British Library/Music/Scores/History research/virtuosi

[Kautilya]

Apologies this is in general section but it covers a few areas so perhaps someone can decide and kick into one (or 'out' if it is irrelevant).

 

It was stimulated by the debate about virtuosity and problem of finding stuff for the virtuose and virtuosi, particularly the young as well as the older. Also with reference to older recordings....

 

PROS

I dug in the British Library (BL) integrated catalogue [ http://www.bl.uk/ ]and immediately stumbled on :

 

Author - personal LinkDipple, Thomas J.

Title Link12 Operatic Solos for the Concertina arranged by T. J. Dipple.

Publisher/year LinkLondon : R. Chidley, [1858]

Physical descr. 12 nos ; fol.

Added name LinkBellini, Vincenzo, 1801-1835.

Holdings (All) Details

Shelfmark h.2337.(3.) Request

 

"Concertina" brought up some 800 references (who knows how many are musical...although the Lucrezia Borgia must be, so watch out for thumbscrews torture -- (Airs from ... Lucrezia Borgia, arranged for the Concertina, with an Accompaniment for the Piano Forte by R. Blagrove, 1850)

 

And there are plenty more......

 

The BL also has a growing sound archive which can be listened to in the music collection. Again, I do not know what old recordings might be in there if any.

 

I occasionally have to make trips to the British Library.

 

I might be able to carve out a little time to check for something specifc if someone needed.

 

CONS

I have not used the Music collection.

 

I don't have much time. (It can take an hour to several days for a 'paper' item to end up in your hands).

 

For sound items it seems it can take 2 days to a week to order them up and listening may need an appointment a week or more ahead to get a sound booth.)

 

There is some external online interactivity for:

sound [ http://sounds.bl.uk/ ] and a search throws up 3,749 ("concertina") but one I checked was a recent item and only available to listen to in the library, some are radio programmes etc.

For those with wax in their ears (as per discussion about "who has a cylinder player") I see

 

Druids' prayer waltz (concertina)

BLACK AMBEROL 12208

LIST RECORDINGS: 1CYL0002423

Principal performer: Prince, Alexander

Product title: Druids' prayer waltz (concertina)

Label: BLACK AMBEROL 12208

Format: cylinder

Copy condition code: C

 

Holdings

PRODUCT Copies Material Location

1CYL0002423 1 CYLINDER Store

 

VISUAL BOOKS (posh big ones)

A quick look at the visual gallery has some pictures of gramophones....no Edeophones and some plain chant visible.

The visual books section is growing but how much is there I do not know…There is

 

Mozart's musical diary (With 75 audio excerpts)

 

I tried to view Lindisfarne Gospels for some Celtic music or Northumbrian pipe plain chant (hum ho) but spent 20 minutes downloading an Adobe Shockwave plug-in for Mozilla which then would not work anyway. Others may have more luck.

 

Otherwise print catalogue item searches usually only offer the usual reference and type of material and you have to be on the spot to see what is inside.

 

There is something there:

Your search for 'wheatstone concertina' returned about 133 results

Web pages, no results

Online Gallery images, no results

Catalogue records, first 5 out of 132 results

Journal articles, first 1 out of about 1 results

I did not look at these.

 

And: Your search for 'lachenal concertina' returned about 2 results

Web pages, no results

Online Gallery images, no results

Catalogue records, first 2 out of 2 results

Journal articles, no results

 

I rarely photocopy there because it is (or used to be) the most expensive place per page I know and usually you have to get someone to do it if a paper item is in dodgy condition which takes ever more time. Often quicker to buy the item secondhand on the Web.

 

There are the usual in-and-out of copyright issues of course / commercial/non-commercial use.

 

I might not be much good with my quill pen (and that time factor again) if someone wanted me to reproduce differential diagrams on the disposition of Jedcertina keys (or variations in different score notations on a “toon”) as used by visiting Canadian Shanytmen vs. The Scousers Anglo-German Keepkalm Players in the Knacker's Arms pub on the Liverpool Dock Rd on the first Monday of each month for the year 1893.

 

Of course if you have read this far, you’re probably saying all may be available at the Horniman Museum….

 

But try me if you think I might occasionally be able to help on the difficult stuff.

[wes williams]

Of course if you have read this far, you’re probably saying all may be available at the Horniman Museum….

Or, at least for most of the music, the ICA Library:

Search the ICA Library or follow the Music Library link on the main page to view the complete catalogue.