers working scores.
For more information see:
Music fragments
How to access the collections
All the collections can be accessed via the Library's online catalogue. A valid University of York username and password is required to access content online.
The John Paynter room houses the Library's physical music collections, including scores. The Audio Visual Room contains DVDs and CDs relating to music and opera. Both of these rooms can be found on the ground floor of the Fairhurst building.
Items held in the library can be consulted on site. Most of these titles can be borrowed using a University of York library card, some titles might be reference only and can only be read on site.
Items held in the Borthwick can be consulted in the Borthwick Reading Room and copies can be made subject to copyright and condition. These materials cannot be loaned outside the University of York without the permission of the owners. Books in the Rare Books Collection and may also be consulted at the Borthwick Institute for Archives.