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Canadian Music

Resources for researching current and historical music in Canada

Canadian Music in Photos

"Blood brass band at Calgary Exhibition and Stampede, Calgary, Alberta.", 1925-07, (CU141765) by Kilroe, William G. B.. Courtesy of Glenbow Library and Archives Collection, Libraries and Cultural Resources Digital Collections, University of Calgary.

Guide Context

As in all research, when interacting with materials pertaining to Canadian music it is important to be aware of the subjectivity and bias present.  Formal writing on music has historically favoured music of Western Classical traditions tied to European composition and pedagogical legacies.  This has resulted in a plethora of English-language resources connected to printed music and European systems of music theory, fewer resources dedicated to oral traditions and diverse approaches to sound and composition.  The resources presented here reflect this imbalance, but attempt to include pathways beyond the mainstream of music academia.  For general music resources, see the Music subject guide, many of which will also be of use for Canadian music research.

General Library Search Tips

To browse books about Canadian music, look for call numbers starting with ML (literature on music) and MT (music instruction and study) with the following suggested numbers as a place to start.  Materials kept at TFDL are located on the fifth floor and reference books (available for in-library use only) are located on the third floor

ML5
ML120
ML205

ML419-421

Periodicals
Bibliography

History & Criticism

Biography

To browse scores, use the call number starting with M, which are located on the third floor of the TFDL:

M6 - M1494
M1000 - M1075
M1497 - M2199

Instrumental
Orchestral
Vocal Music

If you can't find the book you are looking for please check the collection of other institutions around Canada on WorldCat.org. UCalgary Library provides an InterLibrary Loan Service for faculty, students and staff. It is free and usually takes not longer then a couple of days until the pdf-document or book arrives.