Manual for the Performance Library - (Music Library Association Basic Manual) by Russ Girsberger (Paperback)

About the Book

A Manual for the Performance Library is a guide for organizing and operating a library of music performance materials for orchestra, band, chorus, jazz ensemble, and chamber music.

Book Synopsis

The performance librarian is the person responsible for managing, maintaining, and organizing the resources of a performance library. This personnel can now benefit from A Manual for the Performance Library, a guide for organizing and operating a library of music performance materials.

Music for performance has different needs than music for study. It must be easy to read and understand, and it must be formatted so as not to impede the musician's efforts to interpret the notes into musical sound. This book outlines, step-by-step, the ways of acquiring, processing, cataloging, and preparing music for performance. While focusing primarily on music for large ensembles, like orchestra and chorus, author Russ Girsberger also includes concepts that apply to wind, jazz, and chamber ensembles. The material is logically organized, detailing information on purchasing or renting music; cataloging and processing scores; numbering, marking, binding and shelving parts; and preparing and distributing the music for rehearsal or performance. Additional duties, such as describing necessary information on preparing concert programs and audition lists, and caring for and preserving the library's holdings are also covered. The manual concludes with a glossary, an annotated bibliography, and an appendix, which features sample forms for cataloging and circulating the library's materials.

Review Quotes

"The author's approach is practical, and advice is presented in a straightforward, readable manner....Its chapter-by-chapter arrangement, with references categorized according to type of information, makes it very easy to identify works on a specific topic or function. A good, detailed index is provided. This book has a methodical approach, logical arrangement and it well-illustrated with examples and diagrams. It sets out clear, practical guidance for the operation of a performance library. I highly recommend it to music librarians, and as an example of a clear, well-presented manual." --February 2008, Australian Library Journal

"This manual belongs in all ensemble libraries, and music libraries serving performers." --American Reference Books Annual

"...excellent....Highly recommended..." --Library Journal

"Technical descriptions and definitions are helpful for anyone new to this field.... Thoroughly detailed and full of excellent practical adivce and examples, A Manual for the Performance Library is an essential book for performance librarians and conductors, as well as an informative read for scholars, composers, and performers." --Melissa U. D. Goldsmith, Fontes Artis Musicae

"Performance librarian at The Julliard School in New York City, Girsberger offers guidance to librarians, musicians, volunteers, and students in operating a library for their organization. Such libraries are repository and distribution centers for music scores and parts. He outlines the basic principles and practices for acquiring, processing, preparing, and distributing music to performers; and for organizing, cataloging, caring for, and preserving the library's holdings." --Reference and Research Book News

...excellent....Highly recommended...

Performance librarian at The Julliard School in New York City, Girsberger offers guidance to librarians, musicians, volunteers, and students in operating a library for their organization. Such libraries are repository and distribution centers for music scores and parts. He outlines the basic principles and practices for acquiring, processing, preparing, and distributing music to performers; and for organizing, cataloging, caring for, and preserving the library's holdings.

Technical descriptions and definitions are helpful for anyone new to this field.... Thoroughly detailed and full of excellent practical adivce and examples, A Manual for the Performance Library is an essential book for performance librarians and conductors, as well as an informative read for scholars, composers, and performers.

The author's approach is practical, and advice is presented in a straightforward, readable manner....Its chapter-by-chapter arrangement, with references categorized according to type of information, makes it very easy to identify works on a specific topic or function. A good, detailed index is provided. This book has a methodical approach, logical arrangement and it well-illustrated with examples and diagrams. It sets out clear, practical guidance for the operation of a performance library. I highly recommend it to music librarians, and as an example of a clear, well-presented manual.

This manual belongs in all ensemble libraries, and music libraries serving performers.

About the Author

Russ Girsberger is the performance librarian at The Juilliard School in New York City, and the author of A Practical Guide to Percussion Terminology (1998), and Percussion Assignments for Band and Wind Ensemble (2004).