Today on the IAML (UK & Irl) blog: Simon Crosby Buttle introduces a project to document the lives, works and activities of a truly fascinating nineteenth-century musical family with a famous – if unexpected – name. Simon writes: J. R. R. Tolkien (1892-1973) is a name ingrained in modern fiction and fantasy, a legendary author…
Our “Week in the life” series continues with a group effort from the team at Henry Watson Music Library in the heart of Manchester. Ros Edwards, Music Librarian, introduces the team: The Henry Watson Music Library is a busy library, probably one of the largest public music libraries in the UK and one of the…
The following is a guest post from Sarah d’Ardenne, Head of Library Services, Royal Northern College of Music: On Thursday 13 November, I and some of my colleagues took a trip up to a rather soggy Edinburgh to attend the Times Higher Education (THE) Awards ceremony 2025. The Royal Northern College of Music Library had…
In a special guest post, Antony Gordon, webmaster of IAML (UK & Irl), shares his experiences of a recent indexing project for the branch’s long-running journal, Brio. Antony writes: Having recently compiled name and title indexes to the content of Brio, it was suggested that I might outline the process for the blog. Thus, what…
The following is a guest post from Polly Jones, Westminster Music Librarian: Tucked away down a side street between the noise and lights of Leicester Square and the grandeur and opulence of the National Portrait Gallery sits an unassuming building which holds what I personally consider to be one of London’s best kept secrets: Westminster…
The following is a guest post from Simon Carpenter, Volunteer Archivist to the Three Choirs Festival: The Festival Generally believed to be the world’s oldest classical music festival, the Three Choirs Festival alternates annually between the cathedral cities of Gloucester, Hereford and Worcester. Originating some time in the early 18th century, it has long provided…
Between October 2025 and March 2026, the famous “Hallelujah Chorus” takes centre stage at the Foundling Museum. Librarian of the Gerald Coke Handel Collection, Katharine Hogg, has shared this for readers of the blog: Explore the life-affirming power of music through the lens of Handel’s iconic ‘Hallelujah Chorus’. Looking at the exhilarating experience and enduring…
The following is a guest post from Richard L. Jones, Music Librarian, Barbican Music Library: Barbican Music Library is currently hosting an exhibition, Blondie in Camera 1978. Formed in New York in 1974 by vocalist Debbie Harry and guitarist Chris Stein, Blondie released their influential album Parallel Lines four years later; it contained a number of…
As a much-admired member of the IAML (UK & Irl) community retires next week, we grabbed him just in time to contribute to our “Week in the life” series. Roy Stanley writes: On 30 September I will retire after over 35 years as music librarian at the Library of Trinity College Dublin. I’m therefore very…
The following is a guest post from Laura Johnson, Leeds Conservatoire: I was recently fortunate enough to attend the latest one-day ‘Music for the Terrified’ course, which took place at Leeds Conservatoire Library. The course was organised by the IAML (UK & Irl) Events & Training Committee and delivered by Meg Fisher (Music Cataloguer, British…
Continuing our “Week in the life” series, Martyn Bennett, Head of Music Library and Resources at Glyndebourne, has spared us some time amidst the busy season to share some insights into his role at one of Britain’s most celebrated opera festivals. Martyn writes: As Head of Music Resources and Library at Glyndebourne, I often find…
Occupying much of my time over the past weeks and months has been the large sheet music collection of famed horn player, Dennis Brain (1921-1957). This collection was purchased at auction in 1998 by lawyer and keen horn player, Mark Andrews, in a bid to rescue it from dispersal. In 2023 the collection was entrusted…
Nearly two months into his role as President of the UK & Ireland branch of IAML, we asked Peter Linnitt, Librarian of the Royal College of Music, to tell us about his role at the RCM. This post is the first in a “Week in the life” series, where we will meet professionals from all…
Readers of the IAML (UK & Irl) blog will be pleased to learn of the Foundling Museum’s newest exhibition, highlighting some of the treasures from the collection of early Handel devotee, Elizabeth Legh (1694-1734). Katharine Hogg, Librarian of the Gerald Coke Handel Collection, has sent us the following to whet our appetites: Elizabeth Legh: Lover…
The Oldman Prize is awarded by IAML (UK & Irl) to an author or joint authors of a work deemed to have made a significant contribution in the area of music bibliography or musicology in the year prior to its being awarded. The winner of the 2024 award was announced at the branch AGM on…
With registrations now open for this year’s IAML Congress in Salzburg from 6-11 July, members of the IAML (UK & Irl) branch are encouraged to consider applying for the Ian Ledsham Bursary, awarded by the Music Libraries Trust (MLT). This year’s award of £400 will cover registration fees and some travel expenses, enabling the recipient…
The following is a guest post from Richard L. Jones, Librarian, Barbican Music Library: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Isata Kanneh-Mason (@isatakannehmason) After being contacted by Decca Records, Barbican Music Library recently hosted a filming session featuring the pianist, Isata Kanneh-Mason, which resulted in an Instagram video. A graduate of the Royal…
Malcolm Jones 30 July 1943 – 23 July 2024 Obituary by Pam Thompson There can be very few members of the UK and Ireland branch of IAML who are not aware of Malcolm’s immeasurable contribution to the work of the Association. Indeed, there are equally many beyond our two countries who know of his lifelong…
The following is a guest post from Judith Ratcliffe, Archivist, Britten Pears Arts: On 20 November the British Library held a very enjoyable and interesting afternoon to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Gustav Holst’s (1874-1934) birth. The event ‘Gustav Holst: An Archival Legacy’ put the focus on archival sources, with speakers from three institutions delving into…
The following is a guest post from Richard L. Jones, Music Librarian, Barbican Music Library: I’m Not Okay: An Emo Retrospective is the title of Barbican Music Library’s latest exhibition, the result of a collaboration with the Museum of Youth Culture. With roots in the hardcore-punk scene in 1980s Washington D.C., emo (short for ‘emotional’ or…
IAML (UK & Irl)’s popular “Music for the Terrified” course has been updated for library staff working with music collections everywhere. The day-long course covers a wide variety of topics, including: Trainers Chris Scobie (British Library), Katharine Hogg (Gerald Coke Handel Collection) and Meg Fisher (British Library) ran the course in Wiltshire at the end…
The following is a guest post from Richard L. Jones, Music Librarian, Barbican Music Library: To celebrate East and South East Asian Heritage Month, which takes place every September, Barbican Music Library hosted a workshop entitled Silk and Bamboo Music. It featured Cheng Yu (pipa – 4 stringed lute) and Li Ming (bamboo flutes). Silk…
IAML (UK & Irl) delegates have continued to share their feedback from IAML Congress 2024 in Stellenbosch. This week, the British Library’s Chris Scobie offers his reflections: It was a privilege to be able to attend the IAML 2024 Congress in Stellenbosch in June. A huge thank you and congratulations to the organising committee for…
Following our previous report on IAML Congress 2024 in Stellenbosch, more IAML (UK & Irl) members have been in touch to share their experiences of the week. First is Katharine Hogg, Librarian of the Gerald Coke Handel Collection. Katharine writes: The Congress attracted a smaller number of delegates than usual, due to its distance from…