LibGuides: World Music: Recordings

Jump to: Streaming Audio | Hardcopy Recordings

Streaming Audio

Library Audio Databases

Smithsonian Global Sound This link opens in a new window
Over 3,000 streaming albums of traditional and popular music from around the world.

More Streaming Audio Resources

Association for Cultural Equity: Global Jukebox
Over 6,000 music and dance recordings from over 1,000 cultures. Explore by culture, geographical region, and more.
Library of Congress Sound Recordings
Historic recordings from America's past, including both music and spoken word. Included in this collection are civil war band music, southern folk music, music of the stage, and more.
National Jukebox
Over 10,000 recordings from 1901 to 1925, on labels now owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Includes classical, popular, and other music.

For more, see our guide to streaming audio and video resources.

Hardcopy Recordings

Subject Searching

How to search

Open the library catalog.
Type in a subject.
Change your search from Keyword to Subject.
Limit by your desired format.
Find a catalog record for the music or book you need.
Use the location and call number to find it on the shelf.

Image: Catalog search set to Subject and Printed Music, and search result showing location and call number.

How to find subjects

Here are a few subjects to get you started:
Folk music > United States (Substitute a different country as needed.)
Folk songs
Folk songs, French (Substitute a different language/nationality as needed.)
Music > India (Substitute a different country as needed.)
National songs
World music

You can find even more subjects in individual catalog records. Find one book or recording of your desired country/nationality/ethnicity, then click on a subject to find more materials with that subject:

Browse the Shelves

Browsing is a great way to discover new music if you don't have a specific piece in mind!
In the Allen Library, the first letters of the call number indicate format:

Call Number Letters	Format
MD	CDs
MR	LPs (records)
MO	DVDs
MV	VHS tapes

The following numbers indicate nationality/ethnicity. Combine the letters above with the numbers below to browse for world music recordings.
Example:
MD1627—International folk music CDs
MO1627—International folk music DVDs

Call Number	Nationality/Ethnicity
1626-1627	International
1628-1677	United States
1669	Native American
1670-1671	African American
1678-1679	Canada
1681	Caribbean Islands
1682-1683	Mexico
1684-1685	Central America
1686-1694	South America
1698-1789	Europe
1706-1707	Hungary
1730-1731	France
1738-1747	British Isles
1756-1767	Russia & former Soviet Republics
1795-1828	Asia
1804-1805	China
1812-1813	Japan
1830-1838	Africa
1840-1846	Australia, New Zealand, Pacific & Indian Ocean Islands
1850-1853	Jewish

Listening & Viewing Equipment

Come to the Allen Library! Our listening carrels and listening/viewing rooms can play:

CDs, LPs, cassette tapes, reel-to-reel tapes
DVDs, Blu-rays, VHS tapes
Your devices via Bluetooth, VGA, HDMI, AUX cable, Apple TV

Equipment is generally first-come, first-served, but rooms may be reserved for certain uses. Contact us (860.768.4840) for more information.

World Music: Recordings