Finding the Big Band Charts

We have quite a few big band charts in the Whittaker Library collection.  All beautifully catalogued, too, but there was a problem.  

What our jazz musicians asked for, was 'big band charts'.  But although our catalogue gave details of composer, arranger, title, publisher, instrumentation - the words big band chart just weren't there. 

It felt like a summer project for Trimester 3.  Although it hasn't felt much like summer here, we're proud to say that the big band chart project is now under way.  All the wind and brass sets are being checked to ensure there aren't any big band charts hiding away, undiscovered and/or undiscoverable.  And all the big band charts are getting their catalogue entries revised to make them more accessible.

You want to find big band charts?  Type big band chart in the catalogue search box!  So far, it looks like this (click here).  Keep coming back - there will be more by the end of next week!

If You Perform, and You Have Come Across Finnegan's Wake - This is Intriguing

We found this via Twitter over the weekend.  You probably have to know something about James Joyce's Finnegan's Wake, to realise that this is an intriguing opportunity to take part in something big.

Here's what the website says:-

"Waywords and Meansigns is an upcoming audio version of James Joyce's famous text, Finnegans Wake, to be read in its entirety. The book will be divided into 17 sections, and there will be a different music/reader/performance group assigned to each section. Featuring established as well as up-and-coming artists, Waywords and Meansigns will offer a version of Joyce's work that is stimulating, accessible, and enjoyable to even the most casual of readers and listeners."  

"Expect recordings to begin surfacing in early March of 2015.  Interested in contributing? Get involved."

You can read this article from the New York Review of Books, if you want to know what Finnegan's Wake is all about:- "What to make of Finnegan's Wake", by Michael Chabon.  (July 2012, NYRB)

NB We know no more about this project than you do! If you're interested, please contact Waywords and Meansigns to find out more.

Approaches to Critical Artistry - We have Web Resources to help your Research!

24:7

Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Students! Do you have to research a topic for your Critical Artistry module?
 
The Whittaker Library has lots of web resources* online - we subscribe to specialist websites on your behalf - websites and electronic journals. Find them via the Library Mahara pages or HERE on the RCS website:- http://www.rcs.ac.uk/about_us/libraryandit/databases/ 

Most things are accessible anywhere, any time - use your RCS login if you're off-site.  The subject librarians can recommend the best web resources for you.  They can also show you how to find e-books on the library catalogue.  You can use them without coming into the library at all - 24:7.
 
*Web resources, Electronic resources, E-resources - call them what you like!  They're specialist websites that we subscribe to - they aren't freely available on the web except to subscribers.

If you're interested in critical artistry, you might like to visit Rachel Kennedy's blog, where she writes about approaches to critical artistry.  Click here, and again here.

Commonwealth Games - Musicians Everywhere, and here's a Tune for them!

With so much happening in Glasgow at the moment, there are musicians everywhere - Merchant City, Glasgow Green ...

Here's a highly appropriate fiddle tune from John Riddell's A Collection of Scots Reels, Minuets etc: 'The Bonny Green of Glasgow'.

The Bonny Green of Glasgow

It's one of the tunes Karen's looking at in the AHRC-funded Bass Culture project.  Riddell's bass-lines were basic (excuse the pun) to say the least! But effective all the same, we think.

Here's the next tune in the book: 'Miss Lillie Ritchie's Reel'.

Miss Lillie Ritchie's Reel

See what we mean?!  The collection is one of a number of late 18th and early 19th century fiddle tune books being digitised for the project.  You can read more about this research on the project blog:- http://bassculture.info/.

Systems Developer needed for AHRC-funded project into Scottish Fiddle Tune Accompaniments

Some Whittaker Live followers will be aware that Music and Academic Services Librarian Karen McAulay is currently seconded part-time to an AHRC funded post in the Music Dept at the University of Glasgow.   The research is into historic Scottish fiddle tune basslines and accompaniments.

The project needs another team member in the shape of a systems developer for the next stage in this research.

Systems developer post for AHRC funded project - details of vacancy here - please do share advert!

See the Bass Culture blog here:- http://bassculture.info/

Competition for Innovative Researchers

The British Library has launched a fabulous competition.  If you need funding for an innovative research project using the BL's digitised collections, visit this link:-

http://labs.bl.uk/Competition+2013

Use that creativity!  And good luck!