Guitar

Bibliographies   Discographies   Dictionaries   Encyclopedias
Indexes   Other Reference Sources

Library of Congress Call Numbers:
M125-M129	Guitar solo
M276-M277	Guitar with piano accompaniment
M282-M283	Unspecified plectral instrument with piano accompaniment
M292-M293	Duets - 2 plectral instruments
M294-M295	Duets - plectral and string instruments
M296-M297	Duets - plectral and wind instruments
M1037.4 .G8	Guitar with orchestra
M1137.4 .G8	Guitar with string orchestra
ML128 .G8	Guitar bibliography
ML1015 .G9	Guitar history
MT580-MT599	Guitar (and related instruments) studies and methods

Bibliographies:

Boetticher, Wolfgang. 1978. Handschriftlich überlieferte Lauten- und Gitarrentabulaturen des 15. bis 18. Jahrhunderts: beschreibender Katalog. München: Henle.
ML 113 .I6 Ser.B v.7 1978 MUSIC REFERENCE

• An index of guitar and lute tablature manuscripts, collected by RISM. While the introduction is given in German, French and English, all the entries are given in German. It is organized alphabetically by the city in which the manuscripts are held. One of the only reference sources devoted to tablature manuscripts.

Duckles, Vincent H. 1997. Music Reference and Research Materials: an Annotated Bibliography. New York: Schirmer Books.
ML113 .D83 1997 MUSIC REFERENCE

• This is the current definitive music bibliography. It is divided by resource type (such as dictionaries, bibliographies, etc.). In order to find information on guitar literature and bibliographies, look under "strings" in instrumental subdivisions, or "plectoral instruments." Information can also be found on individual musicians by name. There is a very detailed index at the end; looking under "guitar" will show a complete listing. Annotations include brief descriptions and reviews. This is a good chaining point for beginning research.

Gilmore, George. 1976. Guitar Music Index: a Cross-Indexed and Graded Listing of Music in Print for Classical Guitar & Lute. Honolulu: Galliard Press.
ML128 .G8 G5x MUSIC REFERENCE

• This is a compilation of guitar music in print, organized by ensemble and instrument (whether guitar or lute). Includes methods and technical studies. Listed by publishers first, then by composer, title, ensemble. Also includes books, magazines, and periodicals.

Helleu, Laurence. 1983. La guitare en concert: catalogue des ouvres avec guitare du XX° siècle (duos, trios, musique de chambre, orchestre, concertos). Paris: Éditions musicales Transatlantiques.
ML128.G8 H44x 1983 MUSIC REFERENCE

• Catalog of 20th century ensemble works that include guitar and are not limited to classical. It is organized by ensemble and includes operas and ballet. The entries are very brief; there is a guide to abbreviations, a publisher listing and sources at the end. Helpful for discovering non-guitar-centered works for performance and study.

Jape, Mijndert. 1989. Classical Guitar Music in Print. Philadelphia: Musicdata, Inc.
ML128.G8 J36 1989 MUSIC REFERENCE also available online as part of
Music-In-Print.

• This is part of the Music in Print series. It is organized by ensemble, methods, and technical studies, with a separate section for Christmas Music. There are also special sections for Johann Sebastian Bach and Francisco Tarrega. A detailed guide for use is included. The online version is continually updated and offers search functionality.

Reese, Donald T. 1998. Classical Guitar Music in Print. 1998 Supplement. Philadelphia: Musicdata.
ML128.G8 J36 1989 Suppl. MUSIC REFERENCE

• Supplement to 1989 volume, it adds 11,600 entries. Same organization, clarified by ensemble, Bach and Tarrega integrated in appropriate time periods.

Lyons, David. 1978. Lute, Vihuela, Guitar to 1800, a Bibliography. Detroit: Information Coordinators.
ML128 .S7 L9 MUSIC REFERENCE

• Alphabetical bibliography, including biographies on composers/performers, construction, luthiers, lute history, manuscripts, instrumentation, reviews, tuning, and related instruments covering the time period between 1500-1800. Does not include transcriptions for the guitar. There is an author index in the back, and an addendum that is separately indexed.

MacAuslan, Janna. 1997. Guitar Music by Women Composers: an Annotated Catalog. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press.
ML128.G8 M33 1997 MUSIC REFERENCE

• Catalog of music by women composers; organized by instrumentation and ensemble. Includes brief composer biographies and composer and publisher addresses. Indexed by composer and title. Entries are brief, consisting of composer, title and publisher.

