Guide to Pop & Rock
Here you will find an overview of pop and rock resources at the State Library with search tips.
The Collection
Scores for Loan
The State Library has a comprehensive collection of rock and popular music in artist anthologies, compilations and single sheets. The majority of the collection has piano vocal accompaniment but there are chord and tab arrangements as well. The collection ranges from 10cc to ZZ Top. All contemporary popular genres are included: rock, pop, country, jazz and blues, rock and roll, hard rock, heavy metal, as well as film and television themes. Much of this popular music is now out of print, making it an invaluable collection.
The collection has been indexed exhaustively, ensuring that clients can locate songs within anthologies. An on-line song index for songs acquired after 2001 is augmented by an extensive card index covering all song anthologies held in the library. Choirs are also catered for with a list of popular choral music available to download.
Reference Material
The reference collection of books, journals and electronic resources covers the history of various significant movements within the popular music genre, songwriting, discographies, album and songs listings, charts, origins of particular songs and biographies.
Recordings
The Library has a listening collection of CDs and LPs for use within the State Library Building, and standard albums from the 70's and 80's are represented in the collection. Pop and rock music from Western Australia is collected comprehensively, and research access to this heritage collection may be arranged by contacting Subject Specialist: Music.
Searching for a score
Use the library catalogue to search or browse our collections. To find artist compilations, use the surname of the artist or the band's name in the Author field. To find individual songs, use the Song index. A Guide is available with tricks and tips on how to find songs. Tthere is also an outline to the classification scheme for popular songs that may be of help to those visiting the library in person. Most piano/vocal/guitar arrangements can be found at the classification KDW/GB. For scores with no piano accompaniment, the classification is KEDW/GB. Popular music from before the 1950s can be found at KDW/AY.
You may also search by subject. Useful subject searches are:
- Popular music
- Rock music
- Country music
- Soul music
- Disco music
- Motion picture music
- Television music
- Jazz
Searching for information
The book and journal material can be found using the catalogue. If you are looking for a specific book or journal title, just use the author or title search. If you are looking for material on a subject, use the keyword or subject option. Useful subject and keyword searches are:
- Popular music
- Rock music
- History and criticism
- Dictionaries
- Discography
- Analysis, appreciation
- Statistics
- Rock musicians
- Rock groups
- Music - Social aspects
- Popular culture
Further Information on this site
Page last updated: Wednesday 20 April 2011
