MUSIC COLLECTION POLICY
Reviewed 2008
Music Faculty
http://www.music.unimelb.edu.au/
Australia's first music degree was awarded in 1879 by The University of Melbourne. The Music Faculty
offers a full range of courses to around 560 undergraduate and 155 postgraduate students.
The Music Faculty also offers a number of breadth subjects in the new generation degrees to non-music
undergraduates.
The Faculty’s research centres include the Centre for Study in Australian Music
http://www.music.unimelb.edu.au/research/CSAM/index.html, the Early Music Studio
http://www.music.unimelb.edu.au/research/EMS/index.html and the National Music Therapy Research
Unit http://www.music.unimelb.edu.au/research/NAMTRU.html.
Undergraduate subjects
More information about undergraduate programs, including details of compulsory and optional subjects is
at http://www.music.unimelb.edu.au/courses/ugrad/index.html
Graduate Programs
There are 26 graduate programs. Details are at
http://www.music.unimelb.edu.au/courses/pgrad/index.html
Target users
Undergraduate students, postgraduate and higher degree coursework / research students, and academic
staff.
Research areas
Performance
Composition
Musicology/Ethnomusicology
Music Therapy
Further Information about Faculty research is available at
http://www.music.unimelb.edu.au/research/index.html
History
Professor Marshall-Hall was appointed to the first Chair in Music in 1891, but it was not until 1908 that an
Englishman, Mr. A.E.J. Lee presented 1,000 pounds to the Professor "to use as he saw fit for orchestral
work". This money was used to form the nucleus of the Lady Northcote Permanent Orchestra Trust.
Orchestral music was purchased and the library was formed.
Whilst music has moved forward in Victoria, and the Music Library here has played a very important part
in its progress, it is interesting to note that in 1933 Sir James Barrett, then Deputy Chancellor, stated in an
address that the music library "now contains 670 orchestral works, and 780 chamber works... and no less
than 58 orchestral instruments". In 1940 Sir James again states when speaking of the library "all that is
now wanted in that direction is a fireproof library as some of the contents are irreplaceable... the library is
crowded out and difficult to handle because of the mass of musical works".
The library has changed its location many times. One of its more noteworthy homes in the
Conservatorium of Music was a small downstairs lending library, commonly called "the dungeon", for it
was in there, during one of its periodical floodings that, after much searching for the cause, the official
explanation was given "that flooding occurs when the Maribyrnong rises".
Formerly known as the Conservatorium Library it is now named the Louise Hanson-Dyer Music Library
after the founder of the l’Oiseau-lyre scholarly music publishing house, and the collection of rare early
imprints and manuscripts Louise Hanson-Dyer collected which now resides amongst the music rare
collections. http://www.lib.unimelb.edu.au/collections/music/rare1/aboutlhd.html.
In addition to monographs, serials, periodicals and collected editions, this library also holds scores,
recordings and choral and orchestral collections which for many years have supplied the performance
material for symphony concerts throughout Australia.
Size of the Collection (approximate figures)
Sound recordings 22,000
Books 21,000
Music scores 62,000
Rare Collections 2,100
Microform titles 800
DVD/Video 1,100
Journal titles 550
Collection Statement
The Louise Hanson-Dyer Music Library undertakes to purchase all undergraduate prescribed texts and
recommended reading titles, and materials identified for masters by coursework programs. Research level
materials are selected in conjunction with members of the academic staff, and from recommendations
from students and key library staff.
The Louise Hanson-Dyer Music Library collection comprises monographs, journals, music scores,
monumenta and collected editions, dictionaries, encyclopedias and manuscripts. All these materials are
collected and are provided in whatever format is deemed the most suitable e.g. print, microform and
digital. These formats cover the broad subject areas of :
Australian music
Composition
Early Music
Ethnomusicology
Instrumental or vocal teaching
Music administration
Music education
Music therapy
Musicology
Performance - instrumental and vocal
Music technology
Film music
There is no restriction on the purchase of foreign language material although the book collection is
predominantly English language. Music scores and sound recordings are an essential component of all
music subjects and research and are, by necessity, growing collections.
Currency of the collections is not critical and much of the aged collection is as relevant today as when it
was published, for example the music scores and sound recordings. Many sound recordings are still only
available in lp format.
While many music journal titles are available electronically, other titles continue to be published in paper
format.
The majority of music materials are held in the Louise Hanson-Dyer Music Library. Approximately half the
monograph collection and some bound journals – low use titles - are in secondary storage while the rare
rd
collections are located on the first floor, Baillieu and the 3 floor compactus.
Strengths / Intentions
The Louise Hanson-Dyer Music Library Rare Collections is comprised of 2100 catalogued items including
manuscripts of scores, early and rare editions of music scores and books, and a concert program
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collection dating from the mid-19 century.
The Hanson-Dyer collection of 245 titles of 15th to 19th century music imprints, first editions and music
manuscripts has a particular strength in early French baroque music and theoretical works. This collection
is perhaps the finest of its kind in the southern hemisphere.
Australian music is an area of study at the undergraduate and research levels. The manuscript and print
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collections are quite strong and are an ongoing area for development in 19 century to contemporary
Australian music.
Areas of particular strength for individual subject areas:
Australian music
Early Music
Ethnomusicology
Instrumental or vocal teaching
Music therapy
Musicology
Performance - instrumental and vocal
Areas needing enrichment:
Australian music
Composition
Music administration
Music education
Music technology
Film music
Popular music
Material not generally collected
Jazz