McCutcheon, Meredith. 1985. Guitar and Vihuela: an Annotated Bibliography. New York: Pendragon Press.
ML128 .G8 M45 1985 MUSIC REFERENCE

• This is one of the definitive guitar bibliographies. It includes a brief history of the vihuela. It is arranged by reference type and includes books and articles, histories, dictionaries, iconography, design and construction, composers, performers, theorists and publishers. Annotations are brief and descriptive. Two appendices are included: periodicals devoted to guitar, and music printed before 1800.

Rezits, Joseph. 1983. The Guitarist's Resource Guide: Guitar Music in Print and Books on the Art of Guitar. San Diego, CA: Pallma Music Co.
ML128 .G8 R5 1983 MUSIC REFERENCE

• Includes music in print for guitar, lute, mandolin and vihuela, books on performance, construction and repair, history, notable guitarists and teachers, dictionaries, surveys and catalogs. It also includes a publisher index. Arranged alphabetically by author for complete entries, abbreviated listings by subject (e.g. Christmas music).

Schwarz, Werner. 1984. Guitar Bibliography: an International Listing of Theoretical Literature on Classical Guitar from the Beginning to the Present. München; New York: K.G. Saur.
ML128 .G8 S4 1984 MUSIC REFERENCE

• Includes entries for books, journals, journal articles, and reviews from the 16th century to the present, with an emphasis on the 20th century. Does not include annotations. Features an author index and an index of performers as well as composers.

Discographies:

Purcell, Ron. 1976. Classic Guitar, Lute, and Vihuela Discography. Melville, NY: Belwin-Mills.
ML156.4 .I58 P9 MUSIC REFERENCE

• This is a listing derived from major recording firms, distributors, and private collections. It is alphabetically organized by performer name. Entries list complete works on each recording. It also includes artist, composer, record number index, and a list of record companies.

Dictionaries:

Kaiser, Rolf. 1987. Gitarrenlexikon. Reinbek bei Hamburg: Rowohlt.
ML102.G9 K13x 1987 MUSIC REFERENCE

• Guitar dictionary written in German that includes terms in many languages. Includes many useful illustrations and figures.

Encyclopedias

Sadie, Stanley, ed. 2001. The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians. London: Macmillan Pub. (29vols)
ML100 .N48 2001 MUSIC REFERENCE

• This is the largest comprehensive music encyclopedia in English as well as the standard reference source for most music scholarship. The volumes are divided alphabetically by subject, with cross-references and include an index volume after 'Z'. Includes detailed information on guitar history and repertory, as well as various composers and performers by name.

Grove Music Online: the World's Premier Authority on All Aspects of Music. Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press.
ML100 .G765 Online

• Includes the full text of The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, The New Grove Dictionary of Opera, and The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz. Includes cross-referencing links, images, and sound files. It is updated continuously.

Indexes

Smith, Dorman H. 1990. Guitar and Lute Music in Periodicals: an Index. Berkeley, CA: Fallen Leaf Press.
ML128.G8 S64 1990 MUSIC REFERENCE

• Index of music published in six major American guitar periodicals: Chelys (continued by Electric Chelys), Guitar & Lute, Lute Society of America Journal, Lute Society of America Newsletter, Guitar Review, and Soundboard. Entries include composer, title, instrumentation, source and arranger.

International Index to Music Periodicals (IIMP)- Chadwyck-Healey Inc. (online access)

• Citations and abstracts for articles and reviews. Includes journals such as Acoustic Guitar, Classical Guitar, Gitarre & Laute, Guitar Player, Guitar Review, and Soundboard-Guitar Foundation of America. Contains full text for many periodicals back to 1996. This is probably one of the best indexes for finding guitar-related periodical literature.

The Music Index. Warren, MI: Harmonie Park Press.
ML 118 .M84 MUSIC REFERENCE, also available online.

• An index of articles, reviews and obituaries collected from music periodicals around the world. It is physically available in Music Reference from 1949-2001, online from 1978 to 2005. It is organized by subject, and covers both classical and popular music. There are several subjects related to guitar, easily found under "guitar," along with cross-references.

RILM Abstracts of Music Literature. New York, NY: Répertoire International de Litérature Musicale.
ML 1 .I83 MUSIC REFERENCE, also available online.

• Physically available in Music Reference from 1967 to 1995, entire run is available online. Indexes articles, reviews, dissertations, books, and conference proceedings from international sources. Online version contains over 375,000 entries and is updated monthly. Periodicals related to guitar are included.

Other Reference Sources

Gruhn, George. 1991. Gruhn's Guide to Vintage Guitars. San Francisco: GPI Books.
ML1015.G9 G76x 1991 MUSIC REFERENCE

• Organized by manufacturer and then by model. Includes usage guide, appendices, and a model index. Each section includes guidelines on which models are likely to be most valued by collectors.

Guitar Foundation of America

• America's leading guitar organization.