When it comes to early printed music in special collections, the musical content or bibliographical details of a publication often tell only half the story. The other half is told by the unique characteristics of the specific exemplar at hand: its binding, for example, or ownership history and inscriptions. These can help to place an…
Today on the IAML (UK & Irl) blog: Gail Tasker, Content Developer and Music Cataloguer at the British Library, writes about a forthcoming resource which aims to bring library materials to life for a brand new audience. Gail writes: Engaging with collection items is one of the greatest privileges of working in a library. Handling…
The following is a guest post from Richard L. Jones, Music Librarian, Barbican Music Library: 1996: A celebration of the wildest year of Britain’s wildest decade – 30 years on is currently showing at Barbican Music Library. It is curated by Dominic Mohan, journalist, broadcaster, author and former editor of The Sun newspaper and transports visitors back to…
Today on the IAML (UK & Irl) blog: Emily Peart shares research findings on brass band librarianship practices, conducted for her MA in Library and Information Studies. First presented at IAML’s Annual Study Weekend in April, Emily’s important research highlights concerns for long-term sustainability of brass band composing and makes recommendations for improvement. Emily writes: I…
Today on the IAML (UK & Irl) blog: Yi-Chieh Chiu of the University of Edinburgh and Edinburgh Central Library reflects on his experience as a first-timer at IAML (UK & Irl)’s Annual Study Weekend, which took place in Cardiff in April. Yi-Chieh writes: My first visit to Wales coincided with my first IAML (UK &…
Today on the IAML (UK & Irl) blog: Laura Johnson, Assistant Librarian at Leeds Conservatoire, tells of her journey deep into the Conservatoire Archive, and the fascinating discoveries made along the way: In September 2025, Leeds Conservatoire celebrated its 60th anniversary. This milestone, and the need to represent it in some sort of tangible way,…
The following is a guest post from Lucy Currid, postgraduate ethnomusicology student, University of Manchester: When I started my Master’s in Ethnomusicology at the University of Manchester last autumn, I had not anticipated that my studies would bring me into the heart of London, but I am very grateful that they did. Through the Placement…
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